Purple Hibiscus

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 over the course of your response that serves as examples and support.

1. Gender roles evolve considerably from one generation to the next in this novel.

• How are Papa and Jaja’s roles similar and dissimilar? (topic sentence)
• Identify and explain three examples from the text that display similarities and differences between Jaja and Papa and their roles in the family.
• In your concluding sentences, explain what causes the differences in roles between Jaja and Papa.

2. Laughter is an essential element in Aunty Ifeoma’s world, and Kambili has embraced a life of laughter by the end of the novel.

• Why is laughter important to Kambili and Aunty Ifeoma in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain why there is so little laughter in Kambili’s family, why laughter is essential for Aunty Ifeoma’s family, and why Kambili has decided to embrace laughter in her own life.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why the author chose to use laughter as a catalyst to bind Kambili to Aunty Ifeoma.

3. The clash of traditional and contemporary thinking plays a significant role in the misunderstandings and family conflicts in the novel.

• What disputes arise in the novel because of conflicts between traditional and contemporary thinking? (topic sentence)
• Describe the differences between Papa-Nnukwu, Aunty Ifeoma, and Papa’s beliefs regarding traditional and contemporary thinking.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why the author chose these three perspectives to illustrate the differences in Nigerian ideology.

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. Empowerment for women is exemplified in various ways in each of the main female characters: Mama, Ifeoma, Kambili, and Amaka. Analyze one way in which each of these women is empowered in the story, whether through their own actions or because of outside forces that create a sense of confidence.

2. Silence is a major factor in the novel and has both positive and negative connotations. The adage, “Children should be seen and not heard” is presented as an apropos expectation in Papa’s household at the beginning of the novel. Mama is also a quiet character, and most sounds in the house relate to religion or disturbing noises behind closed doors. What does “silence” mean here, and how does it compare to the “different silence” at the end of the novel?

3. Besides the prominent purple hibiscus, more subtle natural features such as dust, rain, fruit, and trees appear at various times representing different aspects of the story. For instance, rain has both positive and negative connotations depending on the situation. Select two of these elements and explain how each enhances the story in at least two separate ways.