The Hero and the Crown

In what ways do mental health conditions impact Aerin’s life and growth as a hero? How is mental health symbolized in the novel, and how is it represented explicitly? Use specific examples to support your analysis.

Is the description of the Northerners as demonic and inhuman reductive or effective in representing the themes of the novel? Consider the broader fantasy genre in your answer and decide how the tone and direction of the narrative might change if the Northerners were shown to be human like the Damarians?

Up to this point in literature, most fantasy protagonists have been male. Compare and contrast Aerin with the stereotypical fantasy hero. Is her gender a unique strength, or does the novel largely ignore it in favor of other traits?

Compare and contrast Tor and Luthe, and analyze Aerin’s relationships with each man. How is their love for her—and her love for them—inherently different? How does this contrast represent the themes of the story and Aerin’s role as the protagonist and hero?

Analyze the symbolism of Aerin’s changing appearance and the theme of family dynamics in the novel. How does her appearance separate her from others? By the end of the novel, does she have anyone who truly understands her?

Aerin fights three major enemies over the course of the novel—the small dragon, Maur, and Agsded. What might each of these enemies represent, and how does Aerin’s triumph over each successive enemy demonstrate her character development?

How does Luthe and Aerin’s relationship reverse traditional gender roles? How is this notable, particularly given the novel’s date of publication and the fantasy genre at the time? Use specific examples in your answer.

Consider the role of femininity in the novel. Is Galanna’s femininity portrayed as a negative trait, or does Galanna weaponize her femininity in negative ways? Draw textual examples to contrast her with Aerin and other female characters.