Eleanor and Park

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Soundtrack of Their Lives”

In this activity, students will create a modern soundtrack to demonstrate their knowledge of the main characters.

Set in 1986, Eleanor & Park includes musical references that represent that era. Instead of a mixtape such as those Park creates for Eleanor, your task is to create a modern playlist that represents one of the main characters.

• Choose either Eleanor or Park as your character. Brainstorm a list of details and features that are significant to the character: goals, plans, dreams, emotions, skills, traits, likes, dislikes.
• In a separate list, identify 3-5 plot points that have the most impact on the character’s arc (demonstration of change over the course of the story).
• Create a list of 5-8 modern songs that most effectively represent the character and the ways in which they change.
• For each song, write a brief description of 3-5 sentences explaining how that song relates to the character. Quote appropriate song lyrics to support your answer.

Once everyone has completed their playlist, the class may compile them together into two large soundtracks. As you consider each soundtrack, compare Eleanor and Park. In what ways are their playlists (and thus their characterizations) similar? How are they different or unique?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to guide students in choosing Park or Eleanor so that the soundtracks are somewhat evenly matched in size. Also, the class might work together to establish guidelines for appropriateness in song selection (language, content, and themes). For example, the class might agree that a PG-13 rating on each song is appropriate.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an approach that connects to intrapersonal skill-building, students might identify and discuss 2-3 songs for Park’s or Eleanor’s playlist, then do the same for 2-3 songs that best represent their own personalities, traits, and growth (i.e., personal “theme song” selections). In a written reflection that addresses similarities or contrasts in the two lists, students can evaluate with explanation and rationale the extent to which they did or didn’t connect personally to the character.

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. Consider the ways in which Eleanor and Park share their love with one another.

• As indicated by the text, which character is more open with their feelings? (topic sentence)
• In at least 3 points, analyze and discuss the ways in which the two characters express their feelings for each other. Choose the strongest examples that support your topic sentence; use text details and quotes to strengthen your argument.
• In your concluding sentences, summarize how this character’s openness helps to develop one of the novel’s themes.

2. Throughout the novel, others comment on the difficulty Park has driving a manual transmission (stick shift).

• What does the ability to drive a stick shift symbolize for Park? (topic sentence)
• Identify and discuss the moments in the story when his driving ability serves the purposes of symbolism and indirect characterization. What do these moments tell us about Park’s growth as a character?
• In your concluding sentences, evaluate the effectiveness of this symbol in the context of the overall story. What message or lesson does the author’s choice of symbolism help to convey?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the author’s use of allusions throughout the novel. Pick one allusion that Park mentions and one that Eleanor mentions to research more fully. In a brief essay of 3-5 paragraphs, analyze how the allusion functions in terms of characterization. How do we understand the character better through the use of the reference? What do we learn about how they think and what they know? Be sure to cite your allusions and any outside sources you use in your writing.

2. Eleanor and Park experience first love with each other over the course of the novel. Select one of Eleanor’s or Park’s “firsts” in the relationship (e.g., first hand-holding, first kiss, first fight, first time saying “I love you”). How does the author make it clear that this is a first for the character? In what ways do the moments feel full of “wonder”? How might these moments be different if this wasn’t a “first love”? In a brief, structured paragraph, analyze this “first” through the lens of the theme The Wonder of First Love. Draw a conclusion regarding the author’s intended message about first loves. 

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which phrase best describes Eleanor’s relationship with her siblings?

A) Distant but protective

B) Overbearing but well-meaning

C) Violent and unkind

D) Loving and affectionate

2. Which theme is best represented in the scene in which Tina tells Park’s mother about Eleanor for the first time?

A) The Wonder of First Love

B) Bullying

C) Being Abandoned

D) Jealousy

3. How do Eleanor and Park share music with each other?

A) They sing to each other.

B) They create digital playlists.

C) They record mixtapes.

D) They listen to the same records over the phone.

4. Most of the time, who is Park protecting from embarrassment when he defends Eleanor?

A) Eleanor

B) Himself

C) Her family

D) Tina

5. How does the family feel whenever Richie is in a good mood?

A) Scared: He might hurt them.

B) Happy: It will be a good day.

C) Tense: His mood could change at any point.

D) Free: He lets them do whatever they want.

6. Why does Eleanor repeat in her mind Richie’s offensive messages after she realizes it was he who wrote them?

A) She must recite them in order to remember them.

B) She is planning to use them as evidence against him.

C) She is too shocked by his actions to control her thinking.

D) She is trying to convince herself it was someone else.

7. Who, ironically, helps Eleanor when she runs away from Richie?

A) Denise

B) Park

C) Her mother

D) Tina

8. How does Eleanor describe the way Richie looks at her as she is running away?

A) He looks at her like something he can capture and abuse when he wants.

B) He looks at her like a loving stepfather, despite his temper.

C) He looks at her like she is entirely worthless to him.

D) He looks at her as though he doesn’t even see her standing there.

9. What literary device is used in the following quote: “‘You’re welcome,’ she said, looking down. ‘Just don’t kill John Lennon or anything’” (Chapter 34)?

A) Allegory

B) Allusion

C) Alliteration

D) Personification

10. What does the author imply are the three words in Eleanor’s postcard to Park?

A) “I hate you.”

B) “I’m coming home.”

C) “I love you.”

D) “I’ve moved on.”

11. Which character is the best embodiment of the theme Being Abandoned?

A) Park

B) Tina

C) Richie

D) Eleanor

12. Of her siblings, which is the one Eleanor is most tempted to save from Richie?

A) Mouse, because she likes him best

B) Little Richie, because he’s the baby

C) Maisie, because she’s the only other girl

D) Ben, because he’s the oldest

13. Which best describes how each character handles the “break up” at the end of the novel?

A) Park strives to hold on while Eleanor pretends they didn’t exist.

B) Park moves on quickly while Eleanor never moves on.

C) Park stops writing letters while Eleanor doesn’t stop.

D) Park grows angrier while Eleanor begins to feel happy.

14. Which best describes the relationship between Park and his father?

A) Loving but misunderstood

B) Hostile and violent

C) Distant

D) Best friends

15. What does Park most admire about his parents?

A) How hard they work to provide for the family

B) How well they take care of their children

C) How much they openly love each other

D) How nice their house and possessions are

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What are the clearest differences in Park’s and Eleanor’s home lives?

2. During their disagreement about the offensive messages, why does Park defend Tina?