Parker's Back

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Consider the terms “religion” and “spirituality.” What are the similarities in these two terms’ meanings? What are the differences? In what ways do these two terms overlap?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question orients students with an important distinction in the story: the difference between religion and spirituality. While religion usually refers to a shared way of life and a set of external representations of faith that identify a person with a specific belief system, spirituality is a more personal connection with a specific deity or belief system and is one’s internal representation of faith. These two often coexist. In this story, however, they are contrasted through the characterizations of protagonist Parker and his wife, Sarah Ruth. Sarah Ruth possesses a direct and inflexible view of religion, primarily based on social expectations of the Christian belief system, where there are dogmatic delineations of sin and truth. Parker, by contrast, is less concerned with faith as a religious set of rules and is drawn to the spirituality of belief. His Transformation of the Soul is evidence of the importance of mystery in faith, a concept that author O’Connor explores in her other works.

• ReachOut.com shares a succinct overview of the difference between the terms “religion” and “spirituality.”
• Poggi’s (2020) “A Southern Gothic Theology: Flannery O’Connor and Her Religious Conception of the Novel” explores O’Connor’s use of religion and spirituality in her texts.

Short Activity

Flannery O’Conner’s story can be considered a part of the Southern Gothic genre. Working in small groups, research this genre and select one short story of which to share a summary and analysis with the class in a presentation. If applicable, include images and/or video adaptations as a part of your presentation. Consider the similarity of elements within this genre of work among your classmates’ selections.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore Southern Gothic literature in the context of group work and presentation. Using the resources below, students may explore some of the most notable authors of the genre while also understanding O’Connor’s role and contribution to this set of literature. The second Recommended Next Read, “A Rose for Emily,” is an example of Southern Gothic literature.

• Bjerre’s (2017) academic article from Oxford Research Encyclopedias explores the history of the Southern Gothic genre as well as its most notable figures.
• Georgia Humanities explores the legacy of O’Conner in “The ‘Forever’ of Flannery O’Connor — The Lasting Influence of a Southern Gothic Writer.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For an extended research and presentation exercise, this Short Activity may be amended to include the following question: Research the author’s background. What was the author’s interest in the Southern Gothic genre? Why were this person’s pieces categorized in this field of literature?

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the story.

Did you have a moment in your life where you witnessed a significant transformation in another person? If so, when and where? Describe the moment. What was the transformation? Was it religious or spiritual? If so, how?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the theme of Transformation of the Soul within the context of their own lives. Parker, the protagonist, does not feel that he is particularly religious; however, with God as Pursuer, he is unable to fight the divine calling and begins The Search for Meaning through the acquisition of more tattoos. This Personal Connection Prompt links with the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.