Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Photographs first appear in the novel when Jacob discovers his grandfather’s collection, and more are later discovered in Miss Peregrine’s home.

• What role do photographs play in the reader’s understanding of the events in the book? (topic sentence)
• Explain how the photographs used by Abraham impact the way the reader understands the novel; then explain how the additional photos at Miss Peregrine’s home add to the reader’s perception.
• In your concluding sentences, explain whether the photographs add to the narrative or detract from it.

2. The novel has religious elements that pervade Jacob’s narrative.

• What religious components or allusions appear in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain the concept of faith that Jacob experiences, how religious attitudes connect to the setting of World War II, and how the peculiar children tie into Jacob’s beliefs.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why the author might have chosen to give the novel religious undertones.

3. The author draws parallels between Jacob’s and Abraham’s identities and shared experiences.

• How does the author draw comparisons between Jacob and Abraham? (topic sentence)
• Explain how Jacob and Abraham share similar experiences and have similar missions. Describe the comparisons the children make between them.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how Jacob’s journey to the island brings these similarities to the surface.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Jacob’s power places him in a unique position to help Miss Peregrine and Miss Avocet after they have been abducted. How is Jacob’s gift unique in comparison to the other children’s? What about his gift makes him pivotal in saving Miss Peregrine? Does Jacob’s gift position him to take up a leadership role, or is it his personality? Explain.

2. Dr. Golan initiates Jacob’s journey by suggesting to his parents that it is a good idea for him to go to Cairnholm. How does the perception of Dr. Golan’s role in Jacob’s life change by the end of the novel? What ulterior motives does Dr. Golan have for Jacob? How might Dr. Golan’s change in role have an impact on Jacob’s newfound trust?

3. Miss Peregrine fears the stories that pass between Jacob and the children about the future. In what ways does discussing the future endanger the loop she uses to protect the children? How is this ironic? What are the limitations of the loop?