Kerouac aimed to write in the same way that some of the great jazz musicians played. Listen to iconic jazz artists like Charlie Parker or Miles Davis. What elements, if any, do you think this music shares with On the Road? Was Kerouac successful in capturing the essence of his musical inspirations?

Investigate other American literary movements, such as the Transcendentalists of the mid-1800s and the Lost Generation of the 1920s. Write an essay comparing these movements to the Beat Generation.

Examine the female characters in On the Road. Some critics have argued that Kerouac's work is misogynistic. Do you agree or disagree, and why? Rewrite a scene from the book from the perspective of one of the female characters.

Analyze the religious references in the novel. Imagine a hypothetical religion centered around Dean Moriarty. What would be the core beliefs of such a religion? What types of ceremonies might this religion practice?

Use a map of North America to trace Sal's journeys throughout the book. Use different colored markers to represent each trip. Try to find a map of the United States from the late 1940s to identify the roads that existed at that time and estimate the mileage. Discuss the creation of the interstate highway system during the Eisenhower administration. What impacts did this system have on American culture?