48 pages • 1 hour read
The Bone Season
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Essay Topics
It has been well established that the heroes of The Bone Season conform to many of the traditional tropes of the fantasy genre. Consider instead the novel’s villains. In what ways do they conform to such tropes? How do they deviate from them to embody unique and original characters in their own right? Use at least two-three examples from the text to support your analysis.
Jaxon Hall’s On the Merits of Unnaturalness suggests a need to organize and compartmentalize the unfamiliar. How is this both beneficial and detrimental to the humans within Shannon’s dystopian society? Use examples from the text to illustrate your points.
Paige Mahoney’s way of coping with her enslavement is to show defiance whenever possible, but there are many different ways to rebel, and not all of them are obvious. Analyze several different instances of covert rebellion among the voyant population and explain whether or not they are ultimately effective.
The Rephaim control their human subjects using both physical and psychological coercion. Which tactic is the most successful for maintaining control, and why? Use examples from the text to illustrate your point.
An underlying theme of the novel is the necessity to make sacrifices for the greater good. Paige and Warden make several sacrifices throughout the story. Focus now on the novel’s secondary characters. What sacrifices do they make, and how do their actions contribute to the forward movement of the overall plot?
Paige’s heritage is Irish. How does that reality inform her social identity as she navigates the streets of London? How does Shannon’s fictional narrative allude to real-world events?
Consider the ever-evolving relationship between Paige and Warden and identify three key moments in which Shannon achieves the transition of their relationship from enemies to allies to lovers. Analyze specific moments from the text to chart this metamorphosis.
What are the tactics the Rephaim use to recruit voyants to fight their battle for them? How do they persuade the red-jackets to harass and abuse their fellow voyants?
Why is Nashira afraid of the Syndicate despite her powerful position in the world?
Warden tries to prove his loyalty to Paige several times over, yet she still doubts him. Why is it so hard for her to trust him despite all the evidence?
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