Go Carolina

How does Sedaris organize the essay? How does this structure add or detract from his main idea?

This essay is a flashback; Sedaris is recalling an event from his childhood as a grown man. To what extent does his narration seem believable? Has the passage of time or the pull of artistic liberty for literary impact distorted some events? Cite passages from the text and/or other sources to support your argument.

What are the main conflicts in this essay? Are they resolved, or are any left open? Support your answer with references to the text.

Sedaris uses a crime/spy drama backdrop for his essay. How does this add to its dramatic tension? Is it effective as a narrative technique? Cite passages from the text to support your views.

Does the essay provoke empathy or sympathy (or neither) for David? If it does, what rhetorical devices does the essay use most effectively? Support your answer with references to the text.

What role(s) do David’s family members play in the story? How do they change the story’s trajectory? Support your views with passages from the text.

Sedaris has stated that he doesn’t want to be the voice for the gay community; however, this essay contains deliberate references to gay sexual orientation. Is it making a statement about being gay, or are these references just a minor factor in the essay? Cite passages from the text to support your views.

Examine the role of communication in the essay. How does Sedaris struggle with communication in relation to the need to conform? Comment on the impressionable nature of childhood and the role of adults to guide children appropriately. Consider how society has changed since the 1960s, when David was in elementary school.