The Queen's Gambit

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?

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?

How does Mr. Shaibel’s early treatment of Beth impact her view of chess and influence her approach to the game as an adult? What other mentors play a similar role after Mr. Shaibel is no longer in her life?

How does Vasily Borgov’s role in the novel reflect the tensions between the US and the USSR during the Cold War? Does the final game between him and Beth change those tensions?

Which influences and experiences worsen Beth’s self-doubt, and which help her to overcome it?

Analyze Beth’s need to win and her inability to accept defeat. Where does it come from and what inspired it initially?

Compare and contrast the influences Alma and Allston Wheatley have on Beth’s life, paying specific attention to how each pushes her to be independent.

The green pills are present throughout the novel. How do they connect to the game of chess in Beth’s life, and how do they play a role in Beth’s developing identity?