What events and experiences from Philip’s childhood seem to have the most formative influence on his later personality and worldview? In what ways does the novel conform to conventions of the bildungsroman genre, and in what ways does it diverge from them?

Examine the role of familial ties in the novel. What parental functions do Philip’s aunt and uncle fulfill effectively or ineffectively? How do their notions and experiences of family compare to that of the Athelny family?

How is England depicted in comparison to Germany and France in the novel? How does Philip’s time living abroad impact his character arc?