45 pages • 1 hour read
Ava ReidA Study in Drowning
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
When Effy first learns that an Argantian student has shown an interest in Myrddin’s work, she becomes defensive. How does her attitude shift over the course of the novel? What is an example of these attitudes in our own world, past or present?
There is a moment in the novel when Effy sees the Fairy King’s influence in Preston, but he is unable to hold onto him. What qualities do you think protected Preston from the Fairy King? How does this scene contribute to themes regarding Gender Dynamics and Systemic Discrimination?
What is the significance of the fantasy setting, which contrasts the more common realistic settings of dark academia novels? Is the story’s world integral to the plot, or could it have taken place anywhere?
Consider the novel’s dynamics between parents and children: Effy with her mother, Ianto with both of his parents, and Angharad with her father. What key messages or themes does the story portray about parent-child relationships?
Effy struggles with guilt over her assault because she was unable to voice her denial or her distress. How do her feelings relate to her character’s journey overall? What traits does she develop that allow her to overcome her fear of speaking out?
The novel deviates from traditional folklore in its interpretations of “changelings.” What elements do children like Effy share with more traditional changelings? How might these children have been “changed” by childhood trauma?
Why might the university have restricted female students from studying literature but not architecture or music? What does this say about the role of storytelling in this world?
The author leans into the popular “enemies to lovers” trope, which sees two people in conflict with one another shift into a place of attraction and respect. Did you find the trajectory of Effy and Preston’s relationship believable? What character traits or experiences were most essential to the strengthening of their bond?
What elements does the fictional Angharad share with traditional myths and fairy tales? Consider stories like the saga of King Arthur, The One Thousand and One Nights, The Robber Bridegroom, or choose your own.
“Myrddin” is a Welsh variant of the name “Merlin,” while Effy’s full name “Euphemia” is a feminine variation of this world’s patron saint of stories. Where else does the text use internal or external mythic influence in its names, and how do these names enhance the story and its themes?
