The Little Prince

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the play over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The drawings in The Little Prince are arguably just as central to its meaning as its words. Choose one of the drawings in the book and discuss how it contributes to the story's meaning.

• Which drawing from The Little Prince stands out to you the most? (topic sentence)
• How does this drawing contribute to the story’s meaning?
• Conclude with a statement on the impact of Saint-Exupéry’s drawings on the overall story.

2. The prince implies that the drawing of the sheep will actually come alive back on his home planet. What is the significance of this in terms of the book's themes (imagination, meaning, etc.)?

• What is the significance of the implication that the sheep drawing will come alive? (topic sentence)
• What theme(s) does this implication emphasize?
• Conclude by exploring how Saint-Exupéry uses the implication of the sheep drawing to highlight a major theme?

3. In the story's final pages, the pilot wonders anxiously whether the sheep he drew for the prince has eaten the flower. What role does the sheep serve in The Little Prince, and why might the book end with this question?

• What role does the sheep serve in The Little Prince? (topic sentence)
• Why does the book end with the question about the sheep eating the flower?
• Conclude with a statement about the symbolism of the sheep in the story as a whole.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. The prince remarks that he "shouldn’t have listened to [the rose]" (24) because her words weren't reflective of her true character. How does Saint-Exupéry work through and around the rose's language to show his readers her true character?

2. How does Saint-Exupéry use the prince's naiveté to make things we typically accept as normal seem strange? Include two to three examples in your response. In your essay, connect these examples to Saint-Exupéry’s theme(s). 

3. Why does Saint-Exupéry include the story of the prince's journeys to other planets? Choose two or three of the adults the prince meets on his travels and explain how these episodes contribute to The Little Prince as a whole.