43 pages • 1 hour read
John GroganMarley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2005A 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
What expectations do John and Jenny have when they decide to get a dog? What are these expectations based upon, and what are some of the early signs that those expectations may be disappointed?
How does Marley’s role in the family evolve throughout the story?
Who is responsible for Marley’s behavior? Are John and Jenny weak-willed masters, or is Marley an untreatable case?
What challenges does Marley help the Grogans overcome throughout the story? What role does Marley play in overcoming each of those challenges?
How does postpartum depression affect the relationship between Jenny and Marley? How do John and Marley connect while Jenny is coping with postpartum depression?
Who is the master of the Grogan household? Explain your answer.
How are the responses from readers helpful after John publishes his Marley column? What is the significance of so many people connecting to Marley’s story?
Is this story a biography of Marley’s life or an autobiographical snippet of John’s life? Explain your answer.
What does Marley teach John about himself? What does Marley teach John about life in general?
Why do John and Jenny feel they need a dog to complete their family? What do they expect a dog will add to their family a second time around?
