55 pages • 1 hour read
Jessa MaxwellThe Golden Spoon
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A 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
How much does the press release get right about the Bake Week contestants, and what does it miss? Choose two or three characters and compare their later development to the way that they are first introduced.
Novels within the thriller genre often employ plot twists, red herrings, and cliffhangers to heighten the suspense of the novel. Provide examples of how Maxwell incorporates these elements of the genre into her novel. How successful is she at fulfilling the characteristics of a thriller?
A foil character is a contrasting character who highlights a characteristic in their opposing character. Beyond Lottie-Betsy and Hannah-Stella, what other foil pairs exist in the novel? How do they contrast? What qualities does each character highlight in the other?
How does Betsy’s attachment to Grafton Manor help develop the novel’s major themes, such as Defining Identity and Authenticity? Use specific examples.
How do Stella’s blackouts and fainting spells function as a literary device? Does blacking out in Archie’s room convincingly relieve her of responsibility for Archie’s fall? Why or why not?
How do the characters’ choices of flavors and baking techniques contribute to the broader themes of the text?
Discuss Maxwell’s organization of the novel. What function does each part serve? What effect does each choice have on the novel?
Provide an example of Maxwell’s commentary on The Dangers of Competition and Rivalry. Analyze the meaning of this example and its connection to the themes of the novel.
What is the significance of Peter Geller’s character for the novel as a whole?
Analyze Maxwell’s inclusion of the epilogue at the end of the novel. Discuss the significance of the epilogue and its impact on the novel’s themes.
