Biography
понедельник, 21 мая 2012 г.
Study Guides
Message in a Bottle
Summary
Nicholas Sparks's novel "Message in a Bottle" is a love story between two characters who happen to meet under unusual circumstances. Sparks begins the novel by introducing the main character, Theresa Osborne, who has just experienced a divorce after eight years of marriage. She is grieving over the loss of her marriage when she finds enclosed within a bottle a handwritten letter. She reads the letter, publishes it, and seeks to find the writer, who is Garret Blake. Blake, too, has experienced loss. He is grieving and surviving the loss of his dead wife. Sparks's novel shifts locations, between Boston and Wilmington, North Carolina, where Blake lives. The two meet, fall in love, and experiences highs and lows within their relationship. Theresa feels Garret hasn't made peace with his wife's death and they both separate. By the end of "Message in a Bottle," Blake dies due to an accident involving a storm, but not before sending her a message in a bottle. In it, he believes that his wife has brought them together and he is now ready to devote his heart to Theresa. Sparks ends the novel with his characters finally making peace with each other and moving past their grief.
1. In the first letter, Garrett Blake mentions a dream he has of his deceased wife Catherine, in which he longs to be with her, but cannot join her. Is such a dream realistic? Have you ever had dreams that seem to carry such symbolic meaning in your own life?
2. The sailboat that Garrett Blake restores is an important setting for many of the major scenes in the novel. He'd been restoring it with Catherine, it was there she first told him she was pregnant, it was also the scene of Garrett and Theresa's first date and Garrett's death. What does the sailboat represent? Could another setting have worked as well? Does the destruction of the sailboat at the end of the novel say anything important to you?
3. Garrett Blake is plagued by memories of his deceased wife throughout his courtship of Theresa. In the end, we learn that Catherine was pregnant when she died. How did this affect Garrett's relationship with Kevin?
4. When Theresa comes down to "meet" Garrett Blake for the first time, was she secretly hoping to fall in love with him, or was it as she implied, simply because she wanted to meet someone "who could love like that?" Was it right or wrong for her not to have told him about the messages she'd found right away? What would you have done in that situation?
5. When asked by his father, Garrett tries to deny his new feelings for Theresa, but his father doesn't accept his answer. Do you think he did this because he thought Garrett was lying, or because he wanted to believe that Garrett was lying? Is there a difference between the two? Was he speaking as a father or friend, or both?
6. Theresa regrets hiding the letters and knows she has to tell Garrett about them eventually. But Garrett learns about their existence before she does so and he storms out of the house, thinking that she's lied to him from the beginning. Why does Garrett change his mind about Theresa in the days following their argument? Did that discovery lead to Garrett's death, or would he have sent the final letter anyway? Did Garrett's discovery make him love Theresa more or less? Why?
7. Were you surprised when Garrett took the boat out, knowing that a storm was coming? What does this say about Garrett Blake? Had he not died, would he and Theresa have gotten married? If so, where would they have lived?
8. Garrett loved Catherine with all his heart. Had his love been romanticized by her loss? Did he love Theresa with the same intensity? Knowing that Catherine had been pregnant when she died, did Theresa's son Kevin add to their relationship or detract from it?
9. Was the fact that Theresa Osborne was able to find evidence of three letters plausible? Why or why not? What role does coincidence play in their relationship?
Book Quiz:
1)
What does Theresa do while wandering around Wilmington for the first time? (from Chapters 4-5)
Holds a picture of him to try to find him.
Introduces herself to strangers to find Garrett.
Scans every woman and wonders who Catherine is.
Scans every male face and tries to guess which person is Garrett.
2)
When boarding the plane
returning to Boston in Chapter 12, who does Theresa see and where? (from Chapters 12-13)
Catherine's ghost in the terminal.
Garrett in the terminal.
Jeb in the terminal.
She does not see anyone when on the plane.
3)
What does Garrett think about when preparing for his first voyage with Theresa? (from Chapters 6-7)
Catherine.
Theresa.
What to prepare.
His dad.
4)
What does Garrett suggest Theresa do after she asks about the boat? (from Chapters 4-5)
Walk with him to his dive shop.
Take a closer look so he can corner her and ask her what she wants.
Untie the boat from the dock so he can go sailing.
Take a closer look at the boat so he can describe it to her.
5)
What do Theresa and Garrett agree to do after sailing for a while on their first date? (from Chapters 6-7)
They go back to the dock.
They continue sailing.
They drop anchor and have dinner.
They drop anchor and sight see.
6)
What does Theresa find on Garrett's nightstand? (from Chapters 8-9)
A photo of him and Catherine.
A photo of Catherine.
A photo of Catherine and a child.
A picture of Theresa.
7)
In Chapter 12, when Theresa leaves Garrett's house, where is Garret left standing alone? (from Chapters 12-13)
In the kitchen.
In the bedroom.
On the deck.
The middle of the street.
8)
Why does Theresa stay in Wilmington after learning about Garrett's death? (from Chapters 12-13)
To get his boat and diving gear.
To get his belongings and other messages.
For the funeral.
To get his body.
9)
When walking on the beach during his second date with Theresa, what does Garrett ask her about? (from Chapters 6-7)
Missing Kevin.
Missing David.
Wanting to date him.
Seeing anyone.
10)
When did Garrett and Catherine meet for the first time? (from Chapters 6-7)
Infancy.
Adulthood
Early childhood.
Teenagers.
11)
Where does Garrett bring Theresa and Kevin to give them their first diving lesson? (from Chapter 10)
A lake.
The bathtub.
The ocean.
The pool.
12)
What do Garret and Theresa soon find themselves doing at the end of their third date? (from Chapters 8-9)
Kissing.
Hugging.
Laughing.
Saying goodbye.
13)
When the course is set during their first voyage together, what does Garrett show Theresa? (from Chapters 6-7)
The landmarks in the area.
The cabin.
Maps of the area.
How to steer the boat.
14)
How does the Thanksgiving dinner host prepare for Theresa's arrival? (from Chapter 11)
Has his house cleaned and buys a new tie in his excitement.
Goes to pick Theresa up from the airport.
Cleans Garrett's house and buys Garrett a new tie.
Cooks dinner.
15)
After he learns that Theresa has never gone sailing, what does Garrett suggest? (from Chapters 4-5)
That she go sailing with him and Catherine.
That she take a boating class.
That she go sailing with him that morning.
That she go sailing with him on Happenstance that evening.
16)
What is Theresa's plan for her and Kevin for the weekend following his return? (from Chapter 10)
To go visit Garrett.
For Kevin to go back with his dad.
For Jeb and Garrett to visit Theresa and Kevin.
For Garrett to visit Theresa and Kevin.
17)
Where is Theresa supposed to go for Thanksgiving? (from Chapter 11)
Wilmington and to her parents.
To California.
To her parents.
To Wilmington.
18)
What does Garrett dream the night Theresa leaves to go back to Boston? (from Chapters 8-9)
That he no longer has a choice to make.
That he needs to choose between Theresa and Catherine.
That when Garrett chooses Theresa, he can no longer find Catherine.
That when Garrett chooses Catherine, he can no longer find Theresa.
19)
When Garrett's father comes over after Theresa and Garrett's fight in Boston, what does Garrett's father try to do? (from Chapters 12-13)
He tries to tell him that Catherine was not the one and that Theresa is.
He tries to talk Garrett through his anger at Theresa.
He tries to tell him it was not meant to be.
He sits with him in silence.
20)
How does Garrett die? (from Chapters 12-13)
He died in a car accident.
He took Happenstance out during a storm.
He fell off a cliff.
His plane crashed.
21)
What is Garrett not bothered about while on his second date with Theresa? (from Chapters 6-7)
Theresa asked him to dinner.
Theresa found the messages.
Theresa was married before.
Theresa already has a child.
22)
What does Garrett's dad advise him to do the day following Theresa's return to Boston? (from Chapter 10)
Give the relationship a chance and not run away too soon.
That Jeb should give his approval before Garrett gets involved.
To avoid Theresa and see what happens.
Slow down because the relationship is moving too quickly.
23)
What do Theresa and Garrett do after dinner on their third date? (from Chapters 8-9)
They sit outside.
Theresa goes home after dinner.
They walk on the beach.
They stay inside by the fire.
24)
When Kevin and Theresa arrive to Wilmington, how does Kevin feel? (from Chapter 10)
Excited.
A little shy.
A little nervous.
Angry.
25)
Why is Theresa disappointed when searching for Garrett? (from Chapters 4-5)
He does not seem to be there.
She finds out he passed away.
She finds out he moved for the season.
He does not want to speak with her.
The Last Song
Summary
The Last Song is the story of Ronnie Miller and the summer that
she spends with her father at Wrightsville Beach. At the start of the
summer, she is a rebellious 17 year old who resents her parents for
their messy divorce; she is particularly annoyed that she is being
forced to spend the summer with her estranged father, to whom she has
not spoken in three years. She is so angry that she has abandoned the
one thing that she and her father used to share in common — playing the
piano. She has no desire to spend the summer in North Carolina; she has
no desire to get to know Will Blakelee, the good-looking beach
volleyball player who literally bumps into her during her first day in
the South; and she has no desire to reconnect with the father who walked
away from her, her mother, and her brother. However, a run-in with the
wrong crowd combined with a nest of endangered loggerhead turtle eggs
results in Ronnie's unexpected maturation. The summer she initially
dreaded ends up being an opportunity for her to learn about faith,
family, and love.
Character Map
Full Glossary for "The Last Song"
Adrenaline a hormone, known as epinephrine, that is secreted during times of stress
Anna Karenina Russian novel by Leo Tolstoy
Babe the Pig title character of a 1995 movie about a pig that wants to be a sheepdog
Beethoven German composer of the early 1800s
Bob Marley Jamaican reggae singer
Bottle rockets a type of firework
Carnegie Hall a famous concert hall in New York that was named for and endowed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie
Chemotherapy the treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect cancerous tissue
Cipher a person of no influence; a nonentity
Columbia New York's oldest university and member of the Ivy League
Concerto a composition for one or more principal instruments with orchestral accompaniment
Condone to give tacit approval to
Cruella d Vil fictional villain from 101 Dalmatians
Cumulous relating to a cloud of a class
characterized by dense individual elements in the form of puffs, mounds,
or towers, with flat bases and tops that often resemble cauliflower
Demure affecting modesty, prim, coy
Edvard Grieg Norwegian composer/pianist of the Romantic period
Elks members of a fraternal organization
(Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) that supports or contributes
to various charitable causes
Elvira fictional 1980s character who is a horror hostess
Empathy intellectually identifying the
feelings or thoughts of others; not feeling what others feel but being
able to understand their feelings
Eroica the popular title of Beethoven's third symphony
Fort Fisher Confederate fort during the Civil War that protected trading routes
Freemasons members of a widely distributed
secret order (Free and Accepted Masons), having for its object mutual
assistance and the promotion of brotherly love among its members
Grieg Norwegian composer and pianist of the Romantic period
Hospice a healthcare facility for the terminally ill that emphasizes pain control and emotional support for the patient and family
Juilliard one of the most prestigious performing arts conservatories in the world, located in New York City
Letterman late night television host
Loggerhead a large-headed sea turtle, now greatly reduced in number
The Lost Boys a 1980s film about a group of vampires living near a California amusement park town
Malignant a tumor that invades surrounding
tissues, is usually capable of producing metastases, may recur after
attempted removal, and is likely to cause death unless adequately
treated
Metastasized to have spread to other parts of the body
Michael Jordan one of the most famous and
one of the best players in the history of the NBA; he played for the
University of North Carolina and the Chicago Bulls
Mojave desert in the southwest United States
Mozart a prolific and influential Austrian composer, considered by many to be the best of all classical composers
Oncologist a specialist in the study and treatment of cancer
Osprey a large hawk that preys on fish; aka a fish hawk
Pasty pale and unhealthy in appearance
Placated appeased through concessions
Pod the name for a small herd, or group, of dolphins
Portending signifying
Prada an Italian fashion label that specializes in luxury goods, often leather
Primordial existing from the very beginning
Psychopathic those having antisocial
behavior who were most likely born with temperamental differences such
as impulsivity and fearlessness that leads to risk-seeking behavior and
an inability to internalize social norms
Ritchie Valens Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the 1950s
Sahara the world's largest desert, found in Northern Africa
Saint-Sa‘ns French composer and pianist
Scapular a loose, sleeveless monastic garment, hanging from the shoulders
Schumann German composer and music critic of the Romantic period
Shriners members of a fraternal order that is dedicated to good fellowship, health programs, charitable works
small red drum a large edible Atlantic coastal fish
Sociopathic those having an anti-social personality disorder yet have a relatively normal temperament with erratic criminal behavior
Solder to join metal objects with any of
various alloys fused and applied to the joint between them without
heating the objects to the melting point
sonata a composition for one or two instruments, typically in three or four movements in contrasted forms and keys
Stoic of or pertaining to the school of
philosophy founded by Zeno, who taught that people should be free from
passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to
unavoidable necessity
Sultan of Brunei the head of state and head of government of the sovereign state of Brunei, which is on the island of Borneo in southeast Asia
Tchaikovsky Russian composer of the Romantic era
The Terminator the title character of a
1984 movie about a cyborg killer from the future sent back in time to
kill a woman before she is able to give birth
Texas hold 'em a form of poker in which
each player can use any or all of five shared cards in combination with
either or both of two private cards to form the best possible hand of
five cards
trawler vessel used for fishing with a trawl net, a strong fishing net for dragging along the sea bottom
Twilight Zone a television series that was a mixture of science fiction and fantasy that usually had an unexpected ending
Vampira fictional 1950s character who is a horror hostess
Book Quiz
1)
What does Steve say when
he hears Ronnie's story about what happened in Chapter 11? (from Chapters 11-17)
He's sending her home.
She is grounded.
He thinks she's lying.
He believes her.
2)
When does Will tell Ronnie
he is transferring to a different school in the Epilogue? (from Chapters 35-37 and Epilogue)
September.
January.
August.
June.
3)
When confronted by Ronnie
in Chapter 12, Blaze tells her she won't help her for fear of whom? (from Chapters 11-17)
Marcus.
The police.
Her father.
Jonah.
4)
The cage that Will
describes coming the following day is to protect from what, in Chapter 12? (from Chapters 11-17)
Otters.
Seals.
Sharks.
Raccoons.
5)
What does Ronnie see
Marcus playing with on the beach in Chapter 14? (from
Chapters 11-17)
A surboard.
A frisbee.
A fireball.
A beach ball.
6)
Who saved Will and his
mother in a car accident many years earlier in the novel? (from Chapters 18-24)
Steve.
Scott.
Pastor Harris.
Marcus.
7)
Where does Will tell
Ronnie he is transferring to school in the Epilogue? (from
Chapters 35-37 and Epilogue)
New York University.
Yale.
Harvard.
Columbia.
8)
How many of Nicholas
Sparks' novels have been adapted to film? (from
Chapters 35-37 and Epilogue)
5.
1.
6.
2.
9)
Ronnie tells Will that
what makes no difference to her in Chapter 20? (from
Chapters 18-24)
His health.
His looks.
His intelligence.
His wealth.
10)
As Ronnie prepares for bed
in Chapter 12, she sees what approaching the turtle nest? (from Chapters 11-17)
An otter.
A cat.
A raccoon.
A dog.
11)
What is the cause of
Steve's ailment in the novel? (from Chapters 29-34)
Tuberculosis.
AIDS.
Lymphoma.
Stomach cancer.
12)
What do Will and Ronnie
spend a night hunting in Chapter 23? (from Chapters
18-24)
Spider crabs.
Jellyfish.
Sand dollars.
Deer.
13)
How long does Will wait on
the beach before Ronnie comes out to speak to him in Chapter 14? (from Chapters 11-17)
Days.
Hours.
10 minutes.
30 minutes.
14)
Where does Jonah depart to
at the end of Chapter 34? (from Chapters 29-34)
New York.
New Hampshire.
Boston.
North Carolina.
15)
Who does Ronnie have
breakfast with in Chapter 12? (from Chapters 11-17)
Blaze and Will.
Will and Scott.
Blaze and Marcus.
Steve and Jonah.
16)
Scott is very angry with
Will for what, in the end of Chapter 28? (from Chapters
25-28)
Leaving the game.
Turning him into the police.
Kissing Ronnie.
Leaving Ashley.
17)
What refers to a
rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp
incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of
words or actions? (from Chapters 29-34)
Irony.
Oxymoron.
Despondence.
Cataclysm.
18)
What collapses during the
wedding when Will gets into a fight in Chapter 26? (from
Chapters 25-28)
The church.
The dock.
The tent.
The cake.
19)
Who helps Ronnie take down
the wall blocking off the piano in Chapter 35? (from
Chapters 35-37 and Epilogue)
Tom.
Blaze.
Will.
Mike.
20)
How many novels has
Nicholas Sparks published? (from Chapters 35-37 and
Epilogue)
22.
16.
19.
5.
21)
When considering the
differences between Ronnie and his ex-girlfriend, Will concludes that Ronnie is
more what, in Chapter 20? (from Chapters 18-24)
Practical.
Menacing.
Innocent.
Substantial.
22)
Will and Scott are playing
the final game for the championship when Will sees who catch fire in Chapter
28? (from Chapters 25-28)
Blaze.
James.
Ronnie.
Marcus.
23)
Who thinks about a party
he plans to throw that night in a house he has broken into in Chapter 22? (from Chapters 18-24)
Will.
Mike.
Marcus.
James.
24)
Will tells Scott that he
should tell the police the truth about what in the end of Chapter 28? (from Chapters 25-28)
His brother's accident.
His father's murder.
The fire at Pastor Harris' church.
His mother's suicide.
25)
Will approaches Ronnie on
the beach in Chapter 12, and says he is there to do what? (from Chapters 11-17)
Mark the turtle egg nest.
Kill the raccoons.
Burn the egg nest.
Kill the baby seals.
Film Quiz:
1. Whats the girls name?
|
ronnie
|
|
miley
|
|
ryan
|
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hannah
|
2. What did her dad have?
|
diabetes
|
|
nothing....he was healthy
|
|
cancer
|
|
flu
|
3. While at her dads house for the
summer, did they get along?
|
Yes
|
|
No
|
|
at first no, but eventually
|
4. What
was one of liams jobs?
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lifeguard
|
|
he had no job
|
|
worked at the aquarium
|
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to look cute (wasnt very hard)
|
5. What
animal kept tryin to eat the turtle eggs?
|
snake
|
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mouse
|
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hawk
|
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raccoon
|
6. What does PMS mean according to
ronnies brother?
|
playing music and songs
|
|
period menstrual cycle
|
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pimp my SUV
|
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pissed at men syndrome
|
7. She had a brother
|
True
|
|
False
|
8. Did
ronnies dad die at the end?
|
Yes
|
|
No
|
9. Was ronnies parents divorced?
|
Yes
|
|
No
|
10. Whats
the hot guys' real name?
|
jake
|
|
cutie
|
|
liam
|
|
luke
|
11. What
animal was ronnie protective of?
|
frogs
|
|
sea turtles
|
|
raccoons
|
|
fish
|
12. What
was her main passion?
|
swimming
|
|
liam
|
|
school
|
|
music
|
13. Is
miley going out with liam in real life?
|
Yes
|
|
No
|
14. What
is one of the instruments that ronnie could play?
|
piano
|
|
banjo
|
|
violin
|
|
harmoica
|
15. What
did the townspeople accuse ronnies dad of after the church devestation?
|
he bulldozed it
|
|
all of the above
|
|
nothing
|
|
that he burnt it down
Discussion Questions
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