100 Cupboards

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.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded 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. 100 Cupboards is considered a coming-of-age novel.

• How does Henry become more mature during the novel? (topic sentence)
• What are 3 different kinds of obstacles that Henry faces, and how does each help him grow and mature?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how one or more of the novel’s themes (The Lure and Danger of Adventure, Creating Your Own Family, and Solving the Puzzle with Both Logic and Chance) connect to the idea of coming-of-age.

2. Henrietta serves as a foil to Henry. Foils are characters who possess traits that are opposite in nature.

• What are the main similarities and differences between Henrietta and Henry? (topic sentence)
• What specific things that Henry and Henrietta do provide evidence of their similarities and differences? Give at least 1 example to support each difference and each similarity.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain the purpose of a foil. How do Henry and Henrietta demonstrate this purpose in 100 Cupboards?

3. The mailbox serves as an important symbol in the story.

• What idea does the mailbox represent?  (topic sentence)
• What are 3 different examples from the plot of the story that support your interpretation of the mailbox’s meaning?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, summarize how the symbolic value of the mailbox supports the story’s larger meaning or themes.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. How do doors function symbolically in this story? What do they connect, and what do they separate? Who has control over their opening? What kinds of events and character changes happen because of the doors? Write an essay in which you make a claim about what doors represent in this story. Consider not just the cupboard doors but other doors as well, such as the door to Grandfather’s room. Support your claim about the doors’ meaning with language and details from the text.

2. What characteristics does the character of Nimiane reflect? Conduct brief research on the term “witch” and how it has historically been used against women. Think about Nimiane’s age and physical appearance. How does she use her magical abilities to make herself more appealing to others? How does this connect to the ways some real-world women feel they need to change themselves to be more acceptable to others? Write an essay in which you make a claim about Nimiane’s motivations. Why does she use her magic as she does? Support your claim with language and details from the text and from your research. Cite your sources in MLA format.

3. How does 100 Cupboards illustrate that sometimes, in order to solve a tricky problem, you need both clever thinking and good luck? How do the personalities of the different characters illustrate this idea? How do events in the story illustrate this idea? How do even the settings and objects in the story show that creative logic is necessary, but that it sometimes needs the support of good luck? Write an essay in which you make a claim about the theme of Solving the Puzzle with Both Logic and Chance. Support your claim with examples of ways the characters, plot, and setting (and/or objects) demonstrate that both logic and luck are necessary to solve some problems.