Becoming Muhammad Ali

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.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

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

1. Lucky is a fictional character, but he narrates the introduction to each Round.

• What role does Lucky play in this novel? (topic sentence)
• Choose three instances in which Lucky appears, whether they are in Round introductions or in Cassius’s poems, and connect them to your thesis.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, describe how Lucky’s fictional nature connects back to the novel’s goal of explaining how Cassius Clay grew up to be Muhammad Ali.

2. Cassius frequently refers to rhythm and music in his poems.

• Why are these motifs important for Cassius as a boxer? Think about both form and content. (topic sentence)
• Use three examples from the text that mention rhythm or music to prove your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your thesis back to the theme of Becoming the Greatest and Overcoming Oppression.

3. Cassius’s poems provide direct insight into his perspective on the events of his life.

• How does Cassius grow as a character throughout the novel? Be sure to think about both his internal thoughts and the external façade he presents to others. (topic sentence)
• Use three examples from Cassius’s poems that demonstrate his confidence and his doubt to support your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect your argument back to the theme of Remembering Who You Are and Where You Came From or Public and Private Personas.

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. Granddaddy Herman does a card trick for Cassius early in the novel, and Cassius returns to it at the book’s end. What does this card trick symbolize? How does it relate to Cassius’s desire to become skilled as a boxer? In your essay, make an argument about the importance of the card trick and what it shows about Cassius’s growth over the course of the novel. Be sure to have a strong central thesis and connect it back to the theme of Becoming the Greatest and Overcoming Oppression.

2. The theft of Cassius’s red bicycle is a real-life turning point in the boxer’s life. What does the bicycle symbolize? Is it still important even after Cassius begins boxing? Choose one side of this debate and make a convincing argument in your essay that draws on examples from the text. Your conclusion should discuss where the bicycle fits into the larger arc of the novel.

3. The historical context of this novel is key to understanding it. Cassius makes frequent reference to historical figures, from musicians like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley to athletes like Jack Johnson and Joe Louis. He also discusses his family’s history. Why are these histories important to Cassius’s development as a boxer? How do the allusions enhance the novel? Use examples from the text to prove your point, and connect your ideas to the theme of Remembering Who You Are and Where You Came From.