Ice-Breakers
1. What predictions had you made for this book? Which ones turned out to be accurate?
2. Did the title give you any clues as to what would happen in the fourth book?
3. How does the cover art (featuring a white queen and a red pawn on a chessboard) relate to the plot?
4. Which character is your favorite? Did this person significantly change or surprise you in Breaking Dawn?
5. Are there any characters you didn’t like before reading Breaking Dawn? Did the book change your mind about them at all?
Breaking Dawn and the Twilight Saga
6. How does Stephenie Meyer change the familiar legends of vampires (and werewolves) in the Twilight Saga? Do you like these changes or do you feel she is “sanitizing” the vampire to make this creature more acceptable?
7. Bella describes herself as ordinary-looking, clumsy, and accident-prone, but the name Bella (which means “beautiful”) and Swan (recalling the story of the ugly duckling) suggest that she will transform (or perhaps that she’s selling herself short from the beginning). Do you think her metamorphosis takes place entirely in Breaking Dawn or does she begin to transform earlier in the series? What changes do you see in Bella over the course of the series? How does Bella Cullen compare to the Bella Swan we meet in Twilight?
8. Bella is unique in that she has the choice of remaining human or becoming something other. This isn’t the case for the vampires, many of whom were attacked and violated, or for the werewolves, who are bound to the change by tribal tradition. Even those Carlisle “saved” were in no shape to make a decision about whether they’d rather live as vampires or die as humans. How does Bella’s freedom of choice affect the kind of vampire she becomes? Do you support the other decisions Bella makes in the series?
9. A lot of romances depend on the frustrated desire of the hero and heroine to build suspense. Once the characters marry and/or make love, the anticipation is over and it’s difficult to keep the reader interested. Does Meyer keep your interest after Bella and Edward overcome the barriers keeping them apart? How does she do this?
10. Did you like the switch to Jacob’s point of view in Breaking Dawn? What is Jake able to tell us that Bella (or Edward) couldn’t? Did hearing his side of the story change your view of him?
11. Meyer suggests that Jacob imprinted on Nessie even before she was born (possibly before she was even conceived), which might explain why the bond between Jacob and Bella has always been so strong. Do you find this explanation satisfying? Does this mean that the choice Bella made between Edward and Jacob was unnecessary on some level because Jacob’s love for her wasn’t “real”?
12. What do you like/dislike about the final showdown between the united vampire clans and the Volturis? Were the Volturis defeated or did they just make a tactical retreat, which means they might still be a threat?
13. A Mormon acquaintance explained that the Cullen family is trying to “overcome the natural vampire,” which is related to the Mormon belief that people must "overcome the natural man," rising above the normal tendencies toward sin. How are the issues of self-control, discipline, and sin important to this series?
14. Think about the Cullens, the Quileute tribe, Bella’s relationship with her parents, and the gathering of vampires in Breaking Dawn. How does Meyer change the traditional idea of “family” in the Twilight series? Would you call any of these families dysfunctional?
Intertextual Connections
15. Meyer says that one of her inspirations for Breaking Dawn was William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s play, a young man named Demetrius is trying to break up the lovers Lysander and Hermia; he doesn’t care that Helena is dying for love of him. Oberon, the fairy king, wants to punish his wife, so he instructs Puck to make her fall in love with something disgusting (a man with the head of a donkey). Oberon also tells Puck to make Demetrius love Helena, but Puck accidentally casts the spell on Lysander as well, so both men now love Helena while Hermia is left out in the cold.
Because this is a comedy, Puck is able to reverse the spells on everyone but Demetrius so that all the characters end up with the right partner. However, Breaking Dawn is not a comedy and the imprinting process is not reversible. What problems are caused by the imprinting? Do you see the imprinting as romantic or as a kind of curse, robbing people of their ability to choose a partner? How would you respond if you were the object of the imprinting?
16. Breaking Dawn also contains several references to another Shakespeare play, The Merchant of Venice. The wily Shylock tries to enforce a contract which entitles him to a pound of the merchant Antonio’s flesh; essentially, Shylock has found a way to commit a legal murder. However, a clever young woman named Portia, masquerading as a lawyer, argues that Shylock may claim the pound of flesh but he’s not entitled to any blood; if Shylock spills even a drop of Antonio’s blood, he will be arrested for murder. Of course, Shylock backs down.
How does this play relate to Breaking Dawn? Who plays the role of Portia in Meyer’s version?
17. In writing the Twilight Saga, Stephenie Meyer has made a number of references to other literary works. She claims that Twilight is based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice; New Moon reworks Romeo and Juliet; Eclipse is her homage to Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights; and Breaking Dawn references A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice. How do these literary allusions affect your understanding or enjoyment of the Twilight Saga? Has Meyer inspired you to read (or reread) any of the texts she mentions? Does Meyer’s series remind you of any other stories?
18. What other vampire books/series have you read? How do they compare to the Twilight Saga?
Wrap Up
20. Overall, did you find Breaking Dawn a satisfying conclusion to the Twilight Saga? Why or why not?
21. Does Breaking Dawn create any opportunities for a new series featuring some of the Twilight characters?
22. As you probably know, Meyer has promised to write Edward’s version of Twilight in a book called Midnight Sun. What predictions do you have for this book? What questions do you hope it will answer?
23. Until Meyer publishes again, what book(s) would you recommend to Twilight fans?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
To Bella and Edward
At 11:30 on August 1, Twilighters gathered at Barnes & Noble and raised their glasses of blood-red Passion Tea to Stephenie Meyer and Breaking Dawn.
I was honored with the task of giving this toast. Here's what I said:
Thank you so much for joining us this evening for the latest (I won’t say
the final) chapter in the amazing story of the Twilight saga. In Twilight, Stephanie Meyer introduced us to a strange new world that challenged everything we thought we knew about vampires. A New Moon rose and broke our hearts, Eclipse achieved the impossible: a fragile
truce between sworn enemies, and now Breaking Dawn promises to take our breath away.
Many of you were swept up in the romance of a first love, others were intrigued by Meyer’s new telling of the old vampire legends, and still others were simply spell-bound by a captivating story. Stephenie Meyer has created living, breathing characters who touch us, who seem real to us, and we want all of them to have a happy ending, even when that seems impossible.
But tonight we’re here to celebrate a wedding. Even though some of us still harbor a soft spot for a certain werewolf [big cheer here from Team Jacob], and when an accident-prone disaster magnet tries to marry a vampire, absolutely anything can happen [cheers from everyone], I don’t think any of us want to bet against Alice.
Please join me in raising a glass to toast the imagination of Stephanie Meyer, the launch of Breaking Dawn, and the triumph of love over evil.
the final) chapter in the amazing story of the Twilight saga. In Twilight, Stephanie Meyer introduced us to a strange new world that challenged everything we thought we knew about vampires. A New Moon rose and broke our hearts, Eclipse achieved the impossible: a fragile
truce between sworn enemies, and now Breaking Dawn promises to take our breath away.
Many of you were swept up in the romance of a first love, others were intrigued by Meyer’s new telling of the old vampire legends, and still others were simply spell-bound by a captivating story. Stephenie Meyer has created living, breathing characters who touch us, who seem real to us, and we want all of them to have a happy ending, even when that seems impossible.
But tonight we’re here to celebrate a wedding. Even though some of us still harbor a soft spot for a certain werewolf [big cheer here from Team Jacob], and when an accident-prone disaster magnet tries to marry a vampire, absolutely anything can happen [cheers from everyone], I don’t think any of us want to bet against Alice.
Please join me in raising a glass to toast the imagination of Stephanie Meyer, the launch of Breaking Dawn, and the triumph of love over evil.
To Bella and Edward!
Breaking Dawn Predictions
I forgot to mention the contest Barnes & Noble held to predict 1) whether Bella and Edward will marry, 2) if Bella becomes a vampire, and 3) what will happen to Jacob.
A random drawing from the correct answers will be held on September 1. Prizes are Barnes & Noble gift cards.
Good luck!
A random drawing from the correct answers will be held on September 1. Prizes are Barnes & Noble gift cards.
Good luck!
Breaking Dawn--no spoilers, please!
Of course I got my copy of Breaking Dawn at midnight on Aug. 2, but I've got a lot of projects right now so I haven't had much time for reading.
PLEASE don't send me any hints or spoilers until I've posted about finishing the book. Stephenie Meyer is really good at building suspense and plot twists--I'm looking forward to being surprised.
PLEASE don't send me any hints or spoilers until I've posted about finishing the book. Stephenie Meyer is really good at building suspense and plot twists--I'm looking forward to being surprised.
Amazing Breaking Dawn Event
Thanks to everyone who attended Bella and Edward's vampire wedding reception at the Denton Barnes & Noble on Friday night. What a great time!
I was knocked out by the number of people who came in costume--either evening dress or Twilight-themed t-shirts. I was even more pleased to see that there are other Team Jacob members out there. Howl on, my sisters, howl on.
There were a number of great events: the postcard-making table, the chess demonstration, the sci-fi/fantasy art class, the presentation from the Rare Books Room (loved the 3-D book shaped like an apple!), a dramatic reading from Breaking Dawn, and Find-Your-Twilight-Character from the Teen Advisory Board. I gave a talk about "Transformation and Choice in the Twilight Saga" and brought Alice to answer fans' questions about the next book. (A friend of mine took some great pictures of me and Alice; I'll try to post them soon!)
But I think the moment everyone will remember is when Jacob showed up and challenged Edward to a fight! Wow! All the camera phones came out (if you had yours with you, PLEASE send me a picture) as the crowd backed out of the power aisle, giving the two room.
The confrontation escalated from verbal sparring to a duel with swords and finally a no-holds-barred fistfight. Edward smashed Jacob's face directly into the wedding cake and then laid him out on the ground. Poor Jake was down for the count! But when Edward reached down, wiped some icing from Jake's face, and ate it--well, I thought that was insult to injury. But the Team Edward crowd went wild!
Hope you had a great time, wherever you were.
I was knocked out by the number of people who came in costume--either evening dress or Twilight-themed t-shirts. I was even more pleased to see that there are other Team Jacob members out there. Howl on, my sisters, howl on.
There were a number of great events: the postcard-making table, the chess demonstration, the sci-fi/fantasy art class, the presentation from the Rare Books Room (loved the 3-D book shaped like an apple!), a dramatic reading from Breaking Dawn, and Find-Your-Twilight-Character from the Teen Advisory Board. I gave a talk about "Transformation and Choice in the Twilight Saga" and brought Alice to answer fans' questions about the next book. (A friend of mine took some great pictures of me and Alice; I'll try to post them soon!)
But I think the moment everyone will remember is when Jacob showed up and challenged Edward to a fight! Wow! All the camera phones came out (if you had yours with you, PLEASE send me a picture) as the crowd backed out of the power aisle, giving the two room.
The confrontation escalated from verbal sparring to a duel with swords and finally a no-holds-barred fistfight. Edward smashed Jacob's face directly into the wedding cake and then laid him out on the ground. Poor Jake was down for the count! But when Edward reached down, wiped some icing from Jake's face, and ate it--well, I thought that was insult to injury. But the Team Edward crowd went wild!
Hope you had a great time, wherever you were.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Three days and counting ...
Sorry it's been so long between posts, but our air conditioner broke last week and we've been suffering through this awful heat wave. Too hot to do anything but lie on the couch and read.
Hmm, that doesn't sound too awful, does it? Except for when the pages get all sweaty.
REALLY looking forward to the Breaking Dawn release on Friday night! Here are some more events to look forward to:
The Denton Chess Club will sponsor a demonstration speed chess game with champions representing Bella (yay!) and Jane (boo!). Afterward, chess club members will be on hand to help beginners through the intricacies of chess. The cover for Breaking Dawn suggests that chess is going to be an important theme or even plot element for the book, so come get your game on!
The charming clairvoyant Alice will be on hand to answer all your questions about what the future holds for Bella, Edward, and the fine folks of Fork. Be sure to phrase your question so that it can be answered "yes" or "no" and remember: Alice can't see werewolves!
Games, prizes, and fun galore! Join us at 10 p.m. on August 1 at the Barnes & Noble in the Golden Triangle Mall.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Change in Reading Schedule
Evil Genius by Catherine Jinks, one of our upcoming books, has been nominated for the Teens' Top Ten List, sponsored by the American Library Association. The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" award: if you've read the nominated books, you're invited to cast your vote during Teen Read Week, Oct 12-18.
In order to give the Gryffindors an opportunity to vote on this book, we'll be reading Evil Genius in October rather than November as we'd originally planned. Please see the box on the right for an updated schedule.
The subtheme for this year's Teen Read Week is "Books with Bite @ Your Library." Check out the nominees for the Teens' Top Ten --you'll recognize some of them!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Twilight and Mormonism
Thanks to all of you who attended the Twilight book talk at Barnes and Noble on Thursday night. We had a great discussion, and I heard some fascinating ideas, especially relating to Mormonism.
Much has been made of author Stephenie Meyer’s religion, usually along the lines of “What’s a nice Mormon girl like you doing writing about vampires?” Two people who came to the book talk identified themselves as Mormon or Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and I thought their responses to the series were very interesting.
Nancy, a grad student in technical editing, hasn’t read any of the books, but she’s heard a lot about it from her husband, an 8th-grade teacher whose female students and colleagues have been raving about the series. Nancy didn’t find the subject of vampires very appealing, but she did become interested when she learned that the author, Stephenie Meyer, is LDS. Not only did Nancy want to support a fellow Mormon, but she felt reassured that this “vampire romance” wouldn’t be frightening or sexually offensive.
John, a genetics major, is the first male Twilight reader I’ve met, although I’ve heard about others. Several young women have told me they gave the book to their guy friends and boyfriends, who became fans. True to form, John read the series because some girls (his sisters) recommended it to him. He said he wasn’t terribly interested in the romance (he couldn’t relate to Bella’s gushing admiration of Edward’s good looks), but he liked the vampire angle and he found that the books reflected familiar Mormon theology.
For example, Mormons believe that we must “overcome the natural man,” that is, conquer our baser instincts and our tendency toward sin. Similarly, Edward and his adoptive family struggle to “overcome the natural vampire”: they deny their thirst for human blood and hunt only animals. John was also fascinated by the idea of immortality, although we didn’t talk about how that might relate to Mormonism.
John and Nancy, I really enjoyed meeting you and I hope to see you again at the book release party on Aug. 1. I'd love to hear more of your ideas!
Much has been made of author Stephenie Meyer’s religion, usually along the lines of “What’s a nice Mormon girl like you doing writing about vampires?” Two people who came to the book talk identified themselves as Mormon or Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and I thought their responses to the series were very interesting.
Nancy, a grad student in technical editing, hasn’t read any of the books, but she’s heard a lot about it from her husband, an 8th-grade teacher whose female students and colleagues have been raving about the series. Nancy didn’t find the subject of vampires very appealing, but she did become interested when she learned that the author, Stephenie Meyer, is LDS. Not only did Nancy want to support a fellow Mormon, but she felt reassured that this “vampire romance” wouldn’t be frightening or sexually offensive.
John, a genetics major, is the first male Twilight reader I’ve met, although I’ve heard about others. Several young women have told me they gave the book to their guy friends and boyfriends, who became fans. True to form, John read the series because some girls (his sisters) recommended it to him. He said he wasn’t terribly interested in the romance (he couldn’t relate to Bella’s gushing admiration of Edward’s good looks), but he liked the vampire angle and he found that the books reflected familiar Mormon theology.
For example, Mormons believe that we must “overcome the natural man,” that is, conquer our baser instincts and our tendency toward sin. Similarly, Edward and his adoptive family struggle to “overcome the natural vampire”: they deny their thirst for human blood and hunt only animals. John was also fascinated by the idea of immortality, although we didn’t talk about how that might relate to Mormonism.
John and Nancy, I really enjoyed meeting you and I hope to see you again at the book release party on Aug. 1. I'd love to hear more of your ideas!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Breaking Dawn Events
Denton is hosting lots of events to celebrate the release of Stephenie Meyer's newest book, Breaking Dawn. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar:
Twilight Saga Book Talk: Friday, July 18, 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble in Golden Triangle Mall
We'll dish about your favorite characters and make predictions for the conclusion of this exciting series.
Breaking Dawn Release Party: Friday, August 1, 10 p.m.
Barnes & Noble in Golden Triangle Mall
You're invited to a vampire wedding reception for Bella and Edward.
- Come dressed to kill (literally) for our photo booth
- Do the Bad Bridesmaid Dress Walk of Shame
- Cheer on Team Edward or Team Jacob in a surprise contest
- Enjoy the fantasy art gallery
- Make your own gorgeous crafts
- Join our discussion on Timeless Romance
- Books go on sale at midnight!
Breaking Dawn Book Talk: Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m.
Emily Fowler Central Library
Once you finish the book, you'll be dying to talk about it. Meet your fellow Meyer fans!
Breaking Dawn Book Talk
This just in . . .
Denton Public Libraries will host a book talk on Stephanie Meyer's newest book, Breaking Dawn, on Thursday, August 28, at 7 p.m. WyLaina Hildreth will lead the discussion at Emily Fowler Central Library.
Denton Public Libraries will host a book talk on Stephanie Meyer's newest book, Breaking Dawn, on Thursday, August 28, at 7 p.m. WyLaina Hildreth will lead the discussion at Emily Fowler Central Library.
July Gryffindor Meeting
I just realized I've posted the wrong date for the July Gryffindor meeting!
The correct date is tomorrow, July 15, at 7 p.m. (I've made the change to the schedule at right.) We'll discuss The Spiderwick Chronicles (all 5 books!) by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. See you there!
The correct date is tomorrow, July 15, at 7 p.m. (I've made the change to the schedule at right.) We'll discuss The Spiderwick Chronicles (all 5 books!) by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. See you there!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Spiderwick Woes
The Gryffindors will be talking about the Spiderwick Chronicles (Books 1-5) at the next meeting, but I've gotten stalled after Book 1. I can't seem to find Book 2 at the North Branch or Emily Fowler libraries, even though the card catalog insists there are copies at both locations. I'd really prefer to read the series in order, so I may have to break down and buy the missing book. The sacrifices I make for this group!
As for my reaction so far: I like the concept of Spiderwick, which reminds me of E. Nesbit's Five Children and It, Edward Eager's Half Magic, and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. It also reminds me of a book I read a long time ago about a family that moves into an old house and discovers a treasure hunt. The first clue was a note rolled up in a windowshade: "Go to the Room of the Eyes." This was also the title of the book: Go to the Room of the Eyes by Betty K. Erwin (1969).
Spiderwick seems to be aimed at a fairly young set, but I was still disappointed that the first book was so short. The children finally discover a fairy (or sprite) living in their house . . . and then the book ends. What a letdown! I'm hoping the later books will have more meat.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
She's Ba-ack!
I am happy to announce that WyLaina Hildreth, librarian extraordinaire, has returned to the Denton Public Libraries. Hurrah!
She went off to explore the bright lights of Forth Worth but decided she missed us too much, so she's back in Denton and working at the Emily Fowler Central Library. Be sure to drop by and say hello.
She went off to explore the bright lights of Forth Worth but decided she missed us too much, so she's back in Denton and working at the Emily Fowler Central Library. Be sure to drop by and say hello.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Stephenie Meyer interview
Hey, check out this video of Stephenie Meyer talking about Breaking Dawn and the Twilight saga at Barnes and Noble's website.
Meyer says that each of the books in the Twilight series has paid tribute to a favorite literary work:
Twilight - Pride and Prejudice
New Moon - Romeo and Juliet
Eclipse - Wuthering Heights
Breaking Dawn - A Midsummer Night's Dream AND something else Meyer won't identify
Hmm, given the cover art of Breaking Dawn, which features a chessboard, I'm going to guess Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll's follow-up to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
In this book, Alice finds herself in a world that is laid out like a giant chessboard. She begins as a pawn, but if she can make it to the final square without being captured, she will become a queen.
Anybody want to suggest how this might apply to Bella?
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Stephenie Meyer Book Talk
Can't wait for the release of Breaking Dawn on August 2? Then come to our Stephenie Meyer book talk in July!
Date: July 18, 2008
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Barnes and Noble, Golden Triangle Mall
We'll dish about the Twilight saga and the upcoming movie, compare notes on The Host (Meyer's recent science fiction novel for adults), and make our predictions for Breaking Dawn. See you there!
Date: July 18, 2008
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Barnes and Noble, Golden Triangle Mall
We'll dish about the Twilight saga and the upcoming movie, compare notes on The Host (Meyer's recent science fiction novel for adults), and make our predictions for Breaking Dawn. See you there!
Update on Breaking Dawn release party
All kinds of cool things are happening at the Breaking Dawn release party!Bad Bridesmaid Dress Fashion Show (and you thought you'd never wear that awful bridesmaid/prom dress again. Work it, baby!)
- Throwdown between Team Edward and Team Jacob
- Garter/bouquet toss to win free copy of Breaking Dawn
- Romantic arts and crafts
- A real-life sword fight
- Roundtable discussion on Stephenie Meyer
- Photo booth
- Refreshments
It's all happening on Friday, August 1, 10 p.m., at Barnes and Noble in the Golden Triangle Mall.
Be sure to RSVP: 940-383-9261.Thursday, June 26, 2008
You are cordially invited . . .
to a Vampire Wedding Reception!
Date: Friday, Aug. 1 (Eve of the New Moon)
Time: 10 p.m. to midnight
Occasion: The release of Stephenie Meyer's new book, Breaking Dawn
Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers in the Golden Triangle Mall
Dress: Vampire Glam (werewolves also welcome)
Knowing Bella Swan, any number of things might happen to prevent her marriage to Edward Cullen, but as far as we know, the wedding is on! Come celebrate with us!
Date: Friday, Aug. 1 (Eve of the New Moon)
Time: 10 p.m. to midnight
Occasion: The release of Stephenie Meyer's new book, Breaking Dawn
Where: Barnes & Noble Booksellers in the Golden Triangle Mall
Dress: Vampire Glam (werewolves also welcome)
Knowing Bella Swan, any number of things might happen to prevent her marriage to Edward Cullen, but as far as we know, the wedding is on! Come celebrate with us!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
C. S. Lewis and Shakespeare
Contains some spoilers for Prince Caspian
Conventional wisdom holds that C. S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia as a Christian allegory, so the main source for the series must be the Holy Bible. This is certainly an important influence, but we shouldn't neglect the other sources Lewis used. In my most recent reading of Prince Caspian, I was surprised to see a number of allusions to the plays of William Shakespeare.
The backstory about Caspian's wicked Uncle Miraz, who kills the king and takes his place while Caspian is still too young to rule, is very similar to rhe plot of Hamlet, in which the title character's Uncle Claudius kills King Hamlet, marries Queen Gertrude, and becomes the new monarch of Denmark, preventing Hamlet from succeeding his father to the throne.
Miraz's wily counselors Sopespian and Glozelle, who manipulate the king into entering combat by pretending that they want him to avoid battle, recall a number of Shakespearean villains, such as Iago, the treacherous advisor in Othello, and Sebastian and Antonio, the fratricidal conspirators in The Tempest.
Another reference to The Tempest appears in the chapter "Aslan Makes a Door in the Air," in which Aslan informs the Telmarines of their true origins. Like the Pevensie children, the Telmarines are Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve (humans from the "real world"). They are descendents of pirates who shipwrecked on a South Sea island, and Aslan proposes to send them back to this island to begin a new life. The Tempest, which also begins with a shipwreck on a beautiful tropical island, presents a story of punishment and redemption: the banished Prospero forgives the brother who tried to kill him, and Prospero's daughter, Miranda, sees the newcomers to the island as the beginning of a "brave new world."
Prince Caspian's final Shakespearean allusion is to the famous prophecy in Macbeth that the title character shall be defeated when "Birnan Wood do come to Dunsinane." Since woods can't move, Macbeth believes this is a colorful way of saying he will never be defeated, but he is tricked by the opposing army, who approach under camouflage of branches and leaves. Lewis makes the trick even better by including Dryads, Hamadryads, and Silvans (tree-spirits) in the Old Narnian forces, so that the actual woods advance on Miraz's army and terrify them into thinking that the world is ending.
In a previous posting, I explained why Prince Caspian was my least favorite book in the Chronicles of Narnia when I was a young reader. I stand by the critique I offered yesterday, but I must admit that even the weaker books in the series include some gems. Lewis's use of Shakespearean allusions confirms what I have often argued in this blog: children's fantasy is literature worthy of careful examination and should not be dismissed as cheap entertainment. Even after more than fifty years, the sophistication of the Chronicles of Narnia has the power to surprise and delight us.
Conventional wisdom holds that C. S. Lewis wrote The Chronicles of Narnia as a Christian allegory, so the main source for the series must be the Holy Bible. This is certainly an important influence, but we shouldn't neglect the other sources Lewis used. In my most recent reading of Prince Caspian, I was surprised to see a number of allusions to the plays of William Shakespeare.
The backstory about Caspian's wicked Uncle Miraz, who kills the king and takes his place while Caspian is still too young to rule, is very similar to rhe plot of Hamlet, in which the title character's Uncle Claudius kills King Hamlet, marries Queen Gertrude, and becomes the new monarch of Denmark, preventing Hamlet from succeeding his father to the throne.
Miraz's wily counselors Sopespian and Glozelle, who manipulate the king into entering combat by pretending that they want him to avoid battle, recall a number of Shakespearean villains, such as Iago, the treacherous advisor in Othello, and Sebastian and Antonio, the fratricidal conspirators in The Tempest.
Another reference to The Tempest appears in the chapter "Aslan Makes a Door in the Air," in which Aslan informs the Telmarines of their true origins. Like the Pevensie children, the Telmarines are Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve (humans from the "real world"). They are descendents of pirates who shipwrecked on a South Sea island, and Aslan proposes to send them back to this island to begin a new life. The Tempest, which also begins with a shipwreck on a beautiful tropical island, presents a story of punishment and redemption: the banished Prospero forgives the brother who tried to kill him, and Prospero's daughter, Miranda, sees the newcomers to the island as the beginning of a "brave new world."
Prince Caspian's final Shakespearean allusion is to the famous prophecy in Macbeth that the title character shall be defeated when "Birnan Wood do come to Dunsinane." Since woods can't move, Macbeth believes this is a colorful way of saying he will never be defeated, but he is tricked by the opposing army, who approach under camouflage of branches and leaves. Lewis makes the trick even better by including Dryads, Hamadryads, and Silvans (tree-spirits) in the Old Narnian forces, so that the actual woods advance on Miraz's army and terrify them into thinking that the world is ending.
In a previous posting, I explained why Prince Caspian was my least favorite book in the Chronicles of Narnia when I was a young reader. I stand by the critique I offered yesterday, but I must admit that even the weaker books in the series include some gems. Lewis's use of Shakespearean allusions confirms what I have often argued in this blog: children's fantasy is literature worthy of careful examination and should not be dismissed as cheap entertainment. Even after more than fifty years, the sophistication of the Chronicles of Narnia has the power to surprise and delight us.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Prince Caspian's Challenge to Filmmakers
Contains some book spoilers.
It's probably a mistake to read (or even reread) a book just before seeing the film adaptation, but I always seem to do it anyway. I want to see the new Narnia movie this week, so last night I reread Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis. The one review I've read was lukewarm at best, but if the movie is a little flat and disappointing, I'm not sure all the blame belongs to the filmmakers. Prince Caspian may be the slowest and least thrilling of the Narnia series.
As I was reading, I was especially interested to find Caspian's age because the film director has cast a young man who seems much older than the boyish character I remembered. While Lewis doesn't assign an exact age, he tells us that Caspian is about the same age as Peter, who is probably in his late teens. Like his younger siblings, Peter is on his way to school when they are all pulled into Narnia, but this is his last visit; to his sorrow, Peter learns that he and Susan won't come back to Narnia because they're "too old." Even though they're the same age, Prince Caspian has always struck me as younger than Peter. Perhaps it's because Peter can draw on his memories of adulthood from his last trip to Narnia, which lasted many years, whereas Caspian has only recently run away from his aunt and uncle and is still struggling to establish his authority among his followers. The most influential person in the young king's life is still his former tutor.
Although the book is named after Caspian, the Pevensie children are still the central characters. They've returned to Narnia to help Caspian reclaim the throne that is rightfully his, but it's Peter, not Caspian, who challenges the usurping king to single combat. Lucy and Edmund are remarkable for their demonstrations of faith and courage, while Susan struggles with her fears, but Caspian never seems to emerge from the shadow of these much better developed characters. He is neither an unlikely hero fighting for legitimacy or an idealistic champion battling the forces of evil. Rather Caspian seems like a boy king placed on a throne by older and wiser characters who recognize his symbolic authority and his potential (not his current ability) to be a good ruler. He never seems to come into his own by declaring his independence or even making his own mistakes. Even secondary characters like Trumpkin, the cheerfully skeptical dwarf, and Reepicheep, the valiant mouse, are far more endearing and interesting.
Prince Caspian does include one of my favorite scenes: Aslan freeing the young schoolmarm from the misery of teaching bratty little boys who turn into pigs and run away. However, this book was never my favorite in the Chronicles of Narnia, perhaps because very little happens in this book. The meat of the story is in Prince Caspian's escape from the evil uncle who killed his father, the creation of a resistance army, and the battle to restore "Old Narnia." However, much of Caspian's story is told in flashback, and we simply never care about him as much as we do the Pevensie children. For me, the book never had much value except to introduce characters and conflicts that would become important in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which I found much more exciting when I was a young reader. Prince Caspian moves the series forward and provides some important foreshadowing, but it's not a particularly powerful book on its own.
Although Prince Caspian offers scenes with wonderful cinematic potential (the discovery of the overgrown castle, Lucy's dance with the tree-people, the "romp" with Aslan, and of course the battle scenes), the book also presents filmmakers with an enormous challenge: they may have to sacrifice faithfulness to the original in order to create a truly interesting and sympathetic hero.
It's probably a mistake to read (or even reread) a book just before seeing the film adaptation, but I always seem to do it anyway. I want to see the new Narnia movie this week, so last night I reread Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis. The one review I've read was lukewarm at best, but if the movie is a little flat and disappointing, I'm not sure all the blame belongs to the filmmakers. Prince Caspian may be the slowest and least thrilling of the Narnia series.
As I was reading, I was especially interested to find Caspian's age because the film director has cast a young man who seems much older than the boyish character I remembered. While Lewis doesn't assign an exact age, he tells us that Caspian is about the same age as Peter, who is probably in his late teens. Like his younger siblings, Peter is on his way to school when they are all pulled into Narnia, but this is his last visit; to his sorrow, Peter learns that he and Susan won't come back to Narnia because they're "too old." Even though they're the same age, Prince Caspian has always struck me as younger than Peter. Perhaps it's because Peter can draw on his memories of adulthood from his last trip to Narnia, which lasted many years, whereas Caspian has only recently run away from his aunt and uncle and is still struggling to establish his authority among his followers. The most influential person in the young king's life is still his former tutor.
Although the book is named after Caspian, the Pevensie children are still the central characters. They've returned to Narnia to help Caspian reclaim the throne that is rightfully his, but it's Peter, not Caspian, who challenges the usurping king to single combat. Lucy and Edmund are remarkable for their demonstrations of faith and courage, while Susan struggles with her fears, but Caspian never seems to emerge from the shadow of these much better developed characters. He is neither an unlikely hero fighting for legitimacy or an idealistic champion battling the forces of evil. Rather Caspian seems like a boy king placed on a throne by older and wiser characters who recognize his symbolic authority and his potential (not his current ability) to be a good ruler. He never seems to come into his own by declaring his independence or even making his own mistakes. Even secondary characters like Trumpkin, the cheerfully skeptical dwarf, and Reepicheep, the valiant mouse, are far more endearing and interesting.
Prince Caspian does include one of my favorite scenes: Aslan freeing the young schoolmarm from the misery of teaching bratty little boys who turn into pigs and run away. However, this book was never my favorite in the Chronicles of Narnia, perhaps because very little happens in this book. The meat of the story is in Prince Caspian's escape from the evil uncle who killed his father, the creation of a resistance army, and the battle to restore "Old Narnia." However, much of Caspian's story is told in flashback, and we simply never care about him as much as we do the Pevensie children. For me, the book never had much value except to introduce characters and conflicts that would become important in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which I found much more exciting when I was a young reader. Prince Caspian moves the series forward and provides some important foreshadowing, but it's not a particularly powerful book on its own.
Although Prince Caspian offers scenes with wonderful cinematic potential (the discovery of the overgrown castle, Lucy's dance with the tree-people, the "romp" with Aslan, and of course the battle scenes), the book also presents filmmakers with an enormous challenge: they may have to sacrifice faithfulness to the original in order to create a truly interesting and sympathetic hero.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Generation R
According to Newsweek.com, YA fantasy is the brightest spot in book publishing today. We all knew that, didn't we?
Teen book sales are booming, and although Jamie Reno snarkily adds "it's not all Harry Potter," the author must admit that Rowling is largely responsible for jump-starting the trend.
Photo by Bettmann-Corbis
Friday, March 21, 2008
First Test
People have been telling me for years that I ought to read Tamora Pierce, and I finally have. I've read the first three books in her Protector of the Small series (First Test, Page, and Squire), and I'm looking forward to reading the fourth (Lady Knight).
I was really impressed by the way Pierce uses a fantasy setting to address real-world issues like sexism, bullying, institutional hazing, and the code of silence that so often unites young people against adult authority figures. Keladry of Mindelan, a remarkable 10-year-old, is the only girl in a school full of boys training as pages, the first step toward becoming a knight. Kel must cope with hostility from many of her teachers as well as from her peers: the training master has made no secret of his belief that women have no place at the school. Kel spends her first year of training "on probation," a restriction imposed on no other student.
Kel's early training as the daughter of a diplomat allows her to remain calm and expressionless even when her fellow-students jeer and laugh at her. "I am stone," she tells herself, refusing to be goaded into an emotional display that would only reinforce the men's conviction that a woman doesn't have what it takes to be a successful knight. Although her classmates nickname her "the Lump," she ultimately wins their respect not only for her fighting skills but for her sense of justice. She challenges the bullying that others have accepted as part of school life, but she doesn't merely protect those who are weak and small; she teaches them to defend themselves.
What confuses me is how Pierce fans respond to my choice of First Test for last month's meeting. "Why did you start with that?" they want to know, their voices dripping with disgust. "You should have read Alanna." Sometimes it's another series, Beka Cooper or Circle of Magic, but the majority of protestors have named Alanna and the Wild Magic books. "Kel is so boring. She doesn't even have any magic."
As I said, Protector of the Small is the only series I've read, so I can't comment on the others. For all I know, I might prefer Wild Magic; that's not really the issue. Why do they seem so angry, so personally insulted by my choice of book, especially when they admire the author so much?
I've come up with a few reasons for their reaction:
Chronology: Alanna's series takes place earlier; in fact, Alanna's struggle to become a knight while disguised as a boy forces the king to recognize that girls should be given equal opportunity. Kel's story begins with Alanna's discovery that she will not be allowed to help the young girl on her journey to becoming a knight; like Alanna, Kel will have to find her own way. I've noticed that fans can be very rigid about the order in which books SHOULD be read.
Impatience: First Test is the only book by Tamora Pierce we've scheduled for this year. Perhaps the protestors are disappointed that they'll have to wait a long while before we'll get around to the Pierce book they prefer.
The Paradox of the Series: Series are popular because when readers find a book they really love, they want to read more of the same. At the same time, they're very critical of writers who repeat the same story over and over. I got the impression that some readers felt that Kel was too different from Alanna, far less fiery and impulsive and therefore "boring." At the same time, they'd already seen the story of a young girl fighting for acceptance among the male warriors; why rehearse it again? It's difficult to satisfy readers who want "the same thing only different" from their favorite authors.
These all make sense, but I'm afraid there may be one more reason, one that I find particularly disturbing. From what I've seen of her in Protector of the Small, Alanna prefers to meet every challenge by confronting it immediately and head-on. When she's angry, people know it, and she wins the respect of her opponents at the point of a sword. Kel, on the other hand, plays the long game. She's willing to work slowly to solve a problem, and she shows surprising grace and tact in resolving problems with friends and enemies alike. Her cool judgment and ability to act wisely in a crisis shows that she can be a strong leader in peacetime as well as in conflict.
Do readers prefer Alanna to Kel because fighting for a quick fix is more appealing than working slowly toward a long-term solution? Have they decided that patience and tact are outdated, boring, and stereotypically feminine?
Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency has provoked a number of questions about women's ability to lead, and Sen. Clinton has responded by emphasizing her qualifications as Commander-in-Chief. She's focused on issues of personal strength and military engagements, but what about diplomacy and statesmanship? Obama speaks often of the need to reconcile (liberals and conservatives, the U.S. and other nations); is Clinton afraid that she'll seem weak if she talks about reconciliation instead of military solutions? Can there be authority without violence?
My final question applies as much to Senator Clinton as it does to Alanna and Kel: Does a woman have to fight to be taken seriously?
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The Great Escape?
Popular literature as therapy
I've been reading a lot of scholarship about romance novels lately (yes, there actually are romance scholars), and I'm struck by the fact that nearly all of them describe popular literature as escapist, although they don't agree on whether this is a good or a bad thing. Some say that pop lit works as a kind of therapy, providing a much-needed break from the stresses of daily life without the expense of an actual vacation. Readers enter into another world by identifying imaginatively with the book's protagonist and return to their own lives feeling refreshed and better able to deal with the problems they left behind.
Popular literature as drug addiction
Other scholars describe escapist literature much more negatively. Reading is irresponsible because it allows the individual to avoid problems instead of dealing with them. Reading is at best a means of procrastination, at worst a dangerous kind of self-medication. Because the fantasy world acts as a safety valve for the reader's frustration by vicariously fulfilling all his or her wishes, the reader has less motivation to face problems head-on, resolve them, and achieve his or her dreams in the real world. These critics argue that escapist literature sedates people into accepting the undesirable circumstances of their lives (such as unhealthy habits, unhappy relationships, unsatisfying work, or social injustices) instead of inspiring them to change.
Are fantasy and sf really escapist?
Fantasy and science fiction are especially vulnerable to this kind of criticism because the genres are seen as unrealistic and therefore useless in bringing about any personal or social transformation. However, I've noticed that the imaginary societies in fantasy and science fiction have just as many problems as ours does; in fact, many authors create these fantasy worlds in order to address real-world problems through a strategy of defamiliarization. They describe a society based on unfamiliar laws and customs that seem illogical, unfair, or simply wrong; as the novel progresses, readers are able to recognize their own society in this depiction and see its successes and shortcomings much more clearly. This strategy is similar to the question posed by sociologists about how a Martian visitor would perceive life on earth: sometimes the author allows us to visit another alien world; sometimes we become the Martians and are surprised or even horrified by what we discover about Earth.
For example, Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series presents a future society that insists on cosmetic surgery for everyone over 16 to prevent anyone from enjoying an unfair biological advantage based on appearance. The surgery prevents young people from developing eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, and it guarantees that political elections and job hires are no longer based on the candidate's looks--when everyone is beautiful, everyone is equal.
This seems like democracy, but Westerfeld explains that this is actually tyranny. Why should someone else decide how you "should" look? Who has the authority to determine what is and isn't beautiful? What's wrong with simply being yourself? And why do the "New Pretties" seem so conformist, so trivial, so obsessed with fitting in instead of acting independently? Why doesn't their beauty free them? Through the exploration of an unfamiliar society, Uglies enables us to recognize our society's arbitrary standards of beauty, critique the media's enforcement of these standards, and confront our own complicity in obeying them.
By locating his or her story in another world where familiar allegiances and divisions don't apply, an author is able to create sympathy for an argument without running up against preconceived objections like "Well, an America-hating liberal WOULD say that" or "I don't have to listen to this paranoid conservative rant." Fantasy and science fiction create space for new ways of looking at old problems. Witness Orson Scott Card's critique of war and the military complex in Ender's Game or J. K. Rowling's protest against government intrusion into education in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Indeed, the more fantastic the text, the easier it is to find parallels to our own experience. This is why Lewis Carroll's Alice books have been so beloved and so influential. Who hasn't felt as bewildered and disoriented as Alice on her travels through Wonderland? Who hasn't run up against a regulation every bit as nonsensical and frustrating as the one the White Queen explains to Alice in Through the Looking Glass: "The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today"?
I'm not denying the pleasures of escapism. There's nothing I like better than snuggling up in my fleecy pajamas and losing myself in a good book. However, a really good book doesn't just help you get lost; it also helps you find your way back to a world you can see more clearly.
I've been reading a lot of scholarship about romance novels lately (yes, there actually are romance scholars), and I'm struck by the fact that nearly all of them describe popular literature as escapist, although they don't agree on whether this is a good or a bad thing. Some say that pop lit works as a kind of therapy, providing a much-needed break from the stresses of daily life without the expense of an actual vacation. Readers enter into another world by identifying imaginatively with the book's protagonist and return to their own lives feeling refreshed and better able to deal with the problems they left behind.
Popular literature as drug addiction
Other scholars describe escapist literature much more negatively. Reading is irresponsible because it allows the individual to avoid problems instead of dealing with them. Reading is at best a means of procrastination, at worst a dangerous kind of self-medication. Because the fantasy world acts as a safety valve for the reader's frustration by vicariously fulfilling all his or her wishes, the reader has less motivation to face problems head-on, resolve them, and achieve his or her dreams in the real world. These critics argue that escapist literature sedates people into accepting the undesirable circumstances of their lives (such as unhealthy habits, unhappy relationships, unsatisfying work, or social injustices) instead of inspiring them to change.
Are fantasy and sf really escapist?
Fantasy and science fiction are especially vulnerable to this kind of criticism because the genres are seen as unrealistic and therefore useless in bringing about any personal or social transformation. However, I've noticed that the imaginary societies in fantasy and science fiction have just as many problems as ours does; in fact, many authors create these fantasy worlds in order to address real-world problems through a strategy of defamiliarization. They describe a society based on unfamiliar laws and customs that seem illogical, unfair, or simply wrong; as the novel progresses, readers are able to recognize their own society in this depiction and see its successes and shortcomings much more clearly. This strategy is similar to the question posed by sociologists about how a Martian visitor would perceive life on earth: sometimes the author allows us to visit another alien world; sometimes we become the Martians and are surprised or even horrified by what we discover about Earth.
For example, Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series presents a future society that insists on cosmetic surgery for everyone over 16 to prevent anyone from enjoying an unfair biological advantage based on appearance. The surgery prevents young people from developing eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, and it guarantees that political elections and job hires are no longer based on the candidate's looks--when everyone is beautiful, everyone is equal.
This seems like democracy, but Westerfeld explains that this is actually tyranny. Why should someone else decide how you "should" look? Who has the authority to determine what is and isn't beautiful? What's wrong with simply being yourself? And why do the "New Pretties" seem so conformist, so trivial, so obsessed with fitting in instead of acting independently? Why doesn't their beauty free them? Through the exploration of an unfamiliar society, Uglies enables us to recognize our society's arbitrary standards of beauty, critique the media's enforcement of these standards, and confront our own complicity in obeying them.
By locating his or her story in another world where familiar allegiances and divisions don't apply, an author is able to create sympathy for an argument without running up against preconceived objections like "Well, an America-hating liberal WOULD say that" or "I don't have to listen to this paranoid conservative rant." Fantasy and science fiction create space for new ways of looking at old problems. Witness Orson Scott Card's critique of war and the military complex in Ender's Game or J. K. Rowling's protest against government intrusion into education in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Indeed, the more fantastic the text, the easier it is to find parallels to our own experience. This is why Lewis Carroll's Alice books have been so beloved and so influential. Who hasn't felt as bewildered and disoriented as Alice on her travels through Wonderland? Who hasn't run up against a regulation every bit as nonsensical and frustrating as the one the White Queen explains to Alice in Through the Looking Glass: "The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today"?
I'm not denying the pleasures of escapism. There's nothing I like better than snuggling up in my fleecy pajamas and losing myself in a good book. However, a really good book doesn't just help you get lost; it also helps you find your way back to a world you can see more clearly.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Twilight: The Movie
Thanks, Kat, for letting me know about the new movie version of Twilight. I don't know much about Kristen Stewart or Robert Pattinson, but I'd say they LOOK the part.
What do you think? Are they Bella and Edward? Do you have high hopes for the movie or are you already preparing to be disappointed?
New Gryffindor Schedule
The Gryffindors are beginning a new schedule this year. We will meet on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Emily Fowler Central Library. Thursday afternoons created a lot of conflicts with school activities, so I hope that the new evening time will fit better into everyone's schedule.
Our first meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 15, when we will discuss Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief. Join us!
Our first meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 15, when we will discuss Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief. Join us!
New Beginnings
Happy New Year! Sorry I've been gone for such a long time, but I got slammed with paper grading, scholarly writing (I'm past deadline on one project and I'm scrambling to meet another one), and general holiday merriment. I apologize to loyal readers Kat and Nathan for not updating more regularly.
But it's that time of year when we all see the error of our ways and vow to turn over a new leaf. One of my resolutions is to blog more frequently and consistently this year. I know that if I don't, Kat and Nathan will have their virtual elbows ready to give me a sharp nudge.
I'm also making a list of books I've been meaning to read for a long time. I'm glad that the Gryffindors will be reading Protector of the Small in March because I'll finally get around to reading some Tamora Pierce. People have been telling me for two years I need to read her, so I'm looking forward to finding out why!
What's on your list? What books have you been promising you'll get around to reading? This is the year!
But it's that time of year when we all see the error of our ways and vow to turn over a new leaf. One of my resolutions is to blog more frequently and consistently this year. I know that if I don't, Kat and Nathan will have their virtual elbows ready to give me a sharp nudge.
I'm also making a list of books I've been meaning to read for a long time. I'm glad that the Gryffindors will be reading Protector of the Small in March because I'll finally get around to reading some Tamora Pierce. People have been telling me for two years I need to read her, so I'm looking forward to finding out why!
What's on your list? What books have you been promising you'll get around to reading? This is the year!
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