A Thousand Acres

Research the 1980s Farm Crisis. How does the novel foreshadow the impending crisis? What literary techniques does Smiley use to create a sense of the looming threat?

Is Ginny an unreliable narrator? Support your argument with specific textual evidence. If she is, how does that change the interpretation of the story?

It is never clear whether Larry has a mental health condition or just pretending to be. Based on specific textual evidence, decide which you think is true and make a case for your conclusion.

Out of the three Cook daughters, who is most affected by The Impact and Harm of Gender Roles? Why? Support your argument with textual evidence.

Watch the movie adaptation of A Thousand Acres. Choose one character and compare their portrayal in the movie versus the novel. How do the two differ? How do the differences change the story or themes?

The novel is a retelling of King Lear. Is it necessary for a reader to have read Shakespeare’s play to fully grasp the complexity of Smiley’s novel? Why or why not?

Are the characters in A Thousand Acres more concerned with power or revenge? Is there an underlying connection between power and revenge, and if so, what is it? Support your argument with textual evidence.

Consider the characters of Jess Clark and Marv Carson. Both men have progressive views and are often belittled because of them. What is the purpose of these men’s progressive views? What do they contribute to the plot? What do they contribute to the themes?