Milkweed

Hope is a strong motif in the novel. How does the promise of hope support the characters’ well-being in the novel? Consider these questions in formulating a response.

• Which characters believe in hope’s positive attributes?
• Which characters believe in its negative attributes?
• Would any of the characters agree with your response in the Personal Connection prompt about whether hope is a good or bad thing in a person’s life? If so, which ones and why?

Teaching Suggestion: This Discussion/Analysis prompt encourages students to reframe their responses from the Personal Connection prompt in the context of the novel. As living conditions worsen, characters find hope and joy in simple pleasures, such as Janina’s favorite food, a comb from Mr. Milgrom, and the community the boys form together. Other characters are more skeptical; for example, Uri is constantly concerned for Misha’s well-being since he is distrustful of the changing environment, while many of the boys are not hopeful in the prospect of angels and an afterlife. Ultimately, different characters find their own coping mechanisms in order to deal with the harsh realities of WWII. This prompt connects with the theme Hope as Both a Negative and Positive Force.