The Glass Menagerie

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 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. Laura identifies with her glass unicorn, but she thinks it’s out of the ordinary until it loses its horn.

• Does Laura believe it is better to be unique or out of the ordinary? (topic sentence)
• What do Amanda, Tom, Laura, and Jim convey about being “normal” versus being different? Discuss at least three examples.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, evaluate whether Laura would be better off embracing her uniqueness or learning to live among the horses, and explain your choice.

2. In helping his family, Tom risks losing himself.

• Is Tom’s action at the end of the play selfish, desperate, or something else? (topic sentence)
• How does the tension between Tom and his mother over Laura’s needs threaten to destroy Tom’s life? Is some degree of selfishness necessary for his survival? Provide at least three examples that support your position.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain whether a person who’s desperately unhappy can or cannot help anyone else.