House of Stairs

What do the never-ending stairs in House of Stairs symbolize? How does the setting inform the narrative’s message? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

How does William Sleator’s House of Stairs fit into the genre of dystopian social experiment in young adult literature? Compare and contrast the story’s dystopian elements to a young adult dystopian novel written in the 21st century.

Research M. C. Escher’s famous lithograph print House of Stairs. Where does Escher’s intent overlap with Sleator’s? In what ways does Sleator take the concept and make it his own? Support your answer using the text.