The Benefits of Being an Octopus

Explain the roles of social class and education in the novel. What are the connections between social class and education? Why does the author think education is essential in combating socioeconomic helplessness? How does each character view social class differently based on their social classes? According to the novel, why is it difficult for people to achieve the societal standards of other social classes? Why do you think Kara and Crystal feel helpless to escape the situations they find themselves in?

Teaching Suggestion: Consider allowing students to analyze the role of social class by first evaluating the novel chronologically. How does Zoey’s narrative journey reflect the topics above? Does her journey mirror the author’s message? Students might participate more fully in class discussion if they first record their ideas and text evidence in their notes.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who are English language learners may benefit from using sentence frames or stems in analyzing the text; students with executive functioning challenges may want to focus on one aspect of Zoey’s hardships.