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“The Danger of a Single Story?” Worksheet Questions
Pre-writing
What jumps to mind when you hear the phrase “the danger of a single story”?
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What single stories have you heard (or told) about yourself?
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What single stories have you heard (or told) about others?
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Breaking Down the Text
Adichie begins the text by identifying herself as a storyteller. Why is this significant?
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Adichie talks about how “impressionable and vulnerable we are in the face of a story, particularly as children” (1). Explain what she means.
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Why does Adichie say that she only began to consciously identify as African when she moved to the United States? Why does she “come to embrace this new identity” (2)?
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Consider Adichie’s discussion about her trip to Mexico. What does she learn about the perils of defining others by a single story?
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For Adichie, if we talk about telling stories, we must also talk about power. Why is this?
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What is the relationship between single stories and stereotypes, according to Adichie?
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Adichie concludes her piece by telling us that “when we realize that there is never a single story about any place, we regain a kind of paradise” (5). Explain.
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