61 pages • 2 hours read
The Testament
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
The novel opens with Phelan announcing that “money is the root of my misery” (1). What is the novel’s attitude toward money?
Choose one character: How does this character contribute to the novel’s exploration of tradition and change? Provide specific examples from the text in your discussion.
What is the effect of presenting Phelan and Nate as foils? Draw on at least three examples of each in your discussion.
How does Grisham represent the Pantanal in the novel?
Discuss the relationship between existential and physical dangers as explored through the characters of Rachel, Nate, and Phelan.
Discuss the two meanings of the word “testament” and how it relates to the search for purpose and meaning in the novel.
Compare and contrast the communities depicted in the United States with those depicted in Brazil. Draw on specific examples of each in your discussion.
How does Grisham portray balance? In your discussion, incorporate how balance plays out in at least one theme.
At the end of the novel, Nate decides not to rush back to Corumbá. What does this suggest about his character journey?
Unlock all 61 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Related Titles
By John Grisham
