The Danger of a Single Story

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. Describe the types of characters Adichie wrote about in her own first stories.

2. According to Adichie, why is it important for young readers to see themselves in stories?

3. What stereotypes did Adichie’s American roommate have?

4. What did Adichie learn on her trip to Mexico?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the speech to support your response.

1. What did Adichie learn about her own stereotypes when visiting Fide’s family?

2. What is Adichie’s definition of power in the speech?

3. What does Adichie mean by “a single story”?

4. Describe the advantages of knowing many stories.

Paired Resource

“I Won’t Be Marginalized by Online Harassment”

• Kelly Marie Tran, actress, wrote this op-ed after experiencing online attacks for her role as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Tran describes a lifetime of existing on the margins of white people’s stories and declares she will no longer settle for that. (Subscription may be needed for viewing.)
• Compare Tran’s experiences of being marginalized to the examples in “The Danger of a Single Story.”

Recommended Next Reads

“We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• This work is an essay about the social expectations for men and women in Africa and across the world. Originally, this work was a TED Talk of the same name.
• The topics covered include building empathy, the power of stories, and the impact of stereotypes.
• “We Should All Be Feminists” on SuperSummary

“The Danger of Silence”

• In this TED Talk, Clint Smith, a poet and teacher, describes his experiences confronting stereotyping, bias, and prejudice—as well as times when he stayed silent instead of speaking up against injustice. The 4-minute video begins as a speech and ends as spoken-word poetry.
• Discuss the similarities between “The Danger of a Single Story” and “The Danger of Silence.” How does each develop the theme of Everyone Is Susceptible to Single Stories?