Color Purple Discussion Questions, Day 2

The Color Purple

Discussion Questions

All of the questions below should be answered with specific examples and direct quotations from the book. You may note those locations with sticky notes in your book. For ease in writing, you may want to remove sticky notes that don’t address those questions.

Your timed write question will most likely not be one of these questions, though the evidence you find will help you write your essay.

Answer questions one and two first, briefly. Revisit these questions again after you have considered the rest of the questions.

1.    What is Alice Walker’s purpose in writing The Color Purple? What does she want readers to do when they’ve finished the novel? How do you know?

2.    What is Alice Walker’s definition of justice? What behaviors are rewarded and punished in this book?

3.    Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, explores a variety of attitudes towards religion. Locate moments where characters are discussing or practicing their faith. What conclusions can you draw about Walker’s attitude towards religion from these examples?

4.    While in Africa, Nettie witnesses the impact of white colonialism on the Olinka tribe. How do Nettie’s experiences in Africa contrast or reinforce Celie’s experiences in America?

5.    The Color Purple is a widely banned book, frequently appearing in the top 20 amongst lists of books that have been banned or challenged in an academic setting. What examples of language and content have caused this book to be so controversial? How does the inclusion of this content help (or hinder) Walker’s argument?