Shadow and Bone

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Throughout the novel, Alina struggles to understand her new surroundings and her relationships with the Grisha.

• What is the role of mystery, secrets, and deception in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Describe the mysteries, secrets, and deceptions that are revealed about the characters in the novel and how the perception of characters changes upon the revelation of their secrets. 
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the actions of the characters might have been different had they been aware of the secrets in the novel.

2. The setting of the novel changes as Alina makes her way from the First Army, through the Fold, into the Little Palace, and in the wilderness with Mal. 

• What is the role of the setting in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Explain the relationship between place and belonging and how the novel’s setting influences culture and politics.
• In your concluding sentences, compare the setting with other fantasy and fairy tale settings.

3. Alina wrestles with her feelings for the Darkling as her character develops.

• Should the Darkling be considered a villain or a mentor? (topic sentence)
• Explain why you believe the Darkling is a villain or a mentor, what characteristics he possesses to support your claim, and whether Alina made the right choice to leave him.
• In your concluding sentences, explain what the Darkling’s motives are and whether they justify his actions.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Shadow and Bone features classic fantasy tropes such as good versus evil, the chosen one, the dark lord, and a quest. How do these tropes further the meaning of the novel? How does Bardugo complicate classic tropes? What characters in the novel represent good and evil? How are some of the characters both good and evil? How are the magical abilities, in some ways, reflective of the traditional roles of good and evil?   

2. When Alina tells Baghra, “There’s nothing wrong with being a mapmaker,” Baghra replies, “Of course not. And there’s nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.” Baghra says these words moments before Alina learns to call her power forward. What is her statement’s significance in the story?How is it connected to Alina’s resistance to her magic and her relationship with Mal?      How is Baghra’s statement reflective of Alina’s destiny?

3. Grisha are called the “Masters of Small Science.” Are Grisha powers science or magic? What is the role of the Small Science in the story? How do the cultures in the Grishaverse approach the Small Sciences differently? What does this reveal about the religious attitudes toward Small Science?