Fever 1793

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/Short-Answer Essay Questions

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

1. How does the symbol of the balloon change throughout the novel to demonstrate Matilda’s growth as a person?

• How does the balloon symbolism show that Matilda grows and changes during this novel? (topic sentence)
• What does the balloon symbolize, and what does it demonstrate about Matilda, when it first appears in Chapter 1? What language, historical context, and details in the chapter itself show that you are correct?
• What does it mean, in the Epilogue, when Matilda sees the rising sun as being like a balloon? What does the balloon symbolize now, and what details and language show that you are correct?
• Finally, discuss in your concluding sentence or sentences how the balloon symbolism supports the novel’s concern with Coming of Age in a Time of Tragedy.

2. Choose two characters and compare and contrast their ideas about love.

• What is similar and different about how these two characters view love? (topic sentence)
• What are three examples of details and language that support your claims about how the characters’ views of love are similar?
• What are three examples of details and language that support your claims about how the characters’ view of love differ?
• Finally, explain in your concluding sentence or sentences how these similarities and differences reveal something important about these characters’ personalities.

3. Is the depiction of the yellow fever epidemic in Fever 1793 based closely on historical events, or did the author take a lot of liberties with history in writing this book? Read the book’s appendix and then write about what in the story is based on real events and what in the story is simply made up.

• How realistic is the depiction of the yellow fever epidemic in Fever 1793? (topic sentence)
• What details in the book are based on history? Use information from the appendix as support.
• What things in the book are made up?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, describe the balance between historical detail and fictional detail in this book and offer a concluding thought about how realistically the book depicts Philadelphia’s 1793 yellow fever epidemic.

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. What point is the novel making by including the “soldiering lessons” from Matilda’s grandfather? What role do the lessons play in bonding Matilda and her grandfather? What is their significance to her grandfather? Do the lessons mean the same thing to Matilda? Does her understanding of and appreciation for these lessons change during the course of the novel? How do these lessons support the novel’s concern with Selflessness Versus Selfishness in the Face of Disaster, Coming of Age in a Time of Tragedy, or Death and Despair/Rebirth and Hope?

2. How do race, sex, and class affect the experiences of characters during the epidemic in Fever 1793? What assumptions do Dr. Rush and others make about Black people, and what are some of the ways Black citizens of Philadelphia choose to respond? What options do wealthier and higher-status people have that the poor and lower-status citizens do not have? Are the expectations placed on women during the epidemic different from the expectations placed on men? Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about how characters’ identities influenced their experiences during the yellow fever epidemic in this novel.

3. Do some research on a real-world example of a person who was Selfless When Faced with Disaster. Write an essay that compares and contrasts this person’s selflessness with Matilda’s behavior during the yellow fever epidemic. In what ways are the situations they are faced with similar? In what way are the situations different? How does Matilda’s selfless behavior compare to that of the person you researched? Was the person you researched also hesitant to sacrifice, at first, or is Matilda different in this way? Support your ideas about the similarities and differences between Matilda and the person you research by offering textual examples from Fever 1793 and from high-quality research sources. Be sure to cite all quoted and paraphrased information.