34 pages • 1 hour read
Kenneth LonerganThis Is Our Youth
Kenneth LonerganFiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1996A 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
Why are Warren’s toys and other memorabilia so important to him? What is implied metaphorically when he finally relents and decides to sell them to make up for his poor decisions?
How is the dynamic between Warren and Dennis expressed through their dialogue and actions? How does Lonergan illustrate their complex friendship despite the simplicity of the setting and plotline?
How does the play encompass the attitudes and youth culture of the era? In what ways are youth of the 1980s similar to today’s youth, and in what senses have people changed?
What makes Warren a more evolved character than Dennis and Jessica? How is Warren set apart from these two, and why is it ironic that Warren considers Dennis his hero?
How does Lonergan’s reliance on dialogue and monologue come to define this play? How does conversation serve as a window into his characters’ thoughts, beliefs, and emotional states?
How does Warren begin to navigate a balance between healthy nostalgia and a desire to grow and change? Why are Dennis and Jessica stuck in this regard?
How is The Pointless Pursuit of Materialism depicted through the lives of the characters? How does the play suggest that materialism fails to protect youth from the potential dangers of the world?
Why does Warren take an interest in Jessica, and how do they initially connect? Why does this connection quickly fizzle out?
Why is The Disillusionment of Adulthood such a challenging experience for the characters? How does each character cope with this inevitability?
How does the occurrence of Stuey’s death urge Dennis to take stock of his life and the direction it is heading? Why was such an epiphany necessary for someone living a stagnant existence?
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