The Underground Railroad was written by Colson Whitehead, author of five other award-winning novels as well as essays and a non-fiction account of the 2011 World Series of Poker called The Noble Hustle. He has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship.





[From Amazon books]


Study Questions

(If you want to make a comment about this book, please scroll down to the box at the bottom of the page.)

1. How is your understanding of slavery in America different now than it was before reading the book? Did it prompt you to do any more research or find out any other stories about people who escaped?

2. Days before Cora decides to leave, a man is brutally tortured for an escape attempt. How does this affect you as a reader?

3. Many of the scenes on the Randall plantation are graphic. Why do you think Whitehead chose to include these scenes?

4. In The Underground Railroad, the narration switches perspectives. Did seeing some scenes from Cora’s point of view and some scenes from Ridgeway’s point of view change your opinion about any of the characters? Why do you think the author chose to do this?

5. What role do you think stories play in Cora’s survival? What about other travelers on the underground railroad?

6. Why do you think the author chose to use the magical realism of a literal underground railroad?

7. Does Ethel telling her story change your perception of her? Why or why not?

8. Why do you think Ridgeway bought Cora a dress and took her out to dinner while she was still in chains?

9. Did you find anything surprising in The Underground Railroad? Were there any turn of events you didn’t expect?

10. How do you feel about Mabel’s decision to run away? Does your opinion of her change after you learn of what really happened to Cora’s mother?

11. Do you see any present day events reflected in the novel? How does this make you feel?

12. “Each thing had a value … In America the quirk was that people were things.” How does the idea of people as property play out in ways you didn’t expect throughout the book? Does that change your view of slavery in America?

13. The author creates emotional instability for the reader by lulling them into a false sense of security. How does this sense of fear affect the reading?

[From Book riot]




Leave a Reply
