56 pages • 1 hour read
Elaine Marie AlphinThe Perfect Shot
Elaine Marie AlphinFiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2003A 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
The first epigraph at the beginning of the novel is, “The smallest injustice anywhere / Threatens justice everywhere,” from “The Sweater” by Shahriar Shahriari. After reading the novel, how does this quote connect to the story? Why do you think the author chose to begin the novel with this epigraph?
The second epigraph reads, “The time is out of joint; O cursed spite, / That ever I was born to set it right!”, a quote from Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5. What is the significance of this quote to the story? Why do you think the author chose it, and how is it similar to or different from the first epigraph?
Explain the role of fathers and father figures in The Perfect Shot. How does Brian’s concept of role models change due to his relationship with these various men? Give specific examples from the text to explain your answer. Why is the presence of father figures relevant to his coming-of-age journey?
