The Inheritance Games

One hallmark of The Inheritance Games is the way deceased people drive the narrative. Analyze how the dead control the actions of the living, using concrete examples (Tobias, Emily, Avery’s mother).

In addition to the primary plot of the “inheritance game” mystery, the book includes a romantic subplot. Why would the author choose to incorporate the love triangle? What does it add to the book?

Secondary characters like Max and Oren don’t drive the narrative but frequently comment on the action, much like a Greek Chorus. What’s the purpose of this narrative commentary? Provide concrete examples.

Hawthorne House, with its secret passageways, complex wings, and many rooms, symbolizes the intricacies of the “inheritance game.” Analyze the mansion’s symbolic significance, referring to precise details (e.g., the game room, the bowling alley, Tobias’s office, the libraries, etc.).

Class disparities are a central theme in the book. Choose one character and explain how they support the book’s argument countering the dangers of classicism. Examples could include Avery, Libby, Toby, Grayson, or Drake.

At one point, Xander tells Avery, “If I were white, people wouldn’t look at me like I’m half a Hawthorne” (143). Explore Xander’s representation of “otherness” in the book, considering the light his experience sheds on Avery’s experiences of “not belonging.”

Avery’s night at the gala ball can be seen as a satirical take of a Cinderella-style fairytale. Why might the author choose to include this fairytale-gone-wrong scene, considering the book’s larger narrative?

Tobias’s letters and clues are filled with platitudes. Choose one of the letters/written clues he leaves behind and analyze it from a linguistic standpoint, exploring the significance of the adages used in light of the book’s larger themes.