Laura Owen Taught at McNeil for 10 years Taught at McNeil for 10 years Sponsored Book Club Sponsored Book Club Co-Organizer of Breaking Dawn book release party at Borders Co-Organizer of Breaking Dawn book release party at Borders Read Breaking Dawn 4 times Read Breaking Dawn 4 times (and, yes, it’s annotated) (and, yes, it’s annotated) Have read everything Ms. Meyer’s has written Have read everything Ms. Meyer’s has written Moderator for TwilightMoms.com Moderator for TwilightMoms.com

What Types of Books Do You Like? Fairy Tales Fairy Tales Mythic Quests Mythic Quests Classics/Shakespeare Classics/Shakespeare Dramas and Comedies

Fairy Tale – The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli Fractured Fairytales –Traditional story with twists. Fractured Fairytales –Traditional story with twists. Hansel and Gretel- two lost children Hansel and Gretel- two lost children The candy cottage – built in memory of her daughter The candy cottage – built in memory of her daughter Enchanted Mice and Spiders, Witches Enchanted Mice and Spiders, Witches Good vs. Evil, right vs. wrong Good vs. Evil, right vs. wrong

Myth: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Center of Conflict: Gods’ affairs with mortals Center of Conflict: Gods’ affairs with mortals Plot: Hero’s Quest to save world, but also to find himself along the way Plot: Hero’s Quest to save world, but also to find himself along the way Setting: Setting: Best Modern American rendezvous with Aphrodite? Best Modern American rendezvous with Aphrodite? Lotus eaters—Las Vegas casino arcade Lotus eaters—Las Vegas casino arcade Myth to explain the Los Angeles earthquakes & riots Myth to explain the Los Angeles earthquakes & riots Characters: Characters: Perseus is hero, has helpers on quest Perseus is hero, has helpers on quest How would Medusa or Ares best blend in modern society? How would Medusa or Ares best blend in modern society?

Classics/Shakespeare — The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer Twilight = Pride and Prejudice Twilight = Pride and Prejudice New Moon = Romeo & Juliet New Moon = Romeo & Juliet Eclipse = Wuthering Heights Eclipse = Wuthering Heights Breaking Dawn = Merchants of Venice & A Midsummer’s Night Dream Breaking Dawn = Merchants of Venice & A Midsummer’s Night Dream The Saga = Jane Eyre The Saga = Jane Eyre

In Breaking Dawn, the much anticipated finale to the best selling Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer continues to explore her themes of love and free will, as Bella and Edward’s love story matures toward matrimony and Bella is inducted deeper into the secretive vampire world. Bella’s life continues to be threatened in the Cullen’s on-going feuds with the Quileute tribe werewolves and the vampire royalty Volturi. Set in the fairy tale forests of today’s Forks, Washington, this modern fantasy’s surprising twists explore the meaning of the modern family with scenes which include honeymoon innuendos, birthing scenes, and a verbal battle of wits (symbolized by the chess board jacket art).

The humor provided by Jacob, Emmett, and Rose balances the tension and drama, keeping the book from becoming dark. Divided into three books, each told from a different perspective, the plot, pacing and voice are different from the previous novels. Bella’s heightened senses are reflected with the author’s use of greater imagery. The book is full of allusions to the previous books in the series, bringing many threads together. Furthermore, the book is loosely based on Shakespeare’s plays A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Merchant of Venice. Each book starts with a quote focused on the theme and a short suspenseful scene based on the book’s main conflict. The first and third books contain a table of contents, while the middle book exists as a book within a book.

Respect is given to the Native American tribes and tolerance for differences is appreciated. Questions of justice are explored as Edward and Jacob grow into their roles as men and leaders. A burgeoning list of characters (vampires and werewolves) appears in the appendix to help readers keep track of the players. As Bella tackles more mature issues in this novel, the appropriate reading level should be older teens and adults. Overall, the reader gets many series questions answered and, with Edward and Jacob at her side, Bella awakens to her true self as she finds her place in this world.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Misdirection: which couples are going to wind up together at the end? Misdirection: which couples are going to wind up together at the end? Power couples: all the major players are matched up Power couples: all the major players are matched up Hermia and her lover Lysander Hermia and her lover Lysander By choosing Lysander over Demetrius (her father’s choice), she chooses death By choosing Lysander over Demetrius (her father’s choice), she chooses death Must fight against the natural order to be together Must fight against the natural order to be together Demetrius chooses Hermia’s second, Helena by magical means Demetrius chooses Hermia’s second, Helena by magical means

MSND, cont’d Hyppolyta – Queen of the Amazons Hyppolyta – Queen of the Amazons Setting – mythical woodland Setting – mythical woodland Comedic Twin to Tragedy Romeo and Juliet Comedic Twin to Tragedy Romeo and Juliet Bottums’ Play-within-the-Play, Pyramus and Thisbe Bottums’ Play-within-the-Play, Pyramus and Thisbe

Play within the Play Pack is torn apart by injustice Pack is torn apart by injustice Monster Baby is root Monster Baby is root Unlikely pairing: Leah and Jacob Unlikely pairing: Leah and Jacob Jacob rises to alpha Jacob rises to alpha Jacob uses loopholes Jacob uses loopholes Jacob doesn’t deny Sam’s right Jacob doesn’t deny Sam’s right Rosalie shields Bella Rosalie shields Bella Leah’s grand speech Leah’s grand speech 17 Werewolves 17 Werewolves New Love: Jacob/Nessie New Love: Jacob/Nessie Covens’ Volturi loyalty is torn apart by injustice Immortal Child is root Unlikely pairing: Rosalie and Bella Edward rises to Alpha Edward uses wordplay/wit Edward doesn’t deny Aro’s right Bella shields Cullens Garrett’s grand speech 19 Cullen Supporters New Love: Garrett/Kate

Merchant of Venice Portia-Bella connection Portia-Bella connection Female Empowerment Female Empowerment In cognito In cognito Motifs: Motifs: Greed/Lawyers: Moneylender and J. Jenks Greed/Lawyers: Moneylender and J. Jenks Power: Shylock’s “Pound of Flesh” and Aro’s Jewels Power: Shylock’s “Pound of Flesh” and Aro’s Jewels Word Play wins the day Word Play wins the day

Questions/Comments What type of book do you like? What type of book do you like? Fairy tales, Mythical Quests, Classics Questions about the book? Questions about the book? I cannot understand… I cannot understand… I noticed/realized… I noticed/realized… I wonder why…. I wonder why…. I liked/disliked when…. I liked/disliked when…. I would change…. I would change….