Flying Lessons & Other Stories

One theme evident in the collection is Embracing Identity in the Face of Societal Expectations. Many of the characters in these narratives struggle with who they are and who they long to be. What other theme related to identity is evident in at least two stories? Use textual evidence from each story to support your thinking.

Identity is made up of many components—such as gender, race, culture, religion, ethnicity, class, ability, etc.—and never just one thing. As a result, many people experience the world through a combination of these elements of identity. This is called intersectionality. Choose a character from one story and explain how multiple parts of their identity overlap to influence their experiences. Use textual evidence from the story to support your thinking.

At the end of “Secret Samantha,” the protagonist tells Blade, “It’s actually Sam […] My name is Sam” (84), correcting someone for the first time in a while. Names, real and elf, have significance in this story, as well as in other narratives in the collection. However, some characters remain unnamed. Analyze the significance of at least one character who remains nameless. Use textual evidence to support your thinking.

Bildungsroman is a term used to describe a novel that outlines a character’s growth, usually emotionally and morally. This growth is often a direct result not of school, but of important relationships and experiences in life. Although this collection presents short stories, many characters undergo a maturation process. Select a character from one story and examine their moral and psychological growth. How have they developed? What people or factors have influenced this growth? Use textual evidence to support your thinking.

In “Main Street,” Treetop struggles to be an ally to her friend Celeste. An ally can be defined as a person who offers support or assistance in an ongoing struggle, particularly one faced by a marginalized group in society. Based on this definition, who else in this collection of stories might be considered an ally and why? Select at least two characters from different stories to analyze. Use textual evidence to support your thinking.

Research Choctaw storytelling and learn more about Naloosha Chitto and the Bohpoli. Using this information, examine the story that Uncle Kenneth shares. What is the significance of Naloosha Chitto and the Bohpoli? Use textual evidence from the story to support your thinking.

If the setting of a story is well developed, it can set the tone for the entire narrative. Choose one story and closely examine the diction used to describe the setting. How does this word choice impact the emotion of the writing? Use textual evidence to support your thinking.

This collection of stories begins and ends with narratives about basketball. Examine the significance of this. Does basketball symbolize anything? How does the sport relate to one or more themes? Use textual evidence from both stories to support your thinking.