51 pages • 1 hour read
Misty CopelandLife in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | YA | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In what ways does Life in Motion exemplify the genre of the kunstlerroman? How does it change your interpretation of the text if you read it as the coming of age of an artist rather than a regular autobiography or memoir?
One book review calls Misty’s narrative a “modern day Cinderella story” (“Life in Motion.” Simon & Schuster). Is this an accurate comparison? Why or why not?
Compare Misty’s mother, Sylvia, and her first ballet teacher, Cindy, including their backgrounds, personalities, and relationships with Misty. How and why does their conflict arise? What does the conflict reveal about parenthood?
What are the possible benefits and problems with organizing the chapters around a central event or topic rather than strictly chronologically? Explain using examples from the text.
Misty provides advice and thoughts about succeeding in a ballet career. What are some examples of this advice, and how might they be applied to life or art outside of ballet?
What preconceived notions did you have about race and body image in ballet, and how has Misty’s story confirmed, complicated, or contradicted these notions?
Pick one of Misty’s Black mentors and analyze her relationship with them. Why is this mentor so important in Misty’s life? What might they provide that a white ballet professional cannot?
In what ways do the three major themes overlap and interact with each other? Does one receive more emphasis than the others, or are they equally important? Explain using examples from the text.
According to Misty, what elements in life are more important to success than innate talent? Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?
What might Misty’s driving motivation have been for writing this memoir? What is the message or lesson she wishes to convey, and does she succeed in doing so?
