The Door of No Return

Choose one poem to analyze line by line that you believe summarizes The Door of No Return. Explain your choice through your analysis, connecting your choice through at least two of the novel’s themes and two of the novel’s symbols. Provide specific reasons supported by textual evidence.

How does Kofi’s connection to water assist him in the novel? Compare how his connection to water is used as a plot device in the first half of the novel to the second. How do Kofi’s goals regarding swimming change? Why does this change occur? Cite textual evidence to support your answer.

How does the book’s poetic structure compare to complete sentence prose? How does Alexander’s choice of poetic form and language contribute to the story's emotional impact and depth? Analyze one poem from the novel, answering these questions as you consider the poem line by line.

Analyze a character who is not highlighted in this guide. Describe their characterization, growth, and role in the book. How do they impact the narrative? How do they impact Kofi? Use specific passages from the novel to explain your response.

Afua says, “The sun shines on those who stand up for themselves, before it shines on those who kneel to cowardice” (358). What do you think this quote means? Why? Compare and contrast your interpretation to Kofi’s reaction.

What is the role of the novel’s riddles? What are they meant to communicate and why? How do these riddles impact Kofi’s understanding throughout the novel? Choose at least one adage and explain what you think it means and how it fits into the narrative.

Analyze a symbol, motif, or theme not described in this guide. If a symbol, what does it represent and why? If a theme, how is it presented, and what is the implication of this message? Cite textual evidence to support your answer.

Create a poem that tells the story of what happens to Kofi and his cousin, incorporating one of the adages Kofi hears from his elders in the novel. Along with your poem, provide an analysis of your writing, explaining the choices you made and how they connect back to the original text.