54 pages • 1 hour read
Freida McFaddenThe Coworker
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In Part 1, the story is told from alternating viewpoints. (Natalie recounts events in the present, while Dawn’s emails represent the past.) Explain how the juxtaposition of these two narratives adds complexity to the plot and creates suspense.
Describe your initial impressions of Natalie Farrell and Dawn Schiff. How do these perceptions change throughout the story? Analyze at least three examples from the text to support your discussion.
Review Dawn’s initial emails throughout Part 1 and identify key moments of foreshadowing that can be interpreted to reveal Dawn’s true intentions in subtle ways.
Analyze how the author uses unreliable narrators and plot twists to create a suspenseful narrative and a sense of unease.
How does the author use the hidden relationships between certain characters to emphasize The Deceptive Nature of Appearances? Why is the disparity between appearance and reality such a popular feature of the psychological thriller genre?
In The Coworker, McFadden explores The Fine Line Between Victim and Perpetrator. Consider how the author blurs the boundaries between the two roles. How does the representation of this theme subvert gendered stereotypes?
Dawn asserts, “Seventeen is old enough to know better” (321). In your opinion, is Dawn justified in holding Natalie responsible for her actions in high school?
Dawn is frequently perceived through the prism of difference. Explain how other people’s attitudes shape Dawn as a character. What is the author’s overall message about social conformity and difference?
Related Titles
By Freida McFadden
