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 serve as examples and support.

1. Big Fish is the title of the book, but it is also used in various contexts throughout the story.

• What is the meaning of “big fish” in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Provide three examples of the use of big fish in the novel and what it means to Edward as it is used to describe him.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why you think Big Fish is an appropriate title for the novel.

2. Water is used throughout the book to mark important events in Edward’s life.

• How is water used as a symbol in Edward’s life? (topic sentence)
• Explain why it is important that it began to rain when Edward was born, why Edward is referred to as a big fish, and why the water at the ending of the novel is appropriate for Edward’s life.