To Hell with Dying

Analyze the gender dynamics in the story. How does gender influence the relationships and roles of the characters? Do these roles still influence American culture today?

What does the story have to say about success and failure? Consider the tone change from childhood to adulthood and the narrator’s interpretation of success and failure of the revivals.

The story ends with the narrator realizing that Mr. Sweet was her “first love.” What was Walker’s purpose in this realization?

The narrator’s father acts as the instigator of the “revivals,” beginning each one by declaring, “To hell with dying!” (Paragraph 1). What is the significance of this phrase? Why do you think Walker chose this as her title?

The brother isn’t offered as much description as the narrator, even though they had similarly strong relationships with Mr. Sweet as children. What are the key differences between the narrator and her brother? How does this influence the themes and overall moral of the story?

Spirituality and African American culture are historically intertwined. How is spiritualism reflected in the story? What does its presence contribute to the story’s representation of an intergenerational Black community?

The story was re-published with illustrations in 1988. Considering the flat characters of the mother, father, brother, and doctor, how might the illustrative publication have affected the readers interpretation of the story?

The narrator sees Mr. Sweet in an almost angelic light. How do you think the brother, father, and mother view Mr. Sweet? Consider the context the story is written in and that the story is partially autobiographical.