Red Queen

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Dystopian Comparison”

In this activity, students will compare a student-selected short story to Aveyard’s Red Queen.

Throughout the novel the characters interact in a dystopian world where wealth inequality, misinformation, class divisions, and corruption have overtaken the fictional kingdom of Norta. Consider the elements of dystopian fiction that exist in this novel and draw comparisons between Red Queen and a dystopian novel or short story of your choice. Create a digital presentation such as a slideshow for your comparison. Consider these points below as you craft your comparison:

• Compare the government entities in Red Queen to those in the short story of your choice.
• What freedoms or individual liberties are limited in these worlds?
• How does the social stratification of Red Queen compare to the societal hierarchy in the selected short story?
• In what way do the two worlds use propaganda or misinformation?
• How is the population expected to conform to the prevailing thought or behavior?
• In what other ways do the two stories align?

Share your presentation with peers, drawing comparisons to specific incidents in Red Queen.

Teaching Suggestion: In getting started, it may be helpful for students to review the aspects of dystopian literature in Red Queen. Students can reference the chart they created in the Before Reading: Short Activity to reflect on the dystopian elements of the novel. Students may find it beneficial to use one of the short stories suggested in the During Reading: Paired Resources.

• A list of dystopian stories can be found here. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing without teacher guidance and curation)

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who might benefit from an additional challenge may wish to construct their own dystopian short story using the elements researched and discussed in the Short Activity. Students can draw comparisons between their own short story and Red Queen for the activity.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The magic system of the Silvers consists of different abilities and strengths.

• Which of the Silver abilities is the strongest and why? (topic sentence)
• Analyze and discuss at least 3 examples from the text to substantiate this assertion in the form of scenes, character reactions, or quotations.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, describe how magic strengths have the potential to change as Reds join the ranks of Silvers.

2. Evangeline identifies Mare as the greatest threat to her future.  

• What does Evangeline’s treatment of Mare indicate about Silver society in general? (topic sentence)
• Describe why Evangeline feels threatened by Mare and explain how Evangeline’s treatment of Mare is indicative of the way Silvers compete and resolve conflict. In this discussion, use examples from the text to support your topic sentence.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, speculate on the ways in which Silvers’ dominant attitudes and ideas may change if they learn the truth about Mare.

3. The novel explores the theme of Similarity and Difference.

• In a general statement, summarize the way that are Reds and Silvers are similar. (topic sentence)
• Describe in detail at least 3 similarities between Reds and Silvers. Cite details and examples to substantiate your similarities.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly summarize the message conveyed by the author’s creation of similarities between the two groups.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Julian and the Scarlet Guard have differing strategies on the ways in which change should occur in Norta. In an essay of at least 3 paragraphs, compare the Scarlet Guard’s approach to change with Julian’s. Evaluate these approaches and speculate on which would be the best approach to changes in Norta. Support your response with evidence from the text.  

2. In the novel’s conclusion, Mare is ultimately betrayed by Maven. In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, analyze and discuss the clues that point to Maven’s betrayal of Mare and how this betrayal is connected to the novel’s theme of Appearance Versus Reality. Explain how Maven is able to prevent Mare from discovering his duplicity. Provide quotes from the text to substantiate your response.

3. Mare often observes that one hindrance to her feelings for Cal is his obvious disregard for Red life. Incorporate multiple details into a structured paragraph to compare Mare’s feelings toward Silvers with Cal’s feelings toward Reds. Explain whether Mare is justified in her distaste for Cal’s attitude toward Reds or if she is also guilty of having little regard for Silver life. Cite examples from the text to support your analysis.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is responsible for the wealth inequality in Norta?

A) Discrepancies in intelligence

B) Physical capabilities

C) Lack of available resources

D) Differences in outward appearance

2. What is the significance of the novel’s title Red Queen?

A) It describes Mare’s blood and title.

B) It describes Elara’s rise to power as Queen of Norta.

C) It represents Evangeline’s future marriage to Cal.

D) It hints at Maven’s betrayal of Mare.

3. Why do Mare’s abilities pose a threat to Norta?

A) She represents the mistreatment of the Reds in Silver society.

B) Mare is no longer forced to submit to Silvers because she is as powerful as them.

C) Mare is more powerful than any of the Silvers in Norta.

D) She represents a coming change in the social structure of the country.

4. What initially drives a rift between Cal and Mare?

A) Cal’s impending marriage to Evangeline

B) Cal’s reluctance to help the Reds

C) Maven’s description of Cal’s cruelty

D) Cal’s support of his father’s archaic ideas

5. What enables Mare and Maven to build a connection?

A) Their ability to identify with one another’s struggles

B) The relationship Maven builds with Mare’s family

C) Their mutual distrust of Cal’s ability to rule

D) The acknowledgement and acceptance of their differences

6. What is the purpose of censorship in Red Queen?

A) It prevents individuals from rising above their station.

B) It creates equality between the Reds and the Silvers.

C) It enables the royal family to control the population.

D) It prevents insensitive comments and ideas from circulating.

7. In what way do Julian’s beliefs about change for Norta’s society differ from Kilorn’s?

A) Kilorn believes Reds should oversee society while Julian prefers Silvers rule in Norta.

B) Julian believes in slow change while Kilorn is aggressive in his pursuit of freedom.

C) Julian thinks societal change can only be achieved if Reds and Silvers work together.

D) Kilorn thinks it is possible to overtake the Silver court peacefully while Julian thinks it can only be achieved through violence.

8. Which of the following elements define this book as a dystopian genre?

A) The equality between Red and Silver people

B) The utopian ideas represented in the storyline

C) The discrepancies between intelligence in Reds and Silvers

D) The oppression of non-magic people in Norta

9. What is Cal’s motivation for supporting the Silvers in Norta?

A) He believes Reds to be inferior to Silvers because they lack powers.

B) He is indifferent to the Reds because they hold no practical value in his kingdom.

C) He fears giving Reds equal rights will weaken his kingdom.

D) He thinks Reds and Silvers should be separated to maintain powers through genetics.

10. What do the names of the two populations, Silver and Red, represent in the novel?

A) Blood

B) Wealth

C) Location

D) Magic abilities

11. What is the narrative structure of this novel based on the beginning and ending of the novel?

A) Non-Linear

B) Dual timeline

C) Flat

D) Linear

12. Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the novel’s theme of Appearance Versus Reality?

A) Cal is unaware of Mare’s capabilities when he offers her a job in the Silver court.

B) Elara minimizes the threat of the Scarlet Guard by claiming their attacks are infrequent.

C) Maven behaves as though he is sympathetic toward the Silver Court.

D) Mare is unaware of the near-constant surveillance she is subject to in the palace.

13. Which idea best describes what cameras represent in Red Queen?

A) The lack of privacy and cold isolation of the citizens of Norta

B) The mistrust of those who dislike Mare in the Silver court

C) The near constant danger of the Red Scarlet’s threats on the kingdom

D) The manipulation of information and careful surveillance of citizens

14. In what way do Mare and Maven mirror one another?

A) Both are popular in the harsh Silver Court.

B) Both trust the control of the country if given to Cal.

C) Both feel overshadowed by siblings in their household.

D) Both believe in the cause of the Scarlet Guard.

15. Which of the following best describes a defining characteristic of Cal?

A) He feels a strong sense of moral duty to the people of Norta.

B) He believes that changes can and will be made for the Reds in Norta.

C) His actions represent the ideas and personalities of the Silvers in his court.

D) He is depicted as naive and weak because of his trusting nature.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. How does the separation of Reds and Silvers shape the society in Red Queen?

2. What is one example of an ethical dilemma faced by Mare in the novel? Why is Mare conflicted about the dilemma?