1. Steinbeck assembled the stories that make up The Red Pony over several years. Show how the succession of stories broadens and deepens the meaning of the entire book.

2. The natural setting is very important in the sequence. Discuss the complex relationships between nature and human nature in the work.

3. Jody is the central character of The Red Pony, but his relationship with other characters forms his personality. Trace the pattern of character relationships in the book and show how they operate in Jody's maturation.

4. Show how the final section of The Red Pony opens the story sequence up to a more universal interpretation as a fable of America's lost youth and innocence, the loss of the American dream nurtured on the frontier.

5. What impact does Jody's grandfather have on the formation of his developing character?