From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

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 below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Konigsburg has stated that she made a special effort to make From the Mixed-Up Files funny.

• How does the novel’s humor support its character development and themes? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least three passages that you find funny. For each one, analyze what makes the passage funny and how it contributes to the novel’s main ideas or character development.
• In conclusion, discuss how the novel’s humorous tone shapes the narrative overall.

2. Claudia and Jamie frequently disagree on a variety of topics.

• What do Claudia and Jamie learn about working together as a team through their challenging experiences? (topic sentence)
• Identify and analyze at least three situations where Claudia and Jamie’s relationship is strained through conflict. You might consider what causes the conflict, what happens as a result, and how it is resolved, if at all.
• Overall, what does the novel suggest about handling disagreements and cooperating with others?

3. Much of the novel’s action centers on a museum and the art it contains.

• What effects and influences does art have throughout the novel? (topic sentence)
• Using examples from the novel, discuss the way art impacts one or more of the three main characters (Claudia, Jamie, and Mrs. Frankweiler).
• What does the novel suggest is the role and value of art in society?

Full Essay Assignments

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

1. Consider the frame narrative that overlays the novel, involving Mrs. Frankweiler and her lawyer, Saxonberg. How does this device enrich the reader’s experience? What might be lost if Claudia and Jamie’s experiences were narrated by an unnamed narrator? What unique qualities and insights does Mrs. Frankweiler’s narration add, and what do they reveal about her? How does the inclusion of the frame narrative deepen and extend the novel’s themes? Be sure to include several examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Claudia has multiple potentially complicated reasons for running away from home. Considering her home life as described in the first few chapters, as well as her development throughout the novel, how do you expect Claudia to be different when she returns home? How are the changes she has made and the things she has learned during the novel likely to impact her home life? It may also be helpful to consider which aspects of her home life, if any, are unlikely to change. Be sure to include examples from the text to support your analysis.