The Sentence

Readers experience the events of The Sentence from Tookie’s perspective. Consequently, there is some ambiguity regarding whether or not Flora’s ghost is real. What impact does this ambiguity have on the reading experience? Consider the following points as you formulate a response:

• Where do you see these moments of ambiguity regarding Flora’s ghost within the novel?
• As a reader, do you believe that Flora’s ghost is a real part of the narrative? Why or why not?
• To what extent is Tookie a reliable or an unreliable narrator?
• Does it matter if Flora’s ghost is real or not?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be beneficial to review the concept of an “unreliable narrator” before readers address the prompt. Students might meet in groups of two or three to locate examples in the text of Tookie’s reliability (or lack thereof). Readers may note that they see only Tookie’s perspective throughout the novel; however, students should focus more on the impact that this ghost seems to have on Tookie and what it tells us indirectly about her as a character.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who benefit from strategies that welcome all reader reactions, readers might offer their initial opinion with a show of hands while closing their eyes: How many think that Flora is real? How many think the opposite? Afterward, students might work in pairs to discuss each side of this question before bringing it to a full-class discussion.