Discussion Questions for Witness
(You may choose any 5 of the 8 questions to answer).
Answers must be written in paragraph form and contain at least five sentences. Your answers should reflect depth of thought and a thorough understanding of the book.
1. Why did the author choose to tell the story in many different voices? How would your experience of this story be different if it were only told from the point of view of Leanora? of Esther? of Merlin? of Sara Chickering? Choose any of characters to answer the question.
2. Esther has a way of speaking the Leanora calls “funny talking.” How do these speech patterns affect your perception of Esther? Why did the author choose this particular style for her voice?
3. Sara Chickering says of the Klan: “There’s a kind of power they wield, a deceptive authority.” What does she mean by deceptive authority? Why do Klan members burn crosses and hide their identity behind hoods and sheets?
4. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa has said: “If you are neutral in situation of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” What does he mean by this? Which characters in Witness attempt to remain neutral in this situation? Which of them changes his or her position of neutrality?
5. Consider the characters of Leonora and Esther. In what ways are they similar in what ways are they different? (You can draw a Venn diagram instead of writing a paragraph as a response to this question.)
6. What part does Iris Weaver play in the story? What is the importance of her character?
7. What is the connection between Sara Chickering and Esther? Why is Sara so protective of Esther? In what ways have Esther and her father made a difference in Sara’s life?
8. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word “witness” as “one who has seen or heard something” or “an affirmation of a fact, statement, or event.” Who are the witnesses in this story and what have they seen or heard? What does each of them affirm to be true? Why do you think the author chose the title for the book?