From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

How does Konigsburg’s inclusion of a frame narrative (Mrs. Frankweiler’s letter to Saxonberg) shape readers’ perception of the novel?

Konigsburg provides detailed descriptions of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and parts of Manhattan as they were in the 1960s. Research those locations today and consider how they have changed and what remains the same. How does what you learned impact your understanding of the novel and its relevance today?

While writing From the Mixed-Up Files, Konigsburg read excerpts from the story to her children to make sure they were funny. What role does humor play in the novel? Identify and analyze several examples.