We Are the Ants

Make an argument: Are the sluggers real or a figment of Henry’s depression? Explain your reasoning.

Much of Henry’s internal conflict is his difficulty in coming to terms with his past. How important is the past in defining our present and our future? Make an argument combining evidence from Hutchinson’s novel and from your own experiences.

How does Jesse’s death influence the way Henry sees himself? What other external conflicts influence Henry’s self-perception? Use evidence from the text in your analysis.

Why does everyone else in Henry’s life believe that they would definitely press the red button, despite their own experiences with pain? How do these secondary characters’ relationships with life juxtapose to Henry, and what does this reveal about Henry’s characterization?

How does Hutchinson use the cosmos as a motif throughout his novel? Select at least three pieces of text evidence in your analysis.

What is the red button a symbol of? How does this symbol change or remain static throughout the novel?

Marcus is a primary antagonist in the story, though he is a complex one. Analyze Marcus’s characterization. What is antagonistic about him? How does Hutchinson attempt to humanize him? What does Marcus’s role in the novel do for Hutchinson’s overarching themes?

Select one of the secondary characters in the novel to analyze in relation to Henry. How does this secondary character help or hinder Henry’s character development? Why is this secondary character important to the narrative as a whole? Consider secondary characters such as Diego, Audrey, Charlie, and Ms. Faraci.