Compare and contrast the roles Clara, Lizzie Rose, and Parsefall play in the story. How is each child’s perspective and archetype necessary for the three to succeed in evading Grisini and the phoenix-stone? What strengths do each bring to the triad, and how do the other two make up for each child’s weaknesses? Could the children have been successful without all three of their parts present? Why or why not? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Who is the main antagonist of Splendors and Glooms? Why that character, and what makes their actions and intentions worse than the actions and intentions of other characters? Considering the ideas present in The Shades of Gray Between Good and Evil, discuss the redeeming qualities (if any) of your chosen antagonist. How do these traits help or hinder them in their purpose?

Choose three principle characters of Splendors and Glooms and discuss how the details of their pasts shaped them into the person they are during the events of the novel. Take into consideration the ideas present in