Chimerica
by Lucy Kirkwood
About_
This study guide accompanies Chimerica by Lucy Kirkwood, a play that interweaves the story of an American
photojournalist’s search for the identity of the anonymous ‘Tank Man’ with the personal history of his old friend in
Beijing. Across its five acts, the play examines memory, political courage, journalistic ethics, and the costs of both
speaking out and staying silent. This guide is organized by act and includes comprehension questions, discussion
prompts, and activities designed to deepen students’ engagement with the text. This study guide contains 65
questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus
Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 11-12 (suitable for AP Literature or college-prep courses)
Teacher Note_
Chimerica’s dual timeline and morally complex characters make it a rich text for building close-reading and
inference skills. This guide is designed to save you prep time while giving students structured opportunities to
move from recall to genuine critical analysis, especially around questions of journalistic ethics and personal
courage. We hope it helps spark lively classroom discussion!