West Side Story

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 Essay Questions

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

1. Examine the role of women in West Side Story in the context of gang violence.

• How do attitudes toward women contribute to violence in West Side Story? (topic sentence)
• Consider Bernardo’s reason for bringing Maria to America, his reaction to seeing Tony kiss her at the dance, the Jets’ attack on Anita, Chino’s reason for going after Tony, and other gender-related incidents that propel the action toward the outcome.
• What is the relationship, if any, between the objectification of women and violent behavior in West Side Story?

2. Consider the placement of musical numbers relative to plot points in West Side Story.

• How effective is the placement of musical numbers in delivering an emotional impact in West Side Story? (topic sentence)
• Consider what happens in the story before and after several major musical numbers (e.g., the comic “Gee, Officer Krupke” following the deaths at the rumble). Explore the placement's effect on the narrative's pacing and the likely reaction of the audience.
• How do the characters’ states of mind, as reflected by their singing and dancing, affect audience tension and catharsis as the story progresses to its conclusion?

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. West Side Story offers a more complex representation of New York City gangs that don’t just paint them all as juvenile troublemakers and criminals. Choose one Shark and one Jet who you think is the most sympathetic character and write an essay that explains how and why they are sympathetic. Are there any moments when the characters become unsympathetic? How does the musical make each character sympathetic and then, in turn, take that sympathy away? Cite specific instances from the text that support your claims.

2. Consider the musical’s theme of Immigration, Xenophobia, and American National Identity. How does West Side Story question what it means to be an American? What does Americanness mean to the characters? Choose three characters from the musical and analyze what they think being an American means and how the musical’s theme shapes their American identity. Cite specific instances from the text to support your claims.