Slob

Slob confronts social issues including bullying, childhood obesity, and gender identity. Discuss how the author complicates the social issues within the novel by using quotations from the text for evidence of your claims.

Slob is a Bildungsroman, or novel that follows the trajectory of the main protagonist’s identity development. Discuss how the novel’s secondary characters shape and control Owen.

Discuss the purpose of the symbolism and the mystery of the missing Oreos in an essay, focusing on the characters impacted. How does Owen navigate the mystery and what does this communicate about his character? How does he change as he learns new information regarding the cookies?

The Martha Doxie School in New York upholds progressive ideals, yet students struggle against faculty with rigid expectations for behavior and identity. Discuss the juxtaposition between the mission and goals of the Martha Doxie School and the characterization of the faculty. What does this suggest about education today?

Discuss the significance of Owen’s invention, Nemesis, within the story. How does Nemesis impact Owen’s life? In what ways does Nemesis serve to emphasize the novel’s themes? Use quotations from the novel to support your answer.

Owen often highlights the physical side effects of his obesity in such a way that associates it with feelings of humiliation and degradation, consistent with the literary grotesque. Consider and discuss how these moments shape Owen as a character and influence his growth. How do Owen’s descriptions of himself change? What do these changes mean for him?

How does Ellen Potter emphasize and contradict stereotypes within Slob? Choose at least two characters from the novel and analyze how they support or dispute stereotypes. Explain why the character may have a motive to uphold or break down the stereotypes expected of them and why, connecting their actions to the novel’s themes. Use passages from the text to frame your essay.

Discuss how Owen uses repression and avoidance to cope with trauma. How do his coping mechanisms affect his relationships? Choose one scene from the novel in which Owen uses these coping techniques and provide a line-by-line analysis of the text, explaining your theories about why Owen speaks and acts in the manner he chooses. How do his actions and speech highlight the novel’s themes?