Write a six-paragraph essay answering one to three of the questions.

1. Why is the story dedicated to Bob Dylan? Find out some background information on him and America
in the 1960s. Find out which song of Bob Dylan influenced Joyce Carol Oates and discuss the significance
of this in the story?

2. Underline the references to other examples of teenage culture in the story and discuss how they
might contribute to our understanding of the story.

3. Discuss the character of Arnold Friend. What inspired Joyce Carol Oates to create this character?
Think about what his name might suggest. Comment on his car, clothes and language. What does he
represent in the story?

4. Discuss the character of Connie. What does she represent in the story? Comment on what her name
might mean.

5. Discuss the character of Ellie Oscar. Comment on what his name might mean. Consider the following:
Ellie's appearance: his hair, his sideburns, his clothes, his sunglasses, Ellie's radio.

6. What is the significance of the title of the story?

7. What does "Where are you going, Where have you been?" tell us about good and evil?

8. What does the story tell us about how physical beauty is perceived by the society?

9. What is your interpretation of how Connie's mother and father are represented?

10. What could the numbers on Arnold's car (33, 19, 17) represent?