Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Historically, marriage was traditionally considered an important marker for a person’s social status. In your opinion, what were some of the benefits for women in choosing to marry? What were some of the consequences of choosing not to marry? What options were available for women who married but later regretted doing so? Did these options have any consequences?

Teaching Suggestion: The role of women in American and Congolese society in the 1960s is a central theme of the story, particularly in relation to why the women of the Price family make certain decisions. While the novel’s first-person narratives can help readers understand gender struggles, the above short-answer question is the perfect opportunity to introduce the differing roles of women in mid-20th century society and how they relate to agency, divorce, and religion.

• This article from UN Women provides a brief overview of some of the obstacles women face in Congolese society.
• This overview from the Women’s International Center highlights the main points of the changing role of women in American society, emphasizing the 1960s as an important decade of change for women.