On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is an epistolary novel, written in the form of a letter. What is the significance of this structure? How does the letter format allow Little Dog to explore his and his family’s past? Consider the following as you develop your ideas:

• What does Little Dog realize about his mother and grandmother? How do these realizations bring healing?
• How does Little Dog learn more about himself through the letter-writing process?
• How is Little Dog able to bridge the gaps between the violent landscape of his birth and a path forward to a better future?
• What sort of freedom does Little Dog find in writing this letter, knowing that his mother is almost certainly never going to read it, and how is that freedom empowering?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to help students identify places in the novel in which Little Dog directly addresses his mother; these places act as reminders to the reader that this is, in fact, a letter. Identifying these points early on may help stimulate discussion.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who struggle with comprehension, consider providing specific passages to reference from the text that relate to each question. Students may wish to annotate the passages prior to the discussion with their thoughts, ideas, and questions.