The Palace Thief

Ethan Canin

The Palace Thief

Ethan Canin
40 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Short Story Collection
Adult
Published in 1994

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

To what extent do the stories show that character is fate? 

2.

What significance do women or their absence have in the stories? 

3.

Discuss the dynamics of collaboration and rivalry in the stories. How do they compare in their attitude on this topic? 

4.

What is the significance of contests, games, and competitions in the collection?

5.

To what extent do the stories show that the dynamic between characters is more important than individual character? 

6.

What role do war and conflict play in the stories? 

7.

How do different characters respond to change, and what is the significance of their reactions? 

8.

How important is the physical appearance of power, and how do the stories compare in their treatment of this concept? 

9.

What role do emotions and irrational feelings play in the stories? 

10.

Explore the stories’ treatment of inter-generational relationships. To what extent does Canin show that different generations can appropriate each other’s ideas and behaviors? 

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text

Get in-depth, chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis from our literary experts.

  • Grasp challenging concepts with clear, comprehensive explanations
  • Revisit key plot points and ideas without rereading the book
  • Share impressive insights in classes and book clubs