44 pages • 1 hour read
Virginia SorensenMiracles on Maple Hill
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1956A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
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BetaEssay Topics
Consider the author’s choice to write the story from Marly’s perspective. How do her childish innocence and curiosity shape the narrative? How might the story have been different if written from Dale’s perspective?
Discuss the significance of Daddy’s songs. Why is it important for Marly to hear her father singing? Is the subject matter of the songs symbolic? Use examples from the text to support your analysis.
How does the author use foreshadowing when Marly overhears Chrissie telling Mother about Mr. Chris’s health condition? What thematic purpose does this storyline serve within the narrative?
Discuss the significance of animals in the story. Consider the baby mice, the cows, the den of foxes, and Harry’s goats. How does the motif of animals tie into the thematic arc of the narrative?
Consider the book’s treatment of gender, particularly regarding Marly’s involvement in the physical outdoor labor traditionally relegated to men. Discuss the tone the author incorporates surrounding Marly’s adherence to and/or rebellion against 1950s-era gender norms.
Analyze the various ways in which the novel addresses the underlying issues of trauma and its residual effects. Does the story provide an accurate portrayal of living with trauma or the experience of living with a traumatized person? How might a more modern novel handle the subject differently? Is Dale’s illness resolved too quickly and easily?
Miracles are typically discussed in the context of a religious framework, yet this novel is not overtly religious. How does the concept of a miracle evolve throughout the text? Trace Marly’s conception of a miracle and how her experiences change her perception of supernatural intervention.
Consider the theme of rebirth and renewal. How does the author incorporate the theme into the overall narrative as well as individual characters’ lives? How do Dale, Marly, Joe, Harry, and Mr. Chris all experience reawakening or regenerations in different ways? Use examples from the text to support your analysis.
In what ways is the novel dated concerning content and specific cultural references? Conversely, which ideas and themes represent timeless lessons that can be applied equally well to any era?
