The Changeling: A Novel

Cal says that bad fairy tales focus on moral lessons while great fairy tales “[tell] the truth” (244). How does The Changeling place itself within the second category?

Discuss how The Changeling draws attention to racial dynamics and immigration in the United States.

Discuss the novel’s depiction of women characters, focusing on Emma, Lillian, and Cal. How do these women challenge traditional gender roles and expectations?

What does it mean that Brian West first appears as a faceless man in Apollo’s recurring nightmare? How does this relate to the various “changelings” (or people who appear to be different from what they truly are) that Apollo encounters throughout the novel?

Apollo notes that book collectors ironically appreciate literature less than they appreciate literary archaeology. How does this distinction connect to the novel’s depictions of New Dads and what it means to be a good parent?

Trace how Apollo’s character grows and changes through the experiences he has in the novel. Which incidents lead him to reconsider his ideas of parenthood and happiness?

Focus on any three passages in the novel that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Analyze how they contribute to the novel’s themes.

Analyze how The Changeling critiques and cautions against modern society’s overreliance on digital technology.