The Night Watchman

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. From the start, we learn that Thomas’s name (“Wazhashk,” meaning “muskrat”) is an apt name for him. 

• How does this prove to be true over the course of the novel? (topic sentence)
• How does the muskrat become a symbol in the novel? Choose three instances and discuss how they help to describe Thomas as a character.
• Finally, discuss in your concluding sentence or sentences how this relates to the theme of Indigenous struggles to survive.

2. Roderick appears to Thomas regularly throughout the novel and almost acts as a character himself.

• Why is Roderick important to the story? (topic sentence)
• How does Roderick’s story connect to the fight against termination? Use three examples from the novel to support your ideas.
• Finally, discuss how Roderick connects the trauma of boarding schools to the broader story about termination.

3. Barnes is the only white character who lives on the reservation whose perspective is shown in the novel.