The School for Good separates girls and boys for many classes, while the School for Evil combines boys and girls for all classes. Why is the School of Good more gendered than the School of Evil? What does this say about fairy-tale gender roles?

Throughout the novel, Sophie and Agatha are told that a princess and a witch can’t be friends. How do Sophie and Agatha thwart fairy-tale tropes and end the novel as friends?

Tedros constantly thinks about his father, King Arthur, and the mistakes he made. How does the crushing weight of the past affect his character and the choices he makes?

The School for Good and Evil assumes that fairy-tale villains and heroes are pure Evil and pure Good, respectively. Are there any characters in this novel who are pure Evil or pure Good? What do those pure characters reveal about the themes of Good and Evil in the book? In contrast, what do the characters who aren’t pure Good or pure Evil reveal about the nature of Good and Evil?

The School Master claims that when he killed his brother, he upset the balance of Good and Evil, and Good always won after his death. In what ways was Good shown to be corrupted in the wake of the Good Brother’s death?

The School for Good and Evil is a modern fairy-tale retelling. How does this retelling differ from the original tales? What fairy-tale tropes does it use, and how does it use them in a new way for a modern audience?

In the novel, what qualities does Good have that Evil doesn’t? How does Good use these qualities to win in the end?

This is a novel about friendship. How is Sophie and Agatha’s friendship compared to a romantic fairy-tale relationship?