Self-worth versus your worth to others is a timeless theme. This theme inspired the story of Teddy and his imaginary kingdom, as well, this theme is witnessed in a reminiscence of tie-breaking in chess by Harry Golombek. Both Alden Nowlan?s ?The Fall of a City? (Elements of English 10, pp. 130-133) and Harry Golombek?s personal reminiscence ?Variations on a Familiar Theme? from the collection The Chess Player?s Bedside Book deal with this theme, but
from the viewpoint of very different characters: Teddy and Harry Golombek ? a young boy trapped within an imaginary world of kingdoms and battles, and a seasoned chess veteran who has witnessed many battles upon the chequered board of sixty-four squares. Both characters have experienced varying degrees of success: Teddy, within his imaginary world, has won many battles; Harry Golombek, on the chessboard, has also won many battles, sometimes even winning strong tournaments. …
