Teaching Twilight
Teaching has never been so sparkly.
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You might think Twilight is as hollow as the soul of a sparkling vampire, but it's actually as full of interesting talking points as the rich real-life rainforest of Forks, Washington.
In this guide you will find
- reading quizzes to be sure that…oh, who are we kidding? Of course they've read it!
- an activity that examines Twilight from Edward's point of view.
- more pop culture resources than you can shake a stake at.
And much more.
What's Inside Shmoop's Literature Teaching Guides
Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our teaching guides will help you supplement in-classroom learning with fun, engaging, and relatable learning materials that bring literature to life.
Inside each guide you'll find quizzes, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more—all written by experts and designed to save you time. Here are the deets on what you get with your teaching guide:
- 13-18 Common Core-aligned activities to complete in class with your students, including detailed instructions for you and your students.
- Discussion and essay questions for all levels of students.
- Reading quizzes for every chapter, act, or part of the text.
- Resources to help make the book feel more relevant to your 21st-century students.
- A note from Shmoop's teachers to you, telling you what to expect from teaching the text and how you can overcome the hurdles.
Want more help teaching Teaching Twilight?
Check out all the different parts of our corresponding learning guide.
Instructions for You
In Twilight, the vehicles that Bella, Chief Swan, and the Cullen clan drive say a whole lot about the characters. The cars of Twilight are so significant, in fact, that author Stephenie Meyer has posted pictures of each character's vehicle on her website.
Objective: Students learn about symbolism and character development by studying the vehicles driven by characters in Twilight.
Step 1: After reading the novel, students identify the kinds of cars driven by each character.
Step 2: Students view pictures of the vehicles on Meyer's website and, if necessary, do a small amount of research on one or more of the vehicles featured.
Step 3: Using textual evidence from Twilight, images from Meyer's website, and any additional research, students compare and contrast the traits and features of a character and his or her vehicle by creating a Venn diagram.
Step 4: Students write a brief summary of what the car reveals about the character/driver.
Step 5: Teacher leads class discussion of how Meyer uses vehicles to develop her characters' traits.
(Lesson aligned with CA English Language Arts 9th & 10th grade reading standards 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, 3.11; writing 1.3, 2.2, 2.3; 11th & 12th grade reading standards 2.3, 3.3, 3.9; writing 2.2)
Instructions for Your Students
Stephenie Meyer sure name-drops a lot of cars in Twilight. What do the cars tell us about the characters that own them?
Step 1: Make a list of all of the kinds of cars driven by each character.
Step 2: Check out pictures of the cars on Stephenie Meyer's website. If you're not already a car expert or a Gran Turismo fanatic, it might be helpful to do a small amount of research on one or more of the cars featured.
Step 3: Using textual evidence (a.k.a. quotes and facts) from Twilight, images from Meyer's website, and any additional research, compare and contrast the traits and features of a character and his or her vehicle by creating a Venn diagram.
Step 4: Write a brief summary of what each car reveals about the character/driver.
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Schools and Districts: We offer customized programs that won't break the bank. Get a quote.