53 pages 1 hour read

Alice Hoffman

The Rules of Magic

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2017

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Essay Topics

1.

How does Hoffman’s portrayal of being a witch compare to portrayals in popular culture? To what extent does she provide a consistent definition of what a witch is?

2.

Drawing on at least two characters’ experiences and personalities, examine Hoffman’s presentation of the key challenges of being an Owens and to what extent these challenges can be overcome.

3.

Why is learning to be oneself such an important lesson of the novel? How do Vincent’s, Frances’s, and Jet’s experiences in this respect differ from the expectations set out in their upbringing?