65 pages • 2 hours read
Nella LarsenPassing
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1929A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Explain what “passing”, as portrayed in Larsen’s novel, means. What does the act of passing suggest about race more generally? Provide examples.
Compare Irene, Clare and Gertrude. How are they similar in their outlook on life and passing? How are they different?
Larsen’s novel makes a point of describing how similar the lives of Irene’s circle of friends in Harlem are to those of white Americans. Describe the two sides. Is there a marked difference?
