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. Mr. Popper is described as absent-minded and dreamy.

• What behaviors of Mr. Popper reinforce his description as a dreamy character? (topic sentence)
• Describe three instances from the novel in which Mr. Popper behaves in an absentminded or dreamy way.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, summarize how Mr. Popper’s absentmindedness contributes to his adaptability in caring for the penguins.

2. Captain Cook collects items from the house to create a rookery.  

• Why does Captain Cook create a rookery in Mr. Popper’s house? (topic sentence)
• Discuss and analyze Captain Cook’s actions in creating the rookery. Why might it be important to Captain Cook to take care with the rookery? How is the rookery connected to Captain Cook’s illness?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly explain how Captain Cook’s rookery is connected to the novel’s theme of The Primacy of Family Relationships.