Tuck Everlasting

In the Epilogue, the Tucks learn that the spring’s wood was destroyed. What do you think became of the spring? Do you think it was destroyed or, like anything that drinks from it, it will exist forever in some form? Explain your answer.

Why do you think Winnie chose not to drink from the spring? Why do you think Babbitt chose not to show Winnie’s decision not to do so? Given everything the Tucks say about the spring and immortality, would you drink given the chance? Why or why not?

Why do you think the man in the yellow suit is not named? Do you feel his namelessness added to or detracted from the story? How might have naming him changed the story? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

The story’s narrator makes a note of how the hot weather of the season influenced decisions for people. Do you think the story would have gone the same if it were set any other week of the year? Why do you think the heat is so important and that the story was set during summer?

The Tucks are afraid that the world would suffer greatly if the spring’s secret was revealed. Do you agree with their fear? Why or why not? If not, how do you think people would react and the world would change if immortality was discovered to be possible?

Could Mae have handled the man in the yellow suit differently? Do you think the man would have listened to reason? If so, what argument might have won him over? Do you agree with Mae’s actions? Why or why not?

One of Tuck Everlasting’s main themes is the idea that life is not life without death. Do you agree with this idea? Do you think you would view life the same if you knew it would never end? How might you live differently if you knew you couldn’t die? Support your position with evidence from the text.

Do you agree the spring is the central hub of Tuck Everlasting’s story wheel? Why or why not? If not, what do you think is the hub? Support your response with evidence from the text.

Do you think lightning truly killed the tree? Why might lightning have such power where all other destructive methods have failed? Do you think the Tucks, too, can die? Why or why not? Support your position with evidence from the text.