Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket

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 bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. While Clare is only in the story briefly, her character plays an important role.

• How does Clare impact the plot and her husband, Tom? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least 2-3 specific passages in which Clare plays an important role, even in absentia.
• In your concluding statement or paragraph, explain Clare’s purpose in the story.

2. The author builds tension throughout the story, keeping his audience unsure of what may happen next.

• How does the author create suspense and tension? (topic sentence)
• Describe 2-3 moments where Tom’s life is in danger and his fate is uncertain. What techniques does the writer use in these scenes? Consider Finney’s use of action, description, and the character’s thoughts.