69 pages • 2 hours read
Alex HaleyRoots: The Saga of an American Family
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1976A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Content Warning: This section of the Guide contains graphic depictions of enslavement, including violence, sexual assault, and death associated with slavery. The source material contains frequent use of racial slurs and racist language, which are reproduced in this guide only through quoted material.
Describe Kunta’s childhood in Juffure. How does Kunta characterize his village and culture as compared to those of other peoples in Africa? What differences can be found between men and women, adults and children, and various professions in Juffure, and what do these differences reveal about their culture?
Two details about the Kinte clan are given: They are known for travelling, and they began as blacksmiths and weavers. How do these details impact the novel as a whole? Which of Kunta’s descendants fulfill these qualities, and how does this link to the past inform the later generations’ characters and identities?
The Atlantic slave trade brought with it the concept of chattel slavery. How does chattel slavery compare with the slavery Kunta observes in Africa? How do racial distinctions inform these differences?
As Kunta continues to attempt escapes from John Waller’s plantation, he expresses hatred for both the white and Black Americans he encounters. Why does Kunta hate the other enslaved Black people in America? How does he resolve this hatred over time, and what changes his mind?
How is Kunta’s religion an extension of his heritage, and in what ways does it interfere with his assimilation into Black American society? In what ways could Christianity be seen as both a unifying and a destructive force for Black Americans?
When Kizzy is sold to Lea, the novel exposes a critical difference between the experiences of enslaved men and women. How are both enslaved men and women sexualized? Using quotes from the text, explain why sexuality is a focal point in chattel slavery for both men and women.
Lea exposes a distinction in white society between rich and poor white people. Why does Lea see his life as more difficult than those of enslaved people? How does the shared experience of gamecock training and fighting affect Lea and George’s relationship, and how do they each benefit or suffer as a result?
Tom displays many similarities with Kunta, despite their difference in generation. Why is it important to see Tom as an analog for Kunta? How do the traits displayed by both men influence their role in their respective family lives, and how are those traits important to their survival?
Even after the end of slavery, the Kinte family still faces discrimination because of their skin color. What instances show continued discrimination, and what are the primary means by which this discrimination occurs? How does Tom overcome these restrictions, and how might further restrictions be circumvented?
The final chapters of the novel explore Haley’s process in investigating his family history. What sparks Haley’s interest, and how does he initially explore the oral history surrounding Kunta Kinte? How important are the specific details of the novel in terms of historical accuracy, and how might the novel retain its importance without total accuracy?
Related Titles
By Alex Haley
