The Cellist of Sarajevo

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 throughout your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The use of light and dark is more closely associated with painting than with literature.

• How does Galloway use the technique of light and dark throughout the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe the instances in which Galloway uses light and the cases in which he uses darkness. Then, describe why Galloway uses light and dark in these situations.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how Galloway’s use of light and dark contributes to the narrative.

2. Galloway has stated in interviews that each character in his novel represents Sarajevo’s past, present, and future.

• How do the characters represent the past, present, and future of Sarajevo? (topic sentence)
• Explain how Arrow represents the future of Sarajevo, Dragan represents the past, and Kenan represents the present.