1. Miss Leah is not usually one to stand silent, but when it comes to domestic abuse she says very little. Why doesn't Miss Leah say anything to Minnie even though she knows Frank is likely to hit again?

2. Describe Sophie, Fannie, and Minnie's ritual after their dinner.

3. Frank consistently hits Minnie but what boundary does he overstep when Minnie tells him she will not sell her land?

4. What is Minnie thinking while Frank beats her up in Act 2, Scene 3?

5. When Minnie greets her sisters, she mentions that Frank is talking to a man from the train, "a white man" she adds. Why does Minnie add this remark of a white man?

6. Why does Frank beat Minnie to a dreadful state in Act 2, Scene 3? What does he get out of it?

7. Sophie could not care less about Memphis, but is absolutely passionate about Kansas. Why is Sophie so passionate about Nicodemus, Kansas?

8. Frank learns from his poker friends that the sisters are sitting on land that is worth a lot of money. How does this knowledge foreshadow events?

9. What is Frank's attitude in regard to Nicodemus? Why?

10. On previous occasions, Frank shows a little bit of guilt when he is aggressive with Minnie. What causes Frank to beat Minnie so badly and still be able to haughtily talk to Sophie as if he never hurt her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Wil speaks of the significance of memories, good and bad. How are memories important in what makes up a person?

Essay Topic 2

Ethnic pride is a monumental topic in "Flying West." Explain why ethnic pride is so important in general and why in the black community in particular.

Essay Topic 3

Describe Frank's insecurities and how it comes out throughout the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,041 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample

More summaries and resources for teaching or studying Flyin' West.

View all Lesson Plans available from BookRags.

Copyrights

BookRags