Sophie's World

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 bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Symbols are a key component of Sophie’s World and Knox’s method of explaining philosophical theories to Sophie.

• What does Alberto Knox mean by searching for a white crow, and why is this a key characteristic of all philosophers? (topic sentence)
• Using at least three direct quotes, explore the symbolic meaning of the white crow, its origins in philosophy, and why this frame of mind is important. Note: You may need to perform some extra research to fully understand the origins of the symbol.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, theorize as to why Knox chose to introduce this concept so early in Sophie’s philosophical journey.

2. Sophie and Alberto are of vastly different ages and form an unlikely and unconventional bond.

• Why did the author choose to create this stark contrast, and how do these characters’ ages influence their views on the historical and philosophical ideas presented? (topic sentence)
• Detail at least three characteristics each of Sophie and Knox; compare their philosophical worldviews.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, examine how Sophie and Knox’s relationship is defined by the differences between them.

3. Sophie’s World details The History of Ideas through the format of a mystery fiction novel.

• Why is an awareness of the history of ideas crucial not only to an understanding of philosophy but also to the ability to formulate one’s own philosophical ideas? (topic sentence)
• In the body of your essay, explore the role of the history of ideas in the novel, drawing on direct quotes for support. Next, consider how learning this history impacted your own personal ability to think philosophically.
• In the conclusion of your essay, determine a demographic you would recommend read Sophie’s World and why.

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. In an essay of at least three body paragraphs, examine the ideas and contributions of a philosopher featured in Sophie’s World. Consider each philosopher discussed and choose one who sparks your interest; provide an account of their life and analyze, critique, and add to the philosophical ideas they proposed.

2. In an essay of at least three main points, explore the role of free will in the novel, how the author led up to this concept, and the overall employment of it by Sophie and Knox to escape the mind of the Major. Your essay should include direct quotes and references to the philosophers who explored the concept of free will and their ideas on it.

3. Sophie is a female character exploring the history of an almost entirely male-oriented field. In an essay of at least three body paragraphs, answer the following: How do you think philosophy, or history itself, would have been different if women were given equal opportunity to become philosophers? Why do you think Gaarder chose to feature a female protagonist?