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The Fault in Our Stars: Pre Reading Questions
1. Sometimes, things that happen to us, either good or bad, are the consequence of fate. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
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2. My favorite book, story, song, band, movie… is so special to me, that I don’t want to really share it; I want to keep it for myself. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
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3. If I was terminally ill, I would more likely avoid deep, meaningful friendships in order to prevent people from being hurt when I was gone. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
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4. If I lost a battle with a terminal illness, I would want to be remembered first and foremost for having fought a good fight with the illness. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
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5. A book or story about kids with cancer is going to be more depressing than inspiring. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain.
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Take a moment and imagine this is you. Describe how you would feel using at least five adjectives.
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Draw a picture illustrating how you view cancer inside a person’s body.
CHAPTER ONE
CHARACTERIZATION: the way a character is created and developed
· DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: the author directly states a character’s traits
· INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION: an author tells what a character looks like, does and says, and how other characters react to him or her. It is up to the reader to draw conclusions about the character.
What do we learn about Hazel in chapter one? Complete the chart below.
What does Hazel look like? / What does Hazel do?What does Hazel say? / What effect does Hazel have on others? How do they react to her?
CHAPTER TWO
“In the darkest days, the Lord puts the best people into your life” (Green 28).As you read this quote, which character do you think is experiencing their “darkest days”? Use details from chapter two to support your answer.
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What do you think Hazel’s thoughts were as she went down to the basement with Gus? / What do you think Gus’s thoughts were as he went down to the basement with Hazel?CHAPTERS ONE & TWO
What do the first two chapters reveal about Hazel and Augustus’s personalities? Complete the charts below.
Hazel’s Character Traits(brave, selfish, kind, etc.) / Explanation
(Use evidence from the chapters to explain how each trait relates to Hazel.)
Gus’s Character Traits
(brave, selfish, kind, etc.) / Explanation
(Use evidence from the chapters to explain how each trait relates to Gus.)
CHAPTER THREE
TYPES OF CHARACTERS:
· PROTAGONIST: the main character; all of the events revolve around this character; often referred to as the hero
· ANTAGONIST: a major character or force that opposes the protagonist; often referred to as the villain
Who is the protagonist in The Fault in Our Stars? Who/What is the antagonist? Explain your answer using evidence from the text.
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Compare and contrast Hazel and Kaitlyn. Think about what they say, do, think, and what others say about them.
Hazel Kaitlyn
FOIL:
n A character in literature who has qualities that are in sharp contrast to another character, thus emphasizing the traits of each
n A foil is a character whose personality and attitude is opposite the personality and attitude of another character
n Because these characters contrast, each makes the personality of the other stand out
n However, foils also have at least one thing in common
Do you think Kaitlyn and Hazel would be friends if they met after Hazel was diagnosed with cancer? Explain your response with evidence from the text.
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Significant Quote:“Any attempts to feign normal social interactions were just depressing because it was so glaringly obvious that everyone I spoke to for the rest of my life would feel awkward and self-conscious around me, except maybe kids like Jackie who just didn’t know any better” (Green 47).
Who or what is the quotation about? / Why is this quotation significant? Why is it important?
CHAPTER FOUR
How does this heart symbolize how Isaac feels in this chapter?Do you think Isaac’s girlfriend leaving him was warranted?
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CHAPTER FIVE
Augustus is incredibly surprised and disappointed that Hazel used her Wish to go to Disney World.
If you were granted one wish from The Genie Foundation, what would it be? Why would you choose it? Who would you invite to share it with you?
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Gus/Hazel’sCharacter Traits
(brave, selfish, kind, etc.) / Explanation
(Use evidence from the chapter to explain how each trait relates to Gus or Hazel.)
CHAPTER SIX
Hazel went on her laptop and looked up Gus’s previous girlfriend. What did she think when she saw the picture of Caroline Mathers?
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Hazel feels like her “brain is drowning in panic” (Green 98). What is causing her to feel this way?
“I’m a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?” (Green 99).
Who or what may be some of the casualties Hazel is afraid will blow up after she dies from having terminal cancer?
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How do you like the book so far? ______
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CHAPTER SEVEN
The events in chapter seven are extremely scary for Hazel and all the people in her life. Choose a character from the chapter and write a diary entry from their perspective. Be sure to focus on what the character is thinking and how the character is feeling. (10 sentences)
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CHAPTER EIGHT
Gus’s Genie’s Wish is…
Hazel’s mom and dad feel…
Hazel feels…
Dr. Maria’s final decision is…
Draw picture of Hazel’s reaction to the email she received.
CHAPTER NINE
Significant Quote:“This is when Gus always insists on finding the prisoner, even though that keeps you from winning the game, and the only way to actually free the prisoner is to win the game” (Green 134).
Who or what is the quotation about? / Why is this quotation significant? Why is it important?
What does it mean to “Monica” someone? What does it mean to “Isaac” someone? Which do you think is worse? Explain.
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CHAPTER TEN
“I could feel everyone watching us, wondering what was wrong with us, and whether it would kill us, and how heroic my mom must be, and everything else. That was the worst part about having cancer, sometimes: The physical evidence of disease separates you from other people” (Green 144).
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Conflict ______10 sentences ______
“I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.”
“Augustus,” I said, not knowing what else to say. It felt like everything was rising up in me, like I was drowning in this weirdly painful joy, but I couldn’t say it back. I couldn’t say anything back. I just looked at him and let him look at me until he nodded, lips pursed, and turned away, placing the side of his head against the window (Green 153-154).
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Conflict ______10 sentences ______
CHAPTER ELEVEN
In chapter eleven, Hazel and Gus go on their first date. Describe your ideal first date. Where would you go? What would you do? Explain.
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Draw a picture of Hazel and Gus’s first date.
What do we find out about Caroline Mathers in chapter eleven? Explain.
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CHAPTER TWELVE
Hazel and Gus are on their way to see Peter Van Houten. How do you imagine Van Houten to look?
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Find an example of character vs. self conflict in this chapter. Draw a picture and explain the conflict below.
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Find an example of character vs. character conflict in this chapter. Draw a picture and explain the conflict below.
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
In chapter thirteen, we find out that Gus has been keeping a secret from Hazel. Choose a character from the chapter and write a diary entry from their perspective. Be sure to focus on what the character is thinking and how the character is feeling about Gus’s secret. (10 sentences)
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
In chapter eleven, Gus shares his view of the afterlife (Green 168). In chapter fourteen, Mr. Lancaster shares his view of the afterlife (Green 223). What is your view of the afterlife? Explain your thoughts about what happens to people when they die.
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At this point in the novel, Gus is extremely sick and facing death. If you knew you did not have long to live, what would you want to do before you die?
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN
In chapter fifteen, Hazel attempts to visit Gus in the hospital, but she is politely turned away by Gus’s mom.
Hazel says, “I understood, but I still missed him, still thought maybe I was missing my last chance to see him, to say good-bye or whatever” (Green 232).
Write a letter to Gus from Hazel. Be sure to focus on what Hazel is thinking and how she is feeling. (10+ sentences)
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Describe a typical day with late-stage Gus.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Why is Hazel frustrated with Gus in chapter seventeen?
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CHAPTERS EIGHTTEEN & NINETEEN
Compare and contrast Gus before and after his cancer recurrence. Think about what he says, does, thinks, looks like, and what others say about him.
Before After
CHAPTER TWENTY
At this point in time, who would you want to prepare a eulogy for you? What do you think they would say about you?
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CHAPTERS TWENTY-ONE TWENTY-TWO
What do chapters twenty-one and twenty-two reveal about Hazel’s personality? Complete the chart below.
Hazel’s Character Traits(brave, selfish, kind, etc.) / Explanation
(Use evidence from the chapters to explain how each trait relates to Hazel.)
In chapters twenty-one and twenty-two, Hazel is extremely upset by Gus’s death. What do her parents do to help?
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What helps to cheer you up when you are upset?
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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
What do we learn about Peter Van Houten in this chapter?
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
What has Hazel’s mom been secretly doing? How does Hazel feel about this?
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
How many stars would you give this book?
Explain your rating. What did you like or not like about the characters, setting, plot, theme, etc.?
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Brainstorm two possible themes from The Fault in Our Stars. For each theme, find two examples from the text to support the theme.
Event/evidence from the book: / Event/evidence from the book:Theme #1:
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Event/evidence from the book: / Event/evidence from the book:Theme #2: