The Benefits of Being an Octopus

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

What causes dysfunctional families? Why might perfectionism be considered dysfunctional? What role do finances play in dysfunctional families? What is the impact of chaotic households on children? What are ways to prevent chaos in the home?

Teaching Suggestion: With sensitivity in mind for varying circumstances, discussing the potential definitions and causes of the term “dysfunctional” may be beneficial before having students address the prompt. Zoey, the protagonist, is part of a chaotic, dysfunctional household. Lenny is her mother Kara’s live-in partner; he is a perfectionist with unrealistic expectations for Zoey’s mother and is emotionally abusive. To cope with her circumstances, Kara leans heavily on Zoey to fulfill the role of caretaker for her siblings, as Kara works a menial job making very little money.

• This 5-minute video describes aspects of dysfunctional families. (Teacher-appropriate, not student-facing; brief mention of sexual abuse)
• This article describes the effects of household chaos on families and children.

Short Activity

In The Benefits of Being an Octopus, Zoey, the protagonist, gains confidence by learning to debate.