All the Pretty Horses: Discussion Questions
AP Literature and Composition
All the Pretty Horses
Complete the first three questions and then choose three of the five following topics and answer the corresponding questions.
Theme definitions and examples
1. What is the dictionary definition of theme?
2. What specifically does that mean for a literary work?
3. To avoid being too narrow in applying the term theme, what precaution must the reader take?
The following are examples of thematic topics followed with questions to those specific themes. Use these examples and questions to help you come to a thematic choice for your presentation project.
Inhumanity
1. Define what you see as the meaning of the phrase “man’s inhumanity to man”
2. Find and record examples of inhumanity as practiced by one individual against another in the novel.
3. Find and record examples of a group against an individual or group.
4. Find examples of that principle as applied to society at large
5. Construct a theme statement based on inhumanity as found in the novel
The Initiation
1. Find and record examples of John Grady to be a naïve but sensitive young man
2. Find and record the crisis experiences that change him into a sadder but wiser individual
3. What knowledge has he gained about himself and life?
4. Construct a theme statement based on the initiation as found in the novel
Microcosm vs Macrocosm
1. Define the above two terms
2. What are the microcosm and the macrocosm of this novel?
3. What do these two worlds have in common?
4. Who are the opponents of the main characters in these two worlds?
5. What characterizes the actions of these opponents? Give examples from the text.
6. Construct a theme statement based on microcosm vs macrocosm as found in the novel
Conformity vs Nonconformity
1. In what ways is JG a nonconformist? Does he remain one, or change? What actions support your opinions?
2. Is what ways is Rawlins a nonconformist? Does he remain one, or change? What actions support your
All the Pretty Horses
Complete the first three questions and then choose three of the five following topics and answer the corresponding questions.
Theme definitions and examples
1. What is the dictionary definition of theme?
2. What specifically does that mean for a literary work?
3. To avoid being too narrow in applying the term theme, what precaution must the reader take?
The following are examples of thematic topics followed with questions to those specific themes. Use these examples and questions to help you come to a thematic choice for your presentation project.
Inhumanity
1. Define what you see as the meaning of the phrase “man’s inhumanity to man”
2. Find and record examples of inhumanity as practiced by one individual against another in the novel.
3. Find and record examples of a group against an individual or group.
4. Find examples of that principle as applied to society at large
5. Construct a theme statement based on inhumanity as found in the novel
The Initiation
1. Find and record examples of John Grady to be a naïve but sensitive young man
2. Find and record the crisis experiences that change him into a sadder but wiser individual
3. What knowledge has he gained about himself and life?
4. Construct a theme statement based on the initiation as found in the novel
Microcosm vs Macrocosm
1. Define the above two terms
2. What are the microcosm and the macrocosm of this novel?
3. What do these two worlds have in common?
4. Who are the opponents of the main characters in these two worlds?
5. What characterizes the actions of these opponents? Give examples from the text.
6. Construct a theme statement based on microcosm vs macrocosm as found in the novel
Conformity vs Nonconformity
1. In what ways is JG a nonconformist? Does he remain one, or change? What actions support your opinions?
2. Is what ways is Rawlins a nonconformist? Does he remain one, or change? What actions support your