- What is the significance of the title: Twilight?
- Can you identify with Bella's thoughts and actions throughout the book? Why or why not?
- Edward is ferociously attracted to Bella by her smell. That may make his love unconditional (because she can't change the smell of her blood), but does it make it less admirable since it's not based on character?
- Is Rosalie's dislike of Bella justified? Why or why not?
- Do you think Carlisle did the right thing changing Edward into a vampire, or was it selfish? Does Edward show any signs of resentment toward Carlisle for what he did? Explain.
- Would it appeal to you to live forever? Why or why not?
- Do you think Billy's unsolicited warnings to Bella are entirely well-intentioned, or might there be something sinister going on?
- Edward really is unlike any human guy – even his breath is intoxicating! What do you make of the criticism that Twilight gives young female readers unrealistic expectations of men?
- The author makes clear that vampires have to be very attractive to their prey, but do you think Edward is too perfect? Why or why not?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Twilight Discussion Questions
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1. What is the significance of the title: Twilight?
ReplyDelete-Well, it seems to me that the book titles kinda go in order going from the beginning of the night to the morning. Like, you have the twilight, then the new moon, an eclipse, and then breaking dawn. So Twilight is like...the beginning of the night, right? And the beginning of the series.
2. Can you identify with Bella's thoughts and actions throughout the book? Why or why not?
-Yes. She acts the way I do when I'm acting like a moron.
No, J/K. She is identifiable to most readers, I think. It is easy to see yourself in her, at least sometimes.
3. Edward is ferociously attracted to Bella by her smell. That may make his love unconditional (because she can't change the smell of her blood), but does it make it less admirable since it's not based on character?
-Well, let's be honest here: Bella doesn't have a whole lot gong for her. She's very average. WHY does he like her other than her smell? I have yet to figure this one out. I mean, she's a nice girl and all, but later on Edward is ready to commit suicide because he thinks she's dead. I don't think she's worth all that. He must see something that no one else can. And I guess that's kinda what love is sometimes.
4. Is Rosalie's dislike of Bella justified? Why or why not?
-I just see it as a conflict that Meyer stuck in the book to add tension in the plot. But other than that...yes, I think it's justified. Come on...you've got these vampires that are trying to live with humans and keep their identities secret, and here comes Bella to potentially ruin it all. I'd be mad, too.
5. Do you think Carlisle did the right thing changing Edward into a vampire, or was it selfish? Does Edward show any signs of resentment toward Carlisle for what he did? Explain. -I don't know if it was the RIGHT thing, but personally it's what I would have wanted done to me. Carlisle was just carrying out the wishes of Edward's mother. He did what he thought was right, although apparently by doing so Carlisle has damned Edward's soul or something. I don't remember any textual evidence in particular that suggest that Edward is resentful, but since he seems to believe in God and believes that he is damned, there may be something there.
6. Would it appeal to you to live forever? Why or why not?
-Sure, what the heck.
7. Do you think Billy's unsolicited warnings to Bella are entirely well-intentioned, or might there be something sinister going on? -Pretty much Billy just wants Bella and Jacob to hook up. And let's face facts: Jacob is pretty much hot.
8. Edward really is unlike any human guy – even his breath is intoxicating! What do you make of the criticism that Twilight gives young female readers unrealistic expectations of men? -Since Edward is pretty much Meyer's fantasy man, I would definitely say that Edward is unrealistic. Meyer certainly could have played down his perfection A LITTLE BIT, but instead she goes nuts and mentions how he is like a male model every chance she gets. Oh, and that he's beautiful. Did I mention that Edward is the most beautiful guy ever? And he's beautiful, too.
9. The author makes clear that vampires have to be very attractive to their prey, but do you think Edward is too perfect? Why or why not? -I think, again, that it's part of Meyer's fantasy that she made this part of the plot. BUT it does work. I mean, if you are drawn to someone's looks, it is easier for them to get to your neck faster. But I don't understand this contradiction: Bella mentions many times how the Cullens have purplish circles under their eyes and pale skin. Then, she jumps to how attractive they are. Uh...how are those things attractive? These vampires sound pretty sickly-looking to me.
Re Karen's answer to question 9: All of the Cullens were unrealistically pale in the movie version. They are trying to fit in, yet it is startling to see them. My suggestion? There are places you can go to get a good spray-on tan! Of course, they do live in Washington state in the rainforest... and it is true what they say: People in Seattle don't tan - they rust. So they need to go for the palest shade at the tanning center so they don't look unrealistically tan.
ReplyDelete1. What is the significance of the title: Twilight?
ReplyDeleteProbably just that Stephanie Meyer thought it was cool sounding. Or what Karen said. I'll go with that.
2. Can you identify with Bella's thoughts and actions throughout the book? Why or why not?
I think Bella is intended to be identifiable to the reader. She is supposed to make you think of yourself. Like "Wow! Bella could be ME! Even I, a seemingly ordinary girl, could snag me a hot vampire man!" Well, I guess she isn't seen as ordinary to the other people in Forks but the thing is...she really ISN'T special. the only thing that makes her special is that everyone else in the book seems to think she is and apparently her blood smells good. I really didn't feel like she was special. And I didn't identify with her personally either. I found her horrendously annoying most of the time.
3. Edward is ferociously attracted to Bella by her smell. That may make his love unconditional (because she can't change the smell of her blood), but does it make it less admirable since it's not based on character?
Well, I dunno. I guess if you read the book and you find Bella identifiable and/or likable it doesn't seem like it is only based on her blood. Like, Edward first was attracted to that but found something deeper inside. Though for me, there wasn't enough depth to Bella for me to find the relationship based on enough to make it worth Edward's while to be with her. Though Edward wasn't really a prize either, as I will expand on later.
4. Is Rosalie's dislike of Bella justified? Why or why not?
Well, I don't know. I guess I will say that it kind of isn't because, while Bella is easy to dislike, Rosalie doesn't dislike her for the same reasons I do. On the other hand, I do have to agree with what Karen said about the whole keeping the secret thing.
5. Do you think Carlisle did the right thing changing Edward into a vampire, or was it selfish? Does Edward show any signs of resentment toward Carlisle for what he did? Explain.
I think it was probably selfish at least to some extent. I didn't see much resentment from Edward about it, even though there was a bit of the whole damned soul or whatever emo stuff going on. It might have been more interesting if there was more resentment! Their little family was too perfect!
6. Would it appeal to you to live forever? Why or why not?
Sure! I think there would be some nice benefits to it though maybe after a while of it you might be like "Please...just...let...me...die!"
I think my post might be too long so I will break it in two.
7. Do you think Billy's unsolicited warnings to Bella are entirely well-intentioned, or might there be something sinister going on?
ReplyDeleteI don't feel that there was anything sinister, unless you count maybe some sort of weird desire to have her end up with Jacob. It seemed that Billy and Charlie were genuinely friends so I am sure that Billy would want what he feels is best for Charlie's daughter. But Billy apparently doesn't understand the psychology of raising teenagers and that telling Bella to stay away probably just made her even more interested in Edward or something.
8. Edward really is unlike any human guy – even his breath is intoxicating! What do you make of the criticism that Twilight gives young female readers unrealistic expectations of men?
I think that the problem is more in young female readers actually thinking Edward is a perfect man. I mean, he is a freaky stalker and then a possessive controlling guy. It's kind of this creepy abusive thing going on. I get that it's like "aww! he loves her!" but there is a point where we are in creepy territory here. Besides that, Edward is presented as TOO perfect. He is too unreal. It is just kind of creepy and I don't know that anyone would really want a guy like that who they couldn't really relate to in reality. I think that some of Edward's "perfect" qualities are, in reality, things that a girl should NOT want in a guy, at least not to the extent that Edward exhibits them.
9. The author makes clear that vampires have to be very attractive to their prey, but do you think Edward is too perfect? Why or why not?
What Karen and mom said. Haha! Maybe someone should start up a Vampire Tanning service. It would probably be a huge success!