Everything That Rises Must Converge Papers & Assignment Topics

Essay Topics/Writing Assignments

These 20 essay questions can be used as essay questions on a test, or as stand-alone essay topics for a take-home or in-class writing assignment. Students should have a full understanding of the text in order to answer these questions. They ask for a thorough analysis of the text.

1. One of the themes in the collection of short stories "Everything That Rises Must Converge" is that of past vs. present. Select three of the stories dealing with this theme and:
1) explain what the story says about the past and the present;
2) demonstrate how the theme is developed in the story.

Then explain what you think Flannery O'Connor's overall commentary on past vs. present is in the novel as a whole.
Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

2. One of the themes in the collection...
(read more)