44 pages 1 hour read

Gary Paulsen

Canyons

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1990

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Essay Topics

1.

How does the setting of the canyons, as well as the harsh and unforgiving desert around the hills of El Paso, serve as a metaphor for the protagonist’s internal journey and growth throughout the novel?

2.

Analyze the relationship between the main characters, especially in terms of how Coyote Runs affects Brennan’s personal development. In what way does Brennan change because of his discovery of Coyote Runs’s skull?

3.

Explore the concept of survival in Canyons. How do the physical challenges in the wilderness reflect the emotional and psychological challenges faced by the characters?