Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender/transgender discrimination and ableism.

How does the novel use elements like narrative voice, plot, characterization, setting, and atmosphere to satirize gothic fiction? How does the use of the mock-gothic help develop the story’s themes?

The story positions the Baudelaires as its heroes; in what ways do Handler’s portrayals of the adult characters serve to reinforce this heroism and develop the novel’s thematic interest in The Resilience and Resourcefulness of Children in the Face of Adult Failures?

The characters in this novel are repeatedly faced with The Necessity of Confronting One’s Fears. Within the context of this book, what does it mean to show courage in the face of fear? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.