A Dog's Life

Analyze Squirrel’s character development throughout the novel. What experiences and lessons does she internalize, and how does she put these lessons into practice? Use textual evidence to illustrate.

Humans give Squirrel different names. The Beckers call her “Daisy” when they take her in, while Susan calls her “Addie.” How does the novel use names to explore identity? Does Squirrel’s sense of self change when humans give her new names, or does her core identity remain the same? Explain, using textual evidence.

Because the novel is from a dog’s first-person point of view, it reveals Squirrel’s animal instincts and relatable emotions. How does the novel balance Squirrel’s natural instincts with human-like emotions? Analyze at least two passages where you related to Squirrel’s emotions and why you felt connected to her.