Meggie must overcome many challenges during the novel. Which challenges stem from antagonistic individuals (like Basta and Capricorn)? Which challenges come from the environment (such as the darkness and the countryside)? And which come from herself (i.e., her fear)? Of all these conflicts, which is the most important to overcome?

Teaching Suggestion: In unpacking this question, students might find it helpful to recall and detail Meggie’s challenges, and then to consider how each of these challenges—or conflicts—can be categorized in terms of environment, society, or self. See this article by Master Class on types of conflict in literature.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who need organizational assistance with whole-text tasks could create a table that details Meggie’s challenges, the challenges’ categories, and how Meggie overcame each challenge. This format enables students to compare different conflicts more easily.