With all of the suffering in Eleanor & Park, it's amazing our beloved characters can face some of the horrible situations they're up against. But both of them—Eleanor in particular—have plenty to spare in the bravery department. What does courage mean in this story? Maybe it's the ability to stare down a bully, but maybe, some days, it's deciding not to let the bad guys win.
Questions About Courage
- How does Eleanor show her courage at school when she's bullied?
- Park makes a few very brave decisions in this story. What do you think Park does that's particularly courageous?
- Eleanor and Park aren't the only characters in the book who display bravery. Park's dad shows a lot of courage in letting Park drive Eleanor to safety. Do you think this is a difficult decision for him to make?
- Do you think Eleanor would call herself brave? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Sometimes it takes more courage to let people go than to keep them with you.
Eleanor's decision to leave Park is incredibly brave, but she also doesn't really have a choice.