True Grit

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How does Rooster Cogburn’s experience of living in a changing world resonate with you? 

2. At the beginning of the novel, Mattie is thrust into a position of responsibility at a young age. Have you ever been burdened with a similar challenge in unexpected circumstances? 

3. Cogburn struggles to make sense of himself in a changing world. How does this reflect broader themes of aging and the passage of time?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. At the end of True Grit, Mattie confronts Tom Chaney. How do you feel about Mattie’s quest for revenge? How is revenge different from justice?  

2. True Grit was adapted for film in 1969 and then again in 2010. What about the novel do you think resonates with audiences in different eras? 

3. True Grit is set in the aftermath of the Civil War. How does this era resemble our time? How does it differ?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Mattie Ross is the narrator and the protagonist of True Grit. How does this dual role reveal how she changes during her journey? 

2. To what extent do you think that Rooster Cogburn wants to be redeemed for his past mistakes? What actions or textual evidence support your point of view? 

3. In what ways does True Grit employ an archaic, almost Biblical language to convey themes of redemption and forgiveness? 

4. How does the novel present the border between white American society and the Indian Territory as a symbol of changing times? 

5. What does Mattie mean when she says that she wants a man with “true grit”? How does the phrase tie into the text’s wider themes, and why do you think Portis chose “true grit” as the novel’s title?