The Last House Guest

Sometimes a character who appears briefly (or does not appear at all) is still a significant presence. Choose one such character from the novel and write an essay in which you explore how this character affects action, theme, and/or the development of other characters.

The town of Littleport is surrounded by a distinctive natural landscape, one with several natural dangers. How does the setting become more than just a background for the novel’s action? Select two contrasting locations—interior/exterior, natural/man-made—and examine how these different spaces contribute to and enhance the action that occurs there.

Alfred Hitchcock famously said, “For me, suspense doesn’t have any value unless it’s balanced by humor.” Write a focused essay in which you examine one of the novel’s humorous scenes and its significance to the action or character development, with an emphasis on the author’s stylistic choices (such as diction, mood, voice, and/or pacing).

In genre fiction, the reader often encounters “stock” or archetypal characters or plot elements; for example, mysteries commonly feature a hard-boiled detective, a murder in a dark alley, and so on. How does this novel lean into or push back against the tropes of its genre? Be specific and avoid mere plot summary.

The most compelling characters in literature are ones who keep readers on their toes—the characters who can still surprise us even after we spent many chapters believing we know exactly who they are. Select a significant character who does something surprising later in the story, and in a well-crafted essay, explore how this twist affects the reader’s understanding of their character and their role in the main action.

A significant matter in the novel is the interplay between actions and consequences, and the oftentimes delayed consequences that come with being held accountable for one’s past actions. Choose two characters with contrasting attitudes toward accountability, and examine a key scene where their past catches up to them. Your essay should especially focus on the significance of the resulting consequences; be specific and avoid mere plot summary.

In literature, the potential for violence is sometimes more impactful than an actualized violent scene. How does the novel create a legitimate sense of danger, and how does the capacity for violence contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole?

Traditionally, a mystery navigates the transition from ignorance to knowledge and the significant changes the protagonist undergoes as they search for the truth. Write a focused essay in which you analyze two or more essential moments in Avery’s pursuit of knowledge and their importance in her character development.