Before We Were Free

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Throughout the novel, many references are made to butterflies.

• What does the symbol of the butterfly represent? (topic sentence)
• Find three examples from the text where the butterfly suggests a larger meaning.
• How does the symbol of the butterfly affect Anita?

2. For Anita and her family, Perseverance Amidst Trauma and Loss is essential for survival.

• Why must the characters persevere for their survival? (topic sentence)
• Select one character from the story and discuss the methods they use for perseverance.
• How does the Family as a Home and Community support this character’s perseverance?

3. During the difficult times, Anita and her family look to faith and/or supernatural beliefs as a coping mechanism.

• Why is faith important for Anita’s family? (topic sentence)
• Provide examples from the novel where a character uses faith in order to cope with a difficult moment.
• Are there Limits to Faith for the characters in the novel? If so, what are they?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Alvarez dedicates this novel to “those who stayed.” Based on the content of the book, why do you think Alvarez chose this audience to dedicate the novel to? Now consider the concept of “freedom” as Alvarez writes about it in her book. Did those who stayed find freedom?

2. Consider places in the novel where “flying” is mentioned or alluded to. Where do these references appear, and in relation to whom? Do any of the story’s characters “fly,” either literally or figuratively? If so, how?

3. Working within the genre of historical fiction, Alvarez weaves historical fact, including information about international politics and diplomacy, into the story of a  young girl. What is some information that you learned about international politics and relations between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. that you did not know before reading this novel?