By the Shores of Silver Lake

What changes do the Ingalls face in this book? What supporting characters and specific character traits help them adapt to these challenges? How does the theme of Adaptation to Change impact the novel’s overall meaning?

Compare and contrast Laura’s relationships with her parents. What traits does she admire in each of them, and how do her attempts to live up to her parents’ expectations contribute to her characterization? How do Laura’s relationships with Ma and Pa develop the theme of The Strength of Family Bonds?

In what ways is Laura shaped by The Transition From Childhood to Adolescence? What factors catalyze her growth? How does Laura show maturity throughout the novel, and how does she demonstrate childlike qualities as well?

Select one of Laura’s three sisters. What contributions does this character make to the plot, the protagonist’s character development, and the theme of family?

Throughout the novel, Wilder uses imagery to vividly capture the sights and sounds of the prairie. How does her use of auditory and visual imagery develop the novel’s setting, mood, and theme of Adaptation to Change?

Music is a motif for the theme of family throughout the novel. How does music contribute to the mood of key scenes, provide insight into the characters’ values, and develop the characters’ relationships?

How is the prairie both a beautiful place and a dangerous one? How does this setting affect the novel’s structure, mood, and the theme of adaptation to change? How does the prairie shape the Ingalls, and how do they shape it in return?

How does the china shepherdess function as a symbol of home? When is the figurine mentioned throughout the story, and how does the shepherdess play into the story’s ending?