The Hairy Ape 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. Pick a character from the book and discuss his or her goals and motives. Do they achieve their goal? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

2. Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion.

Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

3. Away from the main character, examine the way the...
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