A Girl Called Samson

How does Samson demonstrate courage and resilience throughout the novel, both as Deborah and as Robert Shurtliff? Analyze at least three specific examples from the text.

In what ways is Samson’s life shaped by The Struggle for Gender Equality and Personal Freedom? What obstacles does she face, and how does her personal struggle parallel the new nation’s fight for independence?

How does the character of Phineas Thomas explore The Impact of War on Identity and Societal Roles? Analyze the narrative techniques that the author uses to portray this character—and by extension, the Continental Army’s real-life mutineers and deserters—in a sympathetic light.

In the novel, Agrippa Hull becomes one of Samson’s closest allies. What factors contribute to the strength of their friendship, and how does Agrippa Hull’s character exemplify the struggle for personal freedom?

How do Samson’s sense of identity and societal roles evolve over the course of the novel? Contrast her evolution with that of Paterson when he discovers and adapts to her secret.

How does Harmon use Samson’s diary to examine the concept of self-expression within a restrictive society? How is keeping the diary both an empowering act and a source of danger? Additionally, how does the incorporation of diary entries contribute to the novel’s structure and tone?

Why does running symbolize freedom to Samson? How does this symbol’s appearance in the final chapter impact the resolution’s tone and significance?

Throughout the novel, clothing serves as a motif for The Struggle for Gender Equality and Personal Freedom. How do the changes in Samson’s attire over the course of the story impact her self-perception, expand or reduce her freedom, and influence her experience of gender?