55 pages • 1 hour read
Geoffrey TreaseCue for Treason
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1940A 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
What role do journeys play in the plot of Cue for Treason, both physical and symbolic?
Consider how Peter’s narrative voice impacts the story. Chose an action point and write a version from the perspective of Kit. How does this alter your understanding of Cue for Treason?
Research Geoffrey Trease’s own life and beliefs. How are these manifested in the book?
Cue for Treason explores the difference between London and the countryside in Elizabethan England. How do these settings inform the character development of Peter and Kit?
How does Trease’s presentation of his antagonists impact the book’s exploration of morality and motivation?
How does Trease use his chapter headings to create suspense and prepare/subvert reader expectations?
Choose three of the quotations from Shakespeare’s plays referenced by Trease and identify their origin and wider meaning in Shakespeare’s work. Use your understanding of these quotations to analyze how Trease uses them to deepen his narrative’s meaning.
What role does the natural environment play in the book? How does it contribute to plot, atmosphere, and themes?
Consider the female characters in the book and analyze the ways in which Trease’s female characters’ development addresses the roles and experience of women in Elizabethan England. How do you think Trease’s historical critique also reflects on gender norms at the time of writing (1937-39)?
Do you think Trease’s book reveals patriotic pride or not? What do you think he hoped his young reader to feel about England and/or Britain? Consider wider national events and values in Britain at the time of writing.
