This guide encourages teachers and students to scrutinize the novel for racial stereotypes, particularly of black South African characters, as well as elements of plot that may perpetuate those stereotypes. Readers may find the novel’s passive, quiet resolution—in both tone and plot—problematic for its ultimate avoidance of the drastic repercussions of Apartheid. Note that the novel contains crude language and violent acts that illustrate characters’ racism, rage, and misogyny.
The thought questions in this lesson plan provide material and ideas that students can use to write short original essays and to develop their powers of analysis. The questions provided for the final paper are...
