Study Guide for :The Echo Maker by Richard Powers & Comprehension Test

The Echo Maker
by Richard Powers
About_
This study guide accompanies Richard Powers’ novel The Echo Maker, which follows Karin Schluter as she cares for
her brother Mark after a near-fatal car accident leaves him with Capgras syndrome, a rare condition that convinces
him his loved ones are imposters. As neuroscientist Gerald Weber becomes involved in Mark’s case, the novel
explores identity, memory, and the fragile bonds that hold families together. This guide covers the book’s five
major sections and offers a full range of comprehension and discussion activities. 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 (AP/College-level Literature)
Teacher Note_
The Echo Maker’s layered exploration of memory, identity, and perception makes it a rich text for building
close-reading and analytical skills. This guide is designed to save you preparation time while giving students
structured opportunities to track plot details and dig into the novel’s deeper psychological and ethical questions.
We hope it helps your class find as much meaning in this story as generations of readers have.