63 pages • 2 hours read
Anna Marie TendlerMen Have Called Her Crazy
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2024A 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
Tendler crafts a nonlinear narrative, moving back and forth between the distant past, the recent past, and the present. Examine how time functions in the narrative. What is its impact? How does the nonlinear structure allow Tendler to explore her life? What would the narrative impact be if the memoir was instead told in a linear narrative?
Analyze Tendler’s internal biases as she navigates her relationships with others and herself. How do her preconceived notions impact her healing process, both positively and negatively, and what societal factors exacerbate them? What biases do other figures in the text display, particularly regarding Mental Health and Societal Expectations and The Impact of Gender Dynamics on Personal Identity?
How do Tendler’s experiences with mental health treatment connect to class and privilege? Consider her access to healthcare, the resources available to her, and how this influences her journey toward healing. How does the novel explore the relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health care?
Reflect on Tendler’s perception of motherhood, especially in the context of her relationship with her mother. Analyze how Tendler’s view on motherhood changes throughout the novel and what factors facilitate this change. What role does motherhood play in Tendler’s examination of misogyny and patriarchy?
Using textual evidence, compare and contrast the men who play important roles in the narrative (e.g., Tendler’s father, David, Sam, Dr. Philips, and Dr. Samuels). Which men contribute to Tendler’s negative feelings about men, and how? Which men contribute to Tendler’s positive feelings about men, and how?
Research the history of mental health treatment and women beyond the examples Tendler discusses in the memoir. Using textual evidence, what connections exist between the past and Tendler’s lived experience as a woman seeking mental health treatment?
Analyze Petunia’s significance in the narrative. How does Tendler and Petunia’s relationship highlight the importance of human-animal bonds and companionship? Consider how Petunia serves as both a source of comfort and a challenge to Tendler’s emotional state.
What objects function as symbols throughout the narrative? Why are these symbols significant? What do they represent for Tendler, particularly amid The Process of Healing and Self-Discovery?
How does community or lack thereof shape Tendler’s experiences in Men Have Called Her Crazy? How do her relationships with other women at Dalby House influence her sense of self and emotional well-being? How does the presence or absence of supportive friendships affect her ability to cope with the challenges she faces?
