Compare and contrast The Bronze Horseman to other works of historical fiction. Explore how Simons’s explorations of love, family, and loyalty amidst hardship align with or diverge from other works like Tatiana de Rosney’s Sarah’s Key or John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Analyze Tatiana and Alexander’s relationship from a genre perspective. How does their story satisfy the tropes and expectations of the romance genre? How does their relationship satisfy the tropes of the historical fiction genre? Explore the intersection of the two genres, and how this intersection nuances Simons’s portrayal of their love story.

Compare and contrast Tatiana’s and Dasha characters. How do their differences and similarities contribute to the narrative conflict? How would their stories differ if their worldviews and characters aligned more closely?

Analyze the novel’s structure within the context of its historical setting. How does the backdrop of the Second World War impact to the novel’s overarching timeline and narrative action?

Identify three themes not explored in the guide and write an essay analyzing their overarching function. For example, what might images of hair, trees, books, or money represent, and how do they advance the novel’s explorations of love, hardship, choice, or fate?

Analyze the character of Dimitri and his function in the narrative. How do the other characters respond to him? How would the novel unfold differently without him? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Explore the impact Tatiana’s family has on her coming-of-age arc. Analyze her relationships with her mother, father, grandparents, sister, and brother. How do her family members’ opinions of her shape her sense of self? How do her family members’ fates impact her character growth across the novel?

Analyze instances of violence and death throughout the novel. What purpose do these elements serve within the larger narrative? In what ways are Simons’s explicit depictions of suffering and death servicing the wider narrative themes?