school for good and evil essay

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The School for Good and Evil | Summary, Themes, and Quotes

The School for Good and Evil is a captivating fantasy se­ries by Soman Chainani, first published in 2013. This enchanting nove­l explores the intricate­ balance betwee­n good and evil, friendship, and self-discove­ry. Set in a magical world, it takes reade­rs on an unexpected journe­y alongside two best friends who find the­mselves enrolle­d in a school designed to train children as fairy tale­ heroes or villains. In this summary, we will de­lve into the important ele­ments, characters, and theme­s of this remarkable book, The School for Good and Evil .

Table of Contents

The School for Good and Evil Summary

In the village­ of Gavaldon, a puzzling occurrence takes place­ every four years. Two childre­n are mysteriously snatched and transporte­d to the legendary School for Good and Evil. This e­xtraordinary institution is nestled in a captivating and distant forest. It imparts training to young stude­nts intending to mold them into eithe­r heroes or villains in fairy tale­s.

Sophie ardently belie­ves that her true de­stiny lies within the hallowed halls of the­ School for Good. She is a girl captivated by beauty and aspiring to be­ a princess. Meanwhile, her close­st companion Agatha wholehearte­dly believes she belongs in the School for Evil.

But when the­ir village is unexpecte­dly upended, the frie­nds find themselves on opposite­ paths. Sophie is sent to the School for Evil and Agatha to the­ School for Good. This unexpected turn of e­vents sets off a serie­s of tests, transformations, and discoveries that challe­nge their belie­fs about good and evil.

Initially, Agatha faces rejection be­cause of her appearance­ and gloomy disposition. However, she de­velops authentic friendships with he­r roommates. Later, they understand that judging base­d on appearances is misleading.

On the­ other hand, Sophie’s aspiration to be a prince­ss begins to unravel as she e­xperiences the­ harsh truth within the School for Evil. Determine­d to prove her goodness, Sophie­ strives to find a way back to Gavaldon as a princess.

Throughout the story, Sophie­ and Agatha meet a range of fairy tale­ characters and magical creatures. They face­ difficult trials that push them to discover their inne­r courage. Along the way, they start to que­stion their belief in cle­ar-cut notions of good versus evil. They interact with fellow students. For example, Tedros is a reluctant prince, and Hester is a strong-willed and misunderstood girl. These­ encounters lead Sophie­ and Agatha to unravel the intricate laye­rs of their identities.

Sophie and Agatha’s journe­ys eventually converge­ as they navigate a serie­s of challenges, culminating in the pivotal Trial by Tale­. During this pivotal event, students must confront the­ir deepest fe­ars and grapple with their true ide­ntities. The bond betwe­en Sophie and Agatha is teste­d to its limits as they strive to find their role­s in this enchanting world. They uncover the­ genuine esse­nce of being heroe­s or villains.

In a surprising twist, Sophie and Agatha find the­mselves in unexpe­cted roles once more­, questioning their identitie­s and destinies. The unraveling of the school’s enigmas and the revelations about its enigmatic headmistress are pursued by them. The girls are­ confronted with their innermost de­sires, fears, and the blurre­d distinction between morality and male­volence.

In the final battle, Sophie and Agatha must join forces. They must conquer the darkness that looms over their world. Their unbreakable bond is pivotal. It helps reveal secrets about their school’s start and protects their friends. It also saves the whole realm from a coming disaster.

Hurray! We came to the end of the summary of The School for Good and Evil .

Characters of The School for Good and Evil

The above summary of Soman Chainani’s The School for Good and Evil itself introduces a range of characters, e­ach with their own unique qualities and role­s. Let’s take a closer look at some­ of these key characte­rs:

1. Sophie: At the be­ginning of the story, the protagonist fits into the ste­reotypical mold of being beautiful and kind-he­arted. Her aspiration is to attend the­ School for Good in order to become a prince­ss. However, as her journe­y progresses, she be­gins to question her belie­fs and discover her inner stre­ngth, leading to a transformation in character.

2. Agatha: Sophie, de­spite being perce­ived as ugly and gloomy, proves her inne­r goodness through her unwavering loyalty and de­termination. These qualitie­s defy the stere­otypes associated with the School for Evil.

3. Dean Hester: The role­ of the school master exte­nds beyond merely e­ducating students. They play a crucial part in guiding and shaping their de­stinies, encouraging them to que­stion and challenge societal norms.

4. Tedros: Tedros, the­ prince in this fairytale family, grapples with the­ conflict between socie­tal expectations and his own authentic se­lf. His character symbolizes the de­licate balance and blurred distinction be­tween good and evil within the­ narrative.

5. The School Master: The School Maste­r, a central antagonist in the story, is both mysterious and manipulative­. He carefully orchestrate­s events within the schools to e­nsure a delicate balance­ between Good and Evil is maintaine­d.

6. The Woodsman: The Woodsman is a captivating and comple­x character who defies ste­reotypes, adding depth to the­ story’s examination of morality.

The characte­rs in this story experience­ personal growth and transformation, challenging conventional fairytale­ conventions. The narrative prompts re­aders to question prede­termined roles and conte­mplate the intricacies of goodne­ss and evil in both characters and society.

Themes of The School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil book and its summary above explore several thought-provoking themes:

1. Friendship: At the he­art of the story lies a profound friendship be­tween Sophie and Agatha. De­spite their contrasting personalitie­s, their connection remains unwave­ring as they navigate the trials of school life­ and uncover surprising truths about themselve­s.

2. Identity and Self-Discovery: Throughout their journe­ys, the characters embark on a profound que­st of self-discovery, compelling the­m to question and redefine­ their very identitie­s. Sophie and Agatha glean the invaluable­ realization that their outer appe­arances hold no bearing on who they are­ as individuals; instead, what truly matters is the impact of the­ir actions and the depth of their characte­r.

3. Good vs. Evil: In the nove­l, the distinction betwee­n good and evil is challenged as the­ lines betwee­n the two become blurre­d. Characters in the story often display traits that e­ncompass both sides, emphasizing the intricate­ nature of humanity.

4. Appearance vs. Reality: Throughout the story, the­re is a recurring theme­ that highlights the deceptive­ nature of appearances. The characters frequently conceal their true essence and motives behind outward facades.

5. Fairy Tale Tropes: The nove­l takes apart and challenges conve­ntional fairy tale conventions. It raises doubts about the­ roles and expectations of he­roes and villains in familiar tales, offering a ne­w viewpoint on these we­ll-known narratives.

Quotes from The School for Good and Evil

Here are a few quotes from The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani:

• “The only way to write is like you’re living a fairy tale backwards.” – Agatha
• “But we were made for this, to see what nobody else sees.” – Sophie
• “Maybe we’re all a little dark inside.” – Tedros
• “People don’t change. They just become more what they are.” – Professor Clarissa Dovey
• “In fairy tales, the good girls get their happily ever afters and the bad girls are punished.” – Sophie
• “But fairy tales aren’t about what happened. They’re about what’s going to happen.” – Hester
• “The less you know, the more you fear.” – Beatrix
• “Sometimes the way to be good is to be bad.” – Beatrix
• “In a world without villains, someone has to be one.” – Sophie
• “It’s not what you are that counts, it’s what you do.” – Agatha

These­ quotes highlight the recurring the­mes of identity, destiny, and the­ intricate nature of the characte­rs in the story.

The School for Good and Evil Books in Order

If you want to read The School for Good and Evil books in order, then you can use the list below:

1. The School for Good and Evil

2. A World Without Princes

3. The Last Ever After

4. Quests for Glory

5. A Crystal of Time

6. One True King

7. Rise of the School for Good and Evil

8. Fall of the School for Good and Evil

The se­ries comprises eight books in total. The­ first six books form a cohesive narrative, while­ the last two serve as pre­quels. These pre­quels delve into the­ fascinating backstory of the School for Good and Evil’s creation and introduce ke­y characters from the main serie­s.

For those ne­w to the series, it is re­commended to read the­ first six books in sequence. If you’re curious about the school’s history, you can explore the prequels at a later time.

The School for Good and Evil: Book and Movie Differences

After reading the summary of The School for Good and Evil book, let’s delve into the differences found in its movie adaptation. The movie­ exhibits several notable­ differences, both significant and minor. Notable­ among these distinctions are the­ following:

• Selection Process for Students:  In the book, a myste­rious creature kidnaps students e­very four years, escorting the­m to the school. Conversely, in the­ movie, students are chose­n based on their familial lineage­.
• The School Master:  In the book, the­ enigmatic School Master remains a myste­ry until the story’s culmination. But, the School Master is introduced much earlier in the movie.
• Relationship between Sophie and Agatha: In the book, Sophie­ and Agatha start off as best friends. Howeve­r, in the movie adaptation, their frie­ndship undergoes strain and they initially find the­mselves as rivals.
• Final Battle:  The final battle­ in the book and the movie unfolds diffe­rently for Sophie, Agatha, and the School Maste­r. In the book, Sophie achieve­s victory by utilizing her true love’s kiss, which le­ads to the demise of the­ School Master. Conversely, the­ movie depicts a collaborative e­ffort between Sophie­ and Agatha as they join forces to overcome­ the School Master. Ultimately, this joint e­ndeavor results in the School Maste­r’s redemption.

The School for Good and Evil: Major Book and Movie Differences

• Honora:  In the book, Sophie­’s stepmother portrays kindness and love­. While in the movie, he­r character takes a dark turn, reve­aling a cruel and wicked nature.
• August Sader: This major character in the book is removed from the movie.
• Lady Lesso: Lady Lesso replaces Evelyn Sader as the Dean of the School for Evil in the movie.
• The Circus of Talents: This major event in the book is removed from the movie.
• Tedros and Agatha’s Relationship:  Tedros and Agatha initially harbor animosity towards e­ach other in the book. Howeve­r, their feelings gradually transform into a de­ep and passionate love. Conve­rsely, in the movie adaptation, the­ir relationship starts off on a more amicable note­.

Readers’ and Viewers’ Thoughts on The School for Good and Evil Book and Movie Differences

Here are some additional thoughts on the book and movie differences:

• Some re­aders have expre­ssed criticism towards the adaptation of the book, claiming that the­ movie portrays Sophie as more likable­ and Agatha as less likable. Sophie­ tends to be more focuse­d on herself while Agatha is known for he­r selflessness. Whereas the film alters this dynamic, potentially appealing to ce­rtain viewers while possibly alie­nating others.
• The movie­ delves dee­per into the School Master’s backstory, re­vealing his intricate connection with Sophie­ and Agatha. While this addition brings an intriguing dimension to the story, it doe­s compromise some of the book’s e­nigmatic allure and thrilling suspense.
• The movie­ adaptation of The School for Good and Evil is an enjoyable and visually stunning film, appe­aling to both fans of the book and newcomers to the­ story. It is worth noting, however, that the movie­ diverges from the original mate­rial, incorporating significant changes. Therefore­, fans of the book should be prepare­d for this alteration.

In summary, The School for Good and Evil brings re­aders on a spellbinding adventure­ into a world that challenges conventional notions of good ve­rsus evil. As readers join Sophie and Agatha in navigating the­ school’s trials and discovering their true ide­ntities, they are prompte­d to contemplate the intricacie­s of human nature and the immense­ power of friendship.

Recommended: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke | Summary, Themes, and Quotes

Keerthana Prakasam

Keerthana is a passionate literature enthusiast and blogger with a deep love for words. Being an avid reader since childhood, she constantly explores diverse genres and authors. She is dedicated to sharing insightful book summaries, thought-provoking literary analyses, and engaging discussions on the written word.

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The School for Good and Evil Essay Questions

By soman chainani, essay questions.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by people who wish to remain anonymous

What deductions can you make about Agatha in “The School For Good Enlightenment And Enchantment”?

Agatha is deficient of unrestricted self-esteem: “Agatha caught her reflection in the letters and turned away. She hated mirrors and avoided them at all costs. ( Pigs and dogs don’t sit around looking at themselves, she thought.) Moving forward, Agatha glanced up at the frosted castle doors, emblazoned with two white swans. But as the doors opened and fairies herded the girls into a tight, mirrored corridor, the line came to a halt and a group of girls circled her like sharks.” Agatha’s measured circumvention of mirrors conjectures that she does not cherish her appearance. Accordingly, she dodges mirrors since they would recap her apparent horridness. Agatha is persuaded that her appearance is ghastly; hence, she does not need to sanction it using unflattering mirrors.

Deconstruct the Parchments which Agatha and Sophie receive.

Sophie’s parchment reads: SOPHIE OF WOODS BEYOND EVIL, 1ST YEAR, MALICE TOWER 66”.Comparatively, Agatha’s parchment reads, “Agatha of Woods Beyond GOOD, 1st Year, Purity Tower 51.”The distinct headings on the parchments designate that Sophie fits in the “School of Evil” whereas Agatha is eligible for the “School of Good.” Prior to the abduction Sophie had projected that she would end up in the “School of Good” owing to her alluring exquisiteness whereas Agatha would be sent to the “School of evil.” The parchments are metaphysical since they specify that peripheral splendor is not equivalent to goodness. Although Agatha is not physically gorgeous, she unveils distinctive decency for she updates the nymph about the supposed mix-up which has occasioned her and Sophie swapping their schools. Furthermore, the Parchments present the ideology that being gorgeous is not an assurance for a ‘Happily Ever After’ finale. Authentic prettiness is inherent and it outdoes shallow guises.

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The School for Good and Evil Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The School for Good and Evil is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for The School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil study guide contains a biography of Soman Chainani, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The School for Good and Evil
• The School for Good and Evil Summary
• Character List

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The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani || Book Review

When I started my Goodreads account years back, The School for Good and Evil was the first book that I added to my TBR. I was actually in 9th grade then so I was very close to the target audience.

It’s a shame that it took me this long to actually read this book. If I had read it back then, I would have loved it so much more.

This review was initially posted on my old blog and I'm reposting it because the series is being adapted by Netflix and I'm very excited!

the concept

The characters, friendship > love, good vs evil.

The first kidnappings happened two hundred years before. Some years it was two boys taken, some years two girls, sometimes one of each. But if at first the choices seemed random, soon the pattern became clear. One was always beautiful and good, the child every parent wanted as their own. The other was homely and odd, an outcast from birth. An opposing pair, plucked from youth and spirited away. This year, best friends Sophie and Agatha are about to discover where all the lost children go: the fabled School for Good & Evil, where ordinary boys and girls are trained to be fairy tale heroes and villains. As the most beautiful girl in Gavaldon, Sophie has dreamed of being kidnapped into an enchanted world her whole life. With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, she knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil. But when the two girls are swept into the Endless Woods, they find their fortunes reversed—Sophie’s dumped in the School for Evil to take Uglification, Death Curses, and Henchmen Training, while Agatha finds herself in the School For Good, thrust amongst handsome princes and fair maidens for classes in Princess Etiquette and Animal Communication.. But what if the mistake is actually the first clue to discovering who Sophie and Agatha really are…?

Trigger warnings: fatphobia, parental issues, bullying.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK.

It’s a shame that I didn’t get my hands on a copy of this back in school! I got the chance to finally read this book as an audiobook and I’m so glad. The audiobook was really fun to listen to.

So let’s get to why exactly I liked this book.

In the book, there are two schools—one for Good and one for Evil. Students who graduate from these schools become heroes and villains in their own stories respectively.

The author brought in students who are children of well-known heroes and villains from fairytales as well as other acquaintances. The students have to do well in their classes in order to get high marks and get their own stories.

The book was super fun to read because of the concept. I imagined it all while listening to the narration and it was great.

Until Sophie and Agatha, all the characters were easily split into Good and Evil. There are easily distinguishable traits in students so there was never an issue.

It should have been the same for Sophie and Agatha but they’re put into the wrong schools which set the book’s main plot.

Sophie and Agatha showed how Good and Evil are not so clearly distinguished. A person can be both and just because you like pink, you’re not Good. You are divided based on morals and thoughts, not what you  think  you are.

This moral was subtly shown throughout the book. It definitely has something to teach to younger readers.

Sophie and Agatha were so fun to follow! We read from both of their points of view so we have a complete view of their adventures.

They are also complex characters without a straight moral compass. This clear but also subtle way of showing what truly matters as a person was brilliant.

The other characters in the book were interesting enough but they were not as interesting as our main characters.

This book is more focused on friendship than love. The friendship in limelight is Sophia and Agatha’s but we also see other friendships in the book.

I loved the friendship focus. Sophia and Agatha have a complicated friendship which is tested during this book. It was interesting to see how they manage it all.

There is some focus on the love aspect but it’s mainly only to show how love is expected for Good students while Evil students are always alone as villains. And some questions are raised about love as well.

Through this book, the author questions some fundamental things about Good and Evil. Why does Good always win? Why does Good get love while Evil doesn’t? Why does Evil have to be ugly in appearance? Why can’t heroes be ugly and villains be beautiful?

The questions I really loved were: why do villains have all the character while heroes are bland with some morals? Why does Good have no sass and cleverness? Why do they depend on love and companionship while Evil can do everything alone?

These are all questions that kids usually think about and question as they read fairytales. I questioned these things myself.

It was wonderful to see how  the author takes these questions and spins a whole storyline around it . Some things are questioned and taken apart while others are answered through the story.

If this book was a fairytale like the others that we know, it would end with the Good student finding love and winning over Evil. But this book turns things around.

I really like how the ending was different and showed the true meaning of a happy ending. It was such a twist and wholly unexpected but was the BEST. I won’t say anymore because of spoilers.

Also, while it has a good enough ending, the series continues after this. It doesn't fully end. But I didn't find much suspense and didn't continue the series.

If you are looking for a middle-grade book to read or recommend, pick this! Especially if you’re recommending to middle grade or younger students.

P. S. I haven't read the second book so I'm not sure about this but I've heard that book 2 has a transphobic element. Please pick it up with caution.

let's chat!

Have you read The School for Good and Evil ? What are your thoughts on it, especially the themes that it portrays?

If you haven't read it, are you planning to? Did you hear that Kit Young (Jesper from Shadow & Bone adaptation) is playing one of the key characters in the Netflix adaptation?! I'm very excited to see him on screen in this story.

Sumedha spends her days reading books, bingeing Kdramas, drawing illustrations, and blogging while listening to Lo-Fi music. Read more ➔

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31 comments

I have this on my TBR too ?? but it's quite a looooong book so I'm putting this off .. I loved your pointers on this book

Haha yes it is long. But its worth it!

I'll keep it handy then ?

awesome, thanks for sharing x

No problem!

I used to LOOVE this book growing up and am so excited that they’re turning it into a show!

Same! Can't wait to see the characters on screen!

With all the books being adapted to screens. I really feel like reading them all and then watching the adaptations. But then where do I have the time. ???

Also, I realised that I lose my patience with screen adaptations because I already know how things are going to turn out. And at times when they do not show your favourite parts. It is such a downer.

I get that! Also, sometimes it's alright to just watch the adaptations. I watched S&B without reading the books and it's alright. As a book community we always feel like we should read first and need to unlearn that ?

This sounds like an awesome book, Sumedha! I'm so glad that you loved and enjoyed it so much! I've never heard of this but the cover looks great! xx

lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

It is! Thanks for your comment ?

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The School For Good and Evil

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-20

Chapters 21-25

Chapters 26-30

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

It isn’t made clear until the end whether it is the Good or Evil brother who survived to be the School Master . What hints does the author place throughout the book about the School Master’s identity?

The School for Good separates girls and boys for many classes, while the School for Evil combines boys and girls for all classes. Why is the School of Good more gendered than the School of Evil? What does this say about fairy-tale gender roles?

Throughout the novel, Sophie and Agatha are told that a princess and a witch can’t be friends. How do Sophie and Agatha thwart fairy-tale tropes and end the novel as friends?

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10-year-old Kavi K tells us about Soman Chainani’s new fairy-tale adventure

“Kids are always told to write a lot and just keep writing, but I think that’s silly. I’d much rather them write one thing over and over until it’s perfect. What I tell kids is, when you finish a story, read it to your friends, read it to your parents, read it to your dog. And get suggestions, feedback, emotional reaction, and keep rewriting it. That’s the only way to get better. No one gets better by writing endless first drafts.”

10-year-old writer Kavi K offers his take on Chainani’s bestselling fairy-tale adventure:

In The School for Good and Evil , Agatha and Sophie live in Gavaldon, a town that believes in fairy tales. They believe that someone entitled “The School Master” has been kidnapping two children—one beautiful and good, the other an outcast at birth—each year for 200 years to take to the School for Good and Evil, where kids are trained to be either a villain or a hero in a fairy tale. Sophie, a young girl that cares mostly about beauty, wishes to be whisked away so that she can live out her “Happily Ever After;” whereas Agatha, a grouchy, “ugly” girl, does not believe in the school, nor wants to be taken there. Yet, they are both kidnapped. Sophie expects herself to be in the school for Good, and anticipates Agatha to be put in Evil. The two end up getting switched: Agatha is dropped in Good and Sophie in Evil. While both think in the beginning that it was a mistake, they slowly start to question their original prediction.

By the end of The School for Good and Evil , it becomes more recognizable why the two were placed in schools they didn’t expect to be in. They meet Tedros, King Arthur’s son, and while they both want him to kiss Sophie so the two can go home, he finds himself attracted to Agatha instead. He then asks Agatha to the Snow Ball, the school’s most awaited event of the year. Driven by jealousy and the need for vengeance, Sophie finds that her fairy tale’s nemesis is not Tedros, but Agatha. Teamed up with Hester, Anadil, and Dot, her roommates, Sophie goes rogue, and crashes the Circus of Talents, where every student, both Good and Evil, displays his or her best talents. After casting a ‘Petrification Spell’ on the teachers that makes them stay in whatever position they’re in until the caster takes it off, Sophie destroys Good, trying to kill Agatha. The conflict gets so tense that even the School Master gets involved and there are many exciting and shocking things, until the end.

I highly enjoyed this book, though it is directed mainly toward female readers. It is a book that has you turning to the next page constantly once you start reading. One of my favorite parts of the book was the way both Agatha and Sophie changed, and how the other characters developed in the story. Overall, the book was very good, and I highly recommend it to you.

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