These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the short story.

Post-Reading Analysis

Since the story’s release, public perceptions have shifted on how we discuss victims of sexual violence, particularly with the move away from blaming the victims of that violence. How does this story engage with the idea of Connie’s responsibility (or lack thereof) for her situation?

Teaching Suggestion: Oates’s story is careful to establish the power structure between Connie and Arnold Friend. A close reading of the way they navigate that power structure can lead students to a clear understanding of the choice available to Connie, which is no choice at all. At the same time, the story presents Connie as someone who only became Friend’s target because of her overt sexual behavior, so it’s tricky territory for many readers. A guided discussion before or after this question may help students see How Patriarchal Gender Roles Can Lead to Tragedy.

Post-Reading Analysis

Arnold Friend has an uncanny, almost supernatural presence in this story, and he can be read (either literally or figuratively) as a kind of psychopomp, guiding Connie to her death. What is the story trying to say by presenting Friend in such an uncanny manner?

Teaching Suggestion: A psychopomp is a spirit figure in many cultures that escorts people to their death, such as Anubis or Charon. Thinking of him as a representative of the inevitable can lead students to understand both The Uncanny Quality of Urban and Suburban Spaces and How Patriarchal Gender Roles Can Lead to Tragedy.