Red Kayak

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. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

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

1. Consider the various keepsakes or memorials Red Kayak’s characters use to cope with the loss of a loved one (e.g., the butterfly garden, the photo of Amanda, etc.).

• What makes these objects helpful tools for dealing with grief, where other reminders of a loved one (e.g., Tiny Tim) might not be? (topic sentence)
• Identify three moments when the novel’s characters reflect on or interact with a keepsake or memorial; analyze these in relation to your topic sentence.
• Finally, use your concluding sentence or sentences to discuss how these keepsakes reflect Red Kayak’s broader depiction of The Past’s Influence on the Present.

2. Consider the role the Corsica River plays in the novel, including how various characters interact with it (fishing, sailing recreationally, etc.) and what emotions it sparks in them (guilt, grief, nostalgia, etc.).

• What, in your opinion, is the Corsica’s primary function as a motif? (topic sentence)
• Identify three passages involving the Corsica that support your claim and close read them in relation to it.