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Prompt 01

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

AP LiteratureCommon Core ElaIB Language & Literature

In Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell presents Scarlett O'Hara as a survivor who consistently places self-preservation and material security above moral integrity and authentic human relationships. Argue that Scarlett's unyielding pragmatism, while allowing her to endure the Civil War and Reconstruction, ultimately hinders her from finding lasting happiness or forming meaningful connections.

In your essay, make sure to:

  • Develop a clear, defensible thesis that asserts how Scarlett's pragmatism serves as both an advantage and a significant flaw.
  • Use at least three specific scenes or moments from the novel as supporting evidence (e.g., her vow at Tara, her marriages, her treatment of Melanie, her pursuit of Ashley).
  • Analyze how Mitchell employs setting, characterization, and irony to strengthen your argument.
  • Address a counterargument: consider whether Mitchell portrays Scarlett sympathetically as a result of her historical context rather than as a morally lacking character.
  • Conclude by reflecting on what the novel ultimately conveys about the price of survival in the post-antebellum South.

Length

4–6 pages (approximately 1,000–1,500 words)

Format

MLA or as directed by your instructor

Prompt 02

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

AP LiteratureCommon Core ElaIB Language & Literature

In Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell presents Scarlett O'Hara as a survivor whose unyielding pragmatism and self-interest often undermine her moral integrity and personal relationships. Write a well-organized essay arguing whether Scarlett O'Hara's survival instinct is depicted as an admirable strength, a destructive flaw, or an inseparable blend of both. Use specific evidence from the novel to back up your claim, and consider how Mitchell's portrayal of the American South before, during, and after the Civil War influences the reader's perception of Scarlett's decisions.

Guiding Questions to Consider

  • How does the social and historical backdrop of the antebellum and Reconstruction-era South shape Scarlett's values and choices?
  • In what ways does Scarlett's well-known motto — "I'll think about that tomorrow" — reveal both her strengths and limitations?
  • How do characters like Melanie Hamilton and Rhett Butler highlight the moral aspects of Scarlett's personality?
  • What does the novel ultimately convey about the balance between personal ambition and human connection?

Requirements

  • Craft a clear, arguable thesis in your introduction.
  • Support your argument with at least three pieces of textual evidence.
  • Engage with at least one counterargument to strengthen your position.
  • Conclude by reflecting on the broader thematic significance of your argument.

Prompt 03

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

AP LiteratureAP LanguageCommon Core ElaIB Language & Literature

In Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell presents a portrayal of the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction era, focusing on its white Southern characters, particularly the determined and self-centered Scarlett O'Hara. Scholars have long discussed the novel's romanticized view of the antebellum plantation South and its troubling representations of enslaved individuals and racial relations.

*Write a well-structured argumentative essay arguing that Mitchell's narrative perspective in Gone With the Wind either supports or critiques the mythology of the "Lost Cause."* Use specific textual evidence — including characterization, setting, and narrative voice — to back up your argument. Your essay should also recognize and address at least one counterargument.

Guiding Questions to Consider

  • In what ways does Mitchell's depiction of Tara and plantation life create (or challenge) an idealized image of the Old South?
  • What insights does Scarlett's survival-driven mantra ("I'll think about that tomorrow") provide about the novel's moral framework?
  • How are enslaved characters like Mammy and Prissy portrayed, and what do these portrayals indicate about the novel's ideological perspective?
  • How does the novel engage with themes of defeat, loss, and resilience — and whose narrative is prioritized in that context?

Requirements

  • Minimum 5 paragraphs (introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion)
  • At least 4 direct quotations from the text
  • Address one counterargument in a dedicated paragraph
  • MLA or Chicago citation format

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