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52 pages 1 hour read

Bryce Courtenay

The Power of One

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1989

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Essay Topics

1.

A Bildungsroman is a novel that traces an adolescent protagonist’s narrative journey from innocence to experience. Discuss how Bryce Courtenay uses and subverts and the conventions of this genre.

2.

Peekay has been compared to the character, Scout, from Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Compare and contrast this novel with The Power of One.

3.

Discuss the significance of Granpa Chook in The Power of One in relation to the theme of Race, Racism, and Power in South Africa.

4.

How does Courtenay illustrate Doc’s influence upon Peekay? Discuss your answer providing examples from the book to illustrate your point.

5.

Discuss the meaning of the concept of “The Power of One.” How does Peekay’s understanding of “The Power of One” change over the course of the novel?

6.

Discuss the narrative and symbolic significance of boxing in The Power of One.

7.

What is the effect of the division of the novel into three books?

8.

Discuss the narrative and symbolic significance of the Judge in The Power of One.

9.

Musical symbolism recurs in The Power of One. Compare Doc and Geel Piet’s characterization within the framework of musical symbolism.

10.

Courtenay uses racial slurs of all kinds throughout his novel. Analyze the effect of this language.

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