The primary motif of the novel is the game of Sam Westing’s will. This can be broken down into two parts: the will itself and the game it sets in motion. The motif of the will ties into the sense of inheritance, of being able to pass along one’s legacy to others.

Who are the paired heirs in the Westing Game?

After being isolated from each other, the tenants of Sunset Towers are now spending time together. The clues are confusing, but they are bringing the complex together. The first pair worth noting is Flora and Turtle. Turtle, who has been hungry for maternal love, now has a person who trusts her opinion and respects her.

How is chess a motif in the Westing Game?

The game of chess is a consistent motif in The Westing Game. Chess is a game that requires forward thinking and planning, much like the actual game Sam Westing plotted. In order to play chess successfully, one has to always be one step ahead of one’s opponent, and only the player best able to predict Sam Westing’s game (Turtle) is able to succeed.

What happens in Chapter 7 of the Westing Game?

Sam Westing seems to know everyone’s behavior and personality and has concocted up something he calls the Westing Game. In chapter seven, Sam Westing partners up the heirs and each pair receives $10,000 and one set of clues.

Why did Sam Westing teach her niece chess?

In order to play chess successfully, one has to always be one step ahead of one’s opponent, and only the player best able to predict Sam Westing’s game (Turtle) is able to succeed. She ends up teaching her niece chess, just like her uncle taught her.

How does the book The Westing heirs work?

As the book’s characters race to inherit Westing’s estate by figuring out his murderer, students are swept up by the engaging mystery. Readers discover the clues along with the novel’s quirky characters, and are thus given an equal opportunity to solve the mystery themselves.

What is the summary of the Westing Game?

The Westing Game Summary. A mysterious realtor arranges for a specific group of people to become tenants in an apartment building called Sunset Towers that overlooks the abandoned mansion of Samuel Westing. A diverse group of unconnected people, both families and individuals, live together in at the Sunset Towers until a young girl, Turtle,…

What does Judge Ford Think of the Westing Game?

Judge Ford and Sandy speculate on what this means for the Westing Game. Judge Ford thinks the whole game is a trap to punish the person who hurt Westing most: the woman who caused his daughter’s death. Westing’s ex-wife must be one of the heirs, and Judge Ford decides to protect her by any means possible.

Who are Theo’s parents in the Westing Game?

Judge Ford watches George and Catherine Theo dorakis— Theo and Chris’s parents—as they stand together with Chris, looking troubled and tired, in the corner… (full context) Theo pushes Chris into the elevator to head down to the coffee shop.