Mr. Fox

Compare and contrast Mary Foxe and Daphne Fox. How do their relationships with Mr. Fox evolve throughout the novel? How do they subvert traditional female archetypes? What does their eventual bond symbolize?

As a character, Mr. Fox is both a creator and a destroyer. How does Helen Oyeyemi emphasize this duality—both in his stories and in real-life relationships? How does it affect his relationships with Mary and Daphne? What is its connection to oppression and The Relationship Between Authors and Their Characters?

Analyze the role of rebellion and subversion in Mr. Fox, particularly for the female characters. How do Mary and Daphne resist the roles assigned to them—both by gendered societal expectations and Mr. Fox? What empowers them to challenge his authority? How does this shape their character arcs and contribute to Subverting Traditional Gender Roles and the “Damsel in Distress” Trope?

Mr. Fox is rich with intertextuality and allusions to fairy tales such as Bluebeard, Fitcher’s Bird, and Reynardine. Choose one allusion and analyze its significance to the novel. What is its utility, and why does Oyeyemi employ it to support the narrative or her broader themes?

Analyze the role of storytelling and writing as a means of escape. How do characters use storytelling to navigate and shape their realities? How does this reflect the complexities of their relationships with others and themselves?

What role does the past have on the overall narrative and characters’ identities? How does Oyeyemi use memory to highlight tensions in the present and usher her characters toward growth? Consider the change the author leaves unresolved or ambiguous at the novel’s end in your response.

While much of Mr. Fox critiques dominant cultural scripts assigned to women, it also offers commentary on traditional masculinity. How do secondary characters like Mr. Pizarsky and environments like the Academy contribute to Oyeyemi’s critiques?

How does Oyeyemi use supernatural elements and fabulism to contribute to the novel’s blurring between reality and fiction? How do these elements enhance the characters’ struggles, contribute to broader thematic discussions of autonomy and control, and critique dominant gender norms?