48 pages • 1 hour read
The Vanishing Half: A Novel
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Essay Topics
In your opinion, what is the meaning of the book’s title?
Compare and contrast the life choices that Desiree and Stella make. Is one set of choices better than the other?
Secrets loom large in the novel. Who keeps them, and why?
The book contains many different types of social outcasts. Describe some of them and how they compensate for their isolation.
Discuss the personalities and life choices of cousins Jude and Kennedy. Are there any similarities between them? Differences?
Skin tone evokes a negative reaction in a number of characters for a variety of different reasons. Describe some of these situations.
Self-loathing becomes a factor in the construction of new personas for several characters. Choose two and discuss them.
How does the novel define identity? Is it fluid or fixed? Is it internal or external?
How do various characters use acting to further their ends? Give examples.
Discuss the men in the twins’ lives. How do Sam Winston, Early Jones, and Blake Edwards differ? Do they have any traits in common?
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