43 pages • 1 hour read
Chris GardnerThe Pursuit of Happyness
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How does Gardner use the five senses to bring his joys, sorrows and inspirations to life in his book?
Explore how the ambitions and desires of the female characters in Gardner’s life are thwarted. In what ways does the text imply that it is more difficult for women to break the poverty cycle?
How do the conflicting desires for control and exploration play out in Gardner’s life story?
“The most dangerous place in the world is a public library,” Bettye Jean tells Gardner. Discuss the importance of seeking information for Gardner.
What techniques of narration does Gardner use to engage the reader in his life story?
Gardner considers himself lucky to have been born at a point in history where sexual and racial norms were coming into question. Using concrete examples from the text, discuss how Gardner regarded his struggles and triumphs as part of a collective experience.
What are the ‘No-Daddy blues?’ In what ways did Gardner both suffer and benefit from not having a consistent father figure in his life?
Describe Gardner’s mother’s role in his success. To what extent is she the most important person in his life?
Gardner’s autobiography is a testament to the beauty and power of black people. How does he use his life story to overturn entrenched racial stereotypes?
Gardner considers that he has achieved the American Dream by rising above his disadvantaged origins and gaining worldly success. In what ways is Gardner’s path towards the American Dream an unconventional one?
