51 pages 1 hour read

Walter Tevis

The Queen's Gambit

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1983

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Essay Topics

1.

Beth struggles with substance use throughout The Queen’s Gambit. What are the different motivators behind her use and how does it impact her ability to play chess at different stages in her life?

2.

When Mr. Ganz gives Beth the doll after playing her, she throws it out. What does this doll symbolize and how does it connect to the theme of The Constraints of Gender Norms?

3.

Compare and contrast the roles Harry Beltik and Benny Watts play as love interests in Beth’s life. What does she learn from each of them about chess, about relationships, and herself?