Essay Questions

Is Chris Van Allsburg developing self-discovery as one of the main themes?

Van Allsburg uses the main character, the Hero Boy, to build the theme of self-discovery. The Hero Boy is a curious young man who wants to confirm if Santa Claus, a familiar figure in Christmas, exists. The boy understands that Christmas is an annual event, but he doubts Santa Claus and is determined to discover the truth about his existence. Therefore, he embarks on a magical journey heading to the North Pole using a magical train called The Polar Express. Therefore, the author successfully builds the theme of self-discovery by illustrating the Hero Boys' undying spirit to discover the reality of Santa Claus.

What is the symbolic connotation of The Polar Express?

The Polar Express symbolizes magical adventure. The Hero Boy rides on The Polar Express, a train in his dream, and he travels to the North Pole to explore the reality of Santa Claus. The magical train follows the boy's path of imagination, and across the way, he tries to find answers to his endless questions about Santa Claus.

How significant is the character Hobo in The Polar Express?

Hobo is an important character because his pessimism tests the Hero Boy's faith. Hobo is a ghost because he appears and disappears. He lives on top of The Polar Express magical train. Hobo rides the train whenever he wants freely because he reappears and disappears, making it hard for the train conductor to charge him. Hobo strongly believes that Santa Claus does not exist and challenges the Hero boy because he does not want to believe what Hobo says. Therefore, Hobo challenges the Hero Boy to accomplish his mission when he arrives at the North Pole.