Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, and oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Explain the symbol of the red umbrella.

• What does the red umbrella represent? (topic sentence)
• Describe three different times in which the umbrella appears in the story, and use evidence from the text to show how Lucia’s feelings about the umbrella change over time.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how these story details connect the umbrella to the novel’s theme of Loss of Innocence and Coming of Age.

2. On page 62 of Chapter 5, Papa says “Sonia, don’t you see? This revolution is all about control. They’re watching me, you, everybody. [...] They’re going after anyone they think is a threat.” Explain how the author uses plot details to support the idea that Papa is trying to express.