Scribd
Upload
51 views

Essay and Discussion Questions: The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The document provides discussion questions about the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. The questions address various themes in the novel including Walker's representation of African American men and masculinity, depictions of life in Africa compared to experiences of African Americans, the development of Celie's character and voice over the course of the story, Sofia's narrative as a challenge to racism, the role of quilting as a motif, the importance of community for Celie's growth, the role of laughter, debates around the ending being too romantic or realistic, how well the novel fits the definition of an "historical novel", the role of religion and spirituality, different types of families portrayed, and impacts of the film adaptation on interpretations of the

Uploaded by

Sophie Hartfield
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
51 views

Essay and Discussion Questions: The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The document provides discussion questions about the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. The questions address various themes in the novel including Walker's representation of African American men and masculinity, depictions of life in Africa compared to experiences of African Americans, the development of Celie's character and voice over the course of the story, Sofia's narrative as a challenge to racism, the role of quilting as a motif, the importance of community for Celie's growth, the role of laughter, debates around the ending being too romantic or realistic, how well the novel fits the definition of an "historical novel", the role of religion and spirituality, different types of families portrayed, and impacts of the film adaptation on interpretations of the

Uploaded by

Sophie Hartfield
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Essay and discussion questions

1. Many readers and critics have criticised Walker’s representation of African-


American men. Why do you think this is? How might you defend Walker’s
treatment of masculinity in The Color Purple?

2. Read Nettie’s Letters. How does Walker dramatise life in Africa? How does
Celie’s education differ from Nettie’s? Are there any similarities between the
experiences of the Africans and the African-Americans? What does Celie learn
from Nettie’s letters?

3. Read Celie’s first and last letters and compare her tone, syntax and use of
language. How does her voice change as the novel progresses?

4. Many readers identify Sofia’s narrative as the most compelling challenge to


racism in the novel. Why is this?

5. After her confrontation with Celie, Sofia suggests that they ‘make quilt pieces
out of these messed up curtains’ (The Color Purple, The Women’s Press, 1983,
39). Alice Walker has revealed that she worked on a quilt while writing The
Color Purple. How does quilting function as a motif in the novel?

6. Many readers feel that The Color Purple is, above all else, a celebration of
community. What roles do Shug, Sofia and Nettie play in Celie’s development?

7. ‘Not much funny to me. That funny. I laugh. She laugh. Then us both laugh so
hard us flop down on the step’ (The Color Purple - 39). What role does
laughter play in The Color Purple?

8. Many critics have taken exception to the utopian ending of the novel, arguing
that romance triumphs over reality. Make cases for and against this argument.

9. Alice Walker defines The Color Purple as ‘an historical novel.’ To what extent
does the novel fit this model? How easy is it to place the novel in context?

10. Shug tells Celie that ‘God love everything you love – and a mess of stuff you
don’t’ (The Color Purple 167). What role does religion play in the novel? What
forms does spirituality take? How does Celie’s relationship with God change?

11. Identify and compare the different kinds of family represented in the novel.
What do they suggest about traditional notions of ‘home’ and ‘family’?

12. Watch Steven Spielberg’s cinematic adaptation of Walker’s novel. What impact
does his incarnation of The Color Purple have on your reading of the novel?
What does he change and why? How might different social groups respond to
the film?

© 2007 www.teachit.co.uk 7743.doc Page 1 of 1

You might also like