Long Way Down

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Will frequently uses anagrams as a way of thinking about his life.

• How do these anagrams have a symbolic function for Will? (topic sentence)
• Discuss several of the anagrams in the book, using evidence to provide analysis on what they say about Will’s character arc and beliefs.
• In what way is Will trying to rearrange his own life in the book?

2. The novel’s poetic form often uses techniques from concrete poetry to heighten the meaning of the language.

• How do the visual aspects of the narrative influence your understanding of the work as a whole? (topic sentence)
• Look at several visual elements and show how they relate to the main narrative of the book.
• How might this presentation help represent Will’s struggle?

3. Ghosts are a common trope in literature as a way of engaging with regret.

• How do the ghosts in this story function? (topic sentence)
• Demonstrate how each ghost serves to further the theme of the novel.