It Ends with Us

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. In what ways can family and society impact a person’s ability to leave an abusive relationship? In fiction writing, what considerations must authors take into account in order to handle this topic sensitively and realistically?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt offers the opportunity to introduce the novel’s themes, The Cyclical Nature of Domestic Violence and The Necessity of Support. Before responding, readers might benefit from the chance to submit 2-3 anonymous questions on the topic of domestic and intimate partner violence that could serve as spontaneous, brief research topics for pairs or small groups to investigate. Information from these or similar resources can help readers develop additional context on the topic.

• “National Domestic Violence Hotline” is a website designed for individuals experiencing domestic abuse to gain the help they need. This website includes a variety of resources and information on defining relationship abuse.
• “Domestic Violence Against Women” is an article from the Mayo Clinic that teaches readers how to recognize domestic violence, navigate unique circumstances surrounding the issue, break the cycle, and create a safety plan; it offers other resources as well.
• “13 Overlooked Reasons Why Women Stay in Abusive Relationships” is an article from The Mend Project that details various reasons that individuals (specifically women) remain in relationships that are emotionally and physically abusive. These reasons may be used to help readers understand the complexities of negative intimate relationships. (While this novel and this resource refer to violence against women, you may consider mentioning that men can also be survivors of domestic violence.)

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners, it may be helpful to define and offer example usages of the following terms: domestic abuse, abuse, violence, support, survivors, oppressors. These key academic terms will allow them to more easily access this guide’s topics and the themes of the novel.

2. What plot or literary elements usually appear in a work of fiction in the romance genre? What titles might be considered “classic” romances? In what ways might authors subvert traditional tropes in the romance genre?

Teaching Suggestion: This novel sometimes receives the broad label “contemporary romance,” yet the story deals with issues that one might not associate with the traditional plot devices, characterizations, and tropes of this genre. It might be helpful for readers to contribute romance titles with which they are familiar in a group brainstorming exercise before responding to the prompt in discussion or writing.

Short Activity

Create a T-chart labeled “Healthy” and “Unhealthy” regarding romantic relationships. Under each side of the chart, list 5-6 bullet points on each side identifying healthy and unhealthy attributes of romantic relationships.

Next, choose one of your bulleted ideas on each side. Write a journal entry-style paragraph for these selected bullet points explaining your ideas in more detail. You might include a historical, cultural, or hypothetical example.

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to share the purpose or goal in reading the novel and to create a safe space for readers to express their thoughts and ideas about the narrative, such as an ongoing reading journal or a way to communicate privately with the instructor. Additionally, when sensitive subjects arise in connection to the topics of abuse and violence (e.g., sexual assault, physical attacks, etc.), readers might find it helpful to refer to a list of norms that structure the conversations. These resources may guide readers in idea generation and use of terminology.

• “Fostering Healthy Relationships” is a Harvard Health Publishing article detailing the mental and physical effects of both positive and negative relationships. Readers may utilize this resource to help fill in both sides of their T-chart.
• “The Surprising Key to Building a Healthy Relationship That Lasts” is a TED talk detailing “emotional responsiveness” in a relationship and how it creates positive relational capacity in all relationships: romantic, friendship, familial, etc. (Content Warning: Sexual content.)
• “Healthy Relationships” is an article from Planned Parenthood that lists and explains the various attributes toward a healthy and positive relationship.

Differentiation Suggestion: Instead of the journal writing activity, visual learners might create a sketched or drawn representation of a healthy and unhealthy relationship. Each image could convey their bulleted ideas. Brief labels or captions could complement their drawings.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Many people have experienced or have witnessed The Necessity of Support during personal challenges or conflicts in one’s life. In what ways have you or someone you have observed provided or received support in the past? What emotions might arise in connection with giving or receiving support?  

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial to allow readers to utilize media or literature examples in this response instead of an example from their lives. Due to the sensitive nature of the question, this prompt may work best as a private reflection or independent journal entry.