The Wide Window

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.

How does Handler structure his story to present Violet, Klaus, and Sunny as a kind of “group” protagonist in The Wide Window? How would the story be different with a single protagonist? How would it’s themes be impacted?

Lemony Snicket, acting as the story’s narrator, warns the reader several times about how depressing the book will be. How does the narrative tone nuance his statement? How does the narrative tone contribute to the novel’s thematic engagement with Bearing Up Under the Burden of Grief and Loss?

In what ways is Snicket’s narrative voice similar to and different from narrative voices typically found in the gothic novels of the 19th century? What impact do these similarities and differences have on the story? Cite specific examples from the texts to support your argument.

In The Wide Window, many characters have a defining characteristic—for instance, Violet’s love of inventing. Choose a character (other than Violet) and explain how their defining characteristic illuminates their personality and contributes to their role in the plot. Discuss whether your chosen character is a “round” or “flat” character.

The books in A Series of Unfortunate Events are well-known for blending elements from several different genres. How do elements of mystery and fantasy show up in The Wide Window? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Some critics have noted gender bias in Handler’s portrayal of the Henchperson of Indeterminate Gender and ableism in his portrayal of Olaf’s Captain Sham disguise. What do respectful portrayals of androgyny and nonbinary gender identification look like? What do respectful depictions of bodies and disabilities look like? What evidence in the text argues for or against Handler’s portrayals as biased?