42 pages • 1 hour read
Forrest CarterThe Education of Little Tree
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1976A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In the 1990s, the faux-memoir nature of The Education of Little Tree was finally exposed. Consider a different contemporary situation in which an author’s personal views suddenly come to light post-publication and are proven to contradict the views expressed in their writing. How does the author’s views affect your perception of their works?
Respecting nature is an important element of this novel. Make a plan that you and your friends can implement to demonstrate Respect for Nature in your local area. (Consider actions that go deeper than merely picking up trash.)
Write a journal entry as Little Tree and reflect on the events of one of the chapters. What more might Little Tree have said about the situations discussed in the novel? What might he have left out that he would share only with himself?
Despite the well-meaning messages that The Education of Little Tree portrays, Asa Earl Carter spread many hateful messages in his real life that have seeped into the novel. Identify two examples from the novel in which a well-intended message might, under the surface, reflect a more negative view or bias.
Granma and Granpa play a significant role in Little Tree’s life. However, there are other people who are also very important to him and to his development. Identify and analyze one other character who helps Little Tree to grow. What role(s) do they play in his life? How do they contribute to his Coming of Age story?
Write a reflective essay about a moment in which you took particular pride in your work. This may be at a job, in school, or in your own creative endeavor. Discuss what you did and why you took pride in the quality of the work you completed. How does your sense of pride relate to Little Tree’s sense of pride when he contributes to his family’s business?
The bildungsroman is a popular type of literature. Many authors use this coming-of-age trope to carry their narratives. Examine a protagonist in a contemporary novel who undergoes a coming-of-age journey and compare them to Little Tree. Compare and contrast the development of the two characters.
In the parlance of the novel, to “kin” someone is to understand them and love them. It goes much deeper than the standard meaning of love, because you must understand exactly who the person is. Who do you “kin” in your life? How did you come to “kin” this person, and what do you understand about them that lets you know them more deeply than you know other people?
The mountain that Little Tree lives on represents the growth he must undergo to complete his journey. Analyze at least three specific moments between Little Tree’s arrival at and final departure from the mountain. What role do these events play in Little Tree’s life? What lesson(s) do the actions represent?
Do you agree or disagree with Granpa that it is more important to teach someone to do something than it is to just give them what they need? Support your opinion with specific examples from current events and your own experiences.
