James A. Michener Curriculum Supplement

• Introduction
• Summary
• Themes
• Characters
• Key Quotations
• Essay Topics
• Bibliography

Essay Topics

1. Explain how Michener’s childhood influenced his writing.
2. What do you think it was like for Michener to hitchhike alone as a teenager across the U.S. in the 1920s?
3. People often gave Michener suggestions of ideas for other books. Briefly develop a topic you think he could have used for a book.
4. Which of the places Michener wrote about would you most like to visit? Why?
5. Write about the importance of setting or place compared to characters in a novel.
6. Describe how you will 'help your nation within your vocation' as Michener writes in A Century of Sonnets.
7. Michener was a visiting professor of writing at several universities. Imagine yourself in a class taught by Michener. What would you ask him?
8. Write about why you think Michener’s books were so successful.
9. Why are most of Michener’s books upbeat and optimistic?
10. Write about your favorite Michener book or character.