80 pages • 2 hours read
Barbara O'ConnorHow to Steal a Dog
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Discuss O’Connor’s depiction of the American South. With close reference to this text and others you might be familiar with, to what extent has she written a typically Southern novel?
What kind of character is Georgina’s best friend, Luanne Godfrey? How does Georgina’s attitude to Luanne determine her outlook and actions?
Discuss the symbolism of homes in O’Connor’s novel. What are the different types of homes featured and how does O’Connor show that a character’s attitude toward home reflects their attitude toward life?
How does O’Connor portray Georgina’s moral struggle? In your opinion and with close reference to the text, why do you think it takes Georgina so long to choose the right action?
Discuss the symbolism and significance of girlhood in O’Connor’s novel. How does Georgina’s absence from girlish privileges affect her sense of identity?
When Georgina confesses her crime to Carmella, Carmella responds, “I guess bad times can make a person do bad things” (164). To what extent does O’Connor’s novel show that bad circumstances lead to morally dubious actions?
What role do prejudice and snobbery play in O’Connor’s novel? How does Georgina’s willingness to let go of old prejudices affect her development as a character?
What contribution does Willy the dog make to the characters’ lives and how does he meet their needs when the human world fails them? Refer to at least three different characters in your answer.
Discuss Georgina’s relationship with authority figures such as teachers and parents. How does her attitude to these adults influence her thoughts and behavior?
Mookie tells Georgina that “the trail you leave behind you is more important than the path ahead of you” (132). How does this conflict with what Georgina has learned about the world thus far? To what extent does she put this motto into practice towards the end of the novel?
