How does the author’s use of first-person narration shape the reader’s understanding of the protagonist? How does telling the story from Johannes’s perspective affect other characters’ development, build suspense, and add impact to plot twists?

How does Johannes’s story demonstrate The Importance of Beauty and Balance? How does the protagonist protect balance through his role as the Eyes, and how does he learn to moderate his love of beauty? What point is the author making about the human relationship to nature through Johannes’s arc?

Select two of Johannes’s friends and compare and contrast their personalities and character arcs. How do they each play an important role in the novel by advancing the plot, emphasizing a theme, or contributing to Johannes’s character development?