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.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Throughout the novel, Alina struggles to understand her new surroundings and her relationships with the Grisha.

• What is the role of mystery, secrets, and deception in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe the mysteries, secrets, and deceptions that are revealed about the characters in the novel and how the perception of characters changes upon the revelation of their secrets. 
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the actions of the characters might have been different had they been aware of the secrets in the novel.

2. The setting of the novel changes as Alina makes her way from the First Army, through the Fold, into the Little Palace, and in the wilderness with Mal. 

• What is the role of the setting in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain the relationship between place and belonging and how the novel’s setting influences culture and politics.