In Cold Blood

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. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

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

1. Consider the different visions of paradise the novel presents (the yellow bird, the fruit orchard, Dewey’s dream house, Holcomb itself, etc.).

• What sorts of images or ideas does In Cold Blood associate with paradise? (topic sentence)
• Choose two symbols or motifs associated with paradise. Compare and contrast the way these symbols or motifs function in the text, considering the connotations of each, their meaning to the novel’s characters, and/or the way they develop over the course of the narrative.
• Finally, use your concluding sentence or sentences to state what In Cold Blood might be saying about the nature of paradise, including (if relevant) how it intersects with themes like the American Dream or mortality.

2. Consider the final scene in the novel (Dewey’s meeting with Sue Kidwell), which Capote allegedly fabricated.

• How does the inclusion of this fictional scene contribute to the meaning of the text as a whole? (topic sentence)
• Identify three passages from or relating to this scene and analyze their significance in light of your claim. Consider word choice and phrasing, and cite specific evidence to support your claims.
• Finally, use your concluding sentence or sentences to discuss how the inclusion of this episode underscores In Cold Blood’s depiction of mortality and/or the nature of evil.

3. Consider Perry’s relationship to masculine gender norms.

• How does Perry’s relationship with masculinity shape his self-perception and relationships with others? (topic sentence)
• Identify three passages that help characterize how Perry embodies (or doesn’t) traditional masculinity. Discuss how these passages contribute to your understanding of Perry.
• Finally, and bearing in mind common prejudices associating gender nonconformity with immorality, use your concluding sentence or sentences to discuss what the text implies about the relationship between Perry’s gender conformity/nonconformity and his criminal actions.

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. Late in the novel, Capote describes Dick and Perry as “uncongenial but helpless Siamese twins” (366). Using this quote as a starting point, discuss the dynamic that exists between Perry and Dick. What does each man hope to get out of the relationship, and what do they in fact get out of it? How do they view each other? Why do they stick together despite their differences, and what are the consequences of this for themselves and others?

2. Consider Dewey’s role as a detective in relation to Capote’s as a writer. In what sense does each man seek to understand the Clutter case, and why? Do they rely on similar “investigative” methods, especially with regards to the psychology of the killers? Do they ultimately reach the same conclusions about Perry, Dick, and the nature of the murders? Compare and contrast Dewey and Capote’s parallel investigations.

3. Consider Capote’s depiction of the Clutters. In what ways do they embody the American Dream? Are there any ways in which they deviate from this ideal? Discuss the Clutters as a symbol of the American Dream, and what their ultimate fate might say about the novel’s view of American society and ideology.