The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

Most of the villainous characters in the novel are straightforwardly immoral. However, Diana is a more complex representation. How is Diana characterized? What is her role and wider significance in the text?

Although it’s not a primary theme, the experience of being orphaned affects most of the children in the novel. How does Aiken incorporate the issue of being orphaned in the novel? How does she explore the experience of orphans?

The relationships between friends are primary in the novel, however there are also several familial relationships. How are these familial relationships depicted? What does the novel suggest about the nature of family ties?