Rhythm of War

Consider the role of invention in the novel. Are technological progress and scientific discovery ultimately good or bad for the world of Roshar? Why?

Examine the metafictional elements of The Stormlight Archive, which comes with its own undertext. How do the drawings and notes that accompany some chapters affect the reader experience?

What tropes of the fantasy genre does the novel rely on? Which ones does it subvert, and why?

Close read the novel’s approach to combat. How does Sanderson describe violence, and how do these descriptions contribute to or detract from characterization and plot progression?

How does the novel function both as a standalone work and as part of a series? Which elements of its structure contribute to which?

Compare and contrast characters’ relationships with their honorspren and voidspren. How do these bonds challenge or complicate our understanding of the characters?

How do the chapter epigraphs affect the reading experience? Do they provide useful information? What other purposes do they serve?

Discuss gender in the novel. How do Alethi constraints on gender roles affect human society? How do Fused expectations of gender reflect and refract those of the humans?