35 pages 1 hour read

Ruth Benedict

Patterns of Culture

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1934

A 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

1.

Compare and contrast Benedict’s portrayals of the Zuñi, Dobuans, and Kwakiutl. How do these case studies support her theory of cultural patterns?

2.

Benedict’s book is credited for popularizing the term “culture” to a mid-20th-century audience. How is Benedict’s definition of culture relevant today? What, if anything, can be changed or added to her definition of the culture so that it resonates with 21st-century audiences?

3.

What would Patterns of Culture look like if the case studies of the Zuñi, Dobuans, and Kwakiutl were not included in it? Could the book still be considered an anthropological text? If so, why? If not, why not?

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 35 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,600+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools