Education of Little Tree Suggested Essay Topics


  1. What ideas does the author suggest to you that Little Tree has learned about the true, the good, and the beautiful.
  2. What ideas does the author suggest to you that Little Tree has learned about enlightenment, empowerment, and responsibility.
  3. Discuss the differences between Little Tree’s “spirit-mind” and his “spirit-body.” What is
    the importance of Little Tree’s “secret place”?
  4. Some critics believe this novel is a satire poking fun at the government and at politicians. Select three incidents from the story and discuss the ways they might be interpreted as being satirical.
  5. Cite incidents from the story to prove that this is a coming of age story.
  6. State three life lessons Little Tree learns when he goes fox hunting with Granpa.
  7. Cite three incidents from this story which seem to be “bigger than life” and are more like legends than true accounts.
  8. What is the significance of the Dog Star, the candle, and the marriage stick in the story? What do you think the mountain might represent?

Write your response in the usual “5 paragraph essay” format, be certain to include several specific, quoted, details from the text in each body paragraph.