Passing

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 novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Compare the husbands in the novel, including Brian and John.

• How are Brian and John similar with regard to the ways they treat their wives and women in general, despite their different ethnicities and points-of-view? (topic sentence)
• Find examples in the story to support your thoughts. Discuss how Brian’s and John’s treatment of their wives compares to the ways they treat women in general. How do Brian and John’s different ethnicities and points-of-view impact their treatment of women?
• Conclude with a sentence that identifies the role husbands play in the novel Passing.

2. Though Clare Kendry has a rich husband, she was not always wealthy.

• What role does John Bellew play in changing Clare’s socio-economic status? (topic sentence)
• What is Clare’s attraction to John? Why risk the possibility of being caught passing as white by a man full of venomous racism? Find 2-3 text details to support your discussion.