Talking About The Fault in Our Stars

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talking about

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Please note:*This explores only a small part of TFIOS; use the book to go further!

*Comments are intended to facilitate discussion and need not be agreed with

*This is intended for use after reading the book and/or watching the movie, since it explores their content

Contents5 identify with characters12 humour & hope19 the meaning of life27 a worthwhile life32 why suffering?37 sickness & living with suffering46 suffering & love55 love64 family74 faith80 real life82 reading

Why did you read thisbook and/orwatch this movie?

before we begin

for pleasure?friends told me to?for school?another reason?

Are you glad you did?

Are Hazel and Gus different to ordinary teenagers? How?

identify with characters

Superficial things don’t matter so much?

Superficial things don’t matter so much?Bigger things are more important?

Superficial things don’t matter so much?Bigger things are more important? Like…

What is life about?

Why is there suffering?

Bigger things are more important? Like…

Why is there suffering?What is love?

What is life about?Bigger things are more important? Like…

Why is there suffering?What is love?

Can you relate to Hazel and Gus?

What is life about?Bigger things are more important? Like…

“You have a choice in this world, I believe, about how to tell sad stories, and we made the funny choice.” (Hazel, 209)

humour and hope

How else could you tell a sad story?

humour and hope

How else could you tell a sad story?Why would you choose the funny way?

humour and hope

How else could you tell a sad story?Why would you choose the funny way?

John Green says he chose the funny way to show that even in suffering, there is some basis for hope.

humour and hopeHow?

humour and hope

p123 “We gotta do something about this frigging swing set, I’m telling you, it’s ninety percent of the problem.”

How? p22‐3 How Gus drives with his prosthetic leg

p130 “I’ve gotten really hot since you went blind.”p143 “It’s embarrassing that we all just walk through life blindly accepting that scrambled eggs are fundamentally associated with mornings.”

p225 “I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up, kid.”

“…it doesn’t victimize death. It doesn’t victimize cancer. It celebrates life, which is

really hopeful and necessary, I think,right now in the world.”

(Shailene Woodley – Hazel)

humour and hope

http://au.eonline.com/news/523738/shailene‐woodley‐s‐makeup‐artist‐breaks‐down‐the‐star‐s‐sexy‐earthy‐look‐favorite‐beauty‐products

the meaning of lifeCompare

“What do you mean by meant? Given the final futility of our struggle, is the fleeting jolt of meaning that art gives us valuable? Or is the only value in passing the time as comfortably as possible? What should a story seek to emulate, Augustus? A ringing alarm? A Call to arms? A morphine drip? Of course…this line of inquiry inevitably reduces us to asking what it means to be human and

whether…there is a point to it all.

“I fear there is not, my friend…” (Van Houten, 68)

“I believe the universe wants to be noticed. I think the universe is improbably biased toward consciousness, that it rewards intelligence in part because the universe enjoys its elegance being observed. And who am I, living in the middle of history, to tell the universe that it—or my observation of

it—is temporary?” (Hazel’s dad, 222)

“I believe the universe wants to be noticed. I think the universe is improbably biased toward consciousness, that it rewards intelligence in part because the universe enjoys its elegance being observed. And who am I, living in the middle of history, to tell the universe that it—or my observation of

it—is temporary?” (Hazel’s dad, 222)

“…that feeling of excitement and gratitude about just being able to marvel at it all.” (Gus, 175)

“It’s a good life, Hazel Grace” (Gus, 236)

“I thought about how the universe wanted to be noticed, and how I had to notice it as best I could. I felt that I owed a debt to the universe that only my attention could repay, and also

that I owed a debt to everybody who didn’t get to be a person anymore and everyone who

hadn’t gotten to be a person yet.” (Hazel, 294)

“It occurred to me that the voracious ambition of humans is never sated bydreams coming true, because there isalways the thought that everythingmight be done better and again. That isprobably true even if you live to be ninety—although I’m jealous of the people who get to find out for sure.Then again, I’d already lived twice as long as Van Houten’s daughter. What he wouldn’t have given to have a kid die at sixteen.” (Hazel, 305)

the meaning of life

“Who am I to say that these things might not be forever?

Who is Peter Van Houten toassert as fact the conjecture that

our labor is temporary?”(Hazel, 307‐8)

a worthwhile lifeCompare

a worthwhile lifeComparep59 Gus wants to be selfless and heroic,to make a difference

…But maybe life’s not about big heroics,but the people around you?

“…The oblivion fear is something else, fear that I won’t be able to give anything in exchange for my life. If you don’t live a life in service of a greater good, you’ve gotta at least die a death in service of a greater good, you know? And I fear that I won’t get

either a life or a death that means anything.” (Gus, 168)

“It’s really mean of you to say that the only lives that matter are the ones that are lived for something or die for something.

That’s a really mean thing to say to me.” (Hazel, 169)

“…I always thought my obituary would be in all the newspapers, that I’d have a story worth telling...” (Gus, 240)

“I just want to be enough for you, but I never can be. This can never be enough for you. But this is all you get. You get me, and your family, and this world. This is your life. I’m sorry if it sucks. But you’re not going to be the first man on Mars, and

you’re not going to be an NBA star…” (Hazel, 241)

why suffering?

“Everyone in this tale has a rock‐solid hamartia: hers, that she is so sick; yours, that you are so well. Were she better or you sicker, then the stars would not be so terribly crossed, but it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more

wrong than when he had Cassius note, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves.” Easy enough to say when you’re a Roman nobleman (or Shakespeare!), but there is no shortage of fault to be found amid our stars.”

(Van Houten, 111)

why suffering?http://fremdeng.ning.com/profiles/blogs/never‐was‐

shakespeare‐more‐wrong‐the‐fault‐in‐our‐stars

“...really, the problem is not suffering itself or oblivion itself but the depraved meaninglessness of these things, the

absolutely inhuman nihilism of suffering. I thought of my dad telling me that the universe wants to be noticed. But what we want is to be noticed by the universe, to have the universe

give a shit what happens to us—not the collective idea of sentient life but each of us, as individuals.”

(Hazel, 281)

why suffering?

why suffering?A purpose we don’t understand?

“Antonietta Meo lay dying at the ripened age of six from this agonizing cancer, she told her father, ‘Pain is like fabric: The

stronger it is, the more it’s worth.’ Is that true, Hazel?”

I wasn’t looking at him directly but at his reflection in the mirror. “No,” I shouted over

the music. “That’s bs”“But don’t you wish it were true!” he cried

back.” (Van Houten & Hazel, 284)

why suffering?A purpose we don’t understand?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonietta_Meo

sickness & living with sufferingAre the sick really so different?

“The physical evidence of disease separates you from other people. We were irreconcilably other, and never was it more obvious than when the

three of us walked through the empty plane, the stewardess nodding sympathetically and gesturing us

toward our row in the distant back.” (Hazel, 144)

sickness & living with sufferingAre the sick really so different?

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart

broken by you.” (Gus, 176)

sickness & living with sufferingHazel doesn’t want to get close to people for fear she’ll hurt them.

http://smply‐me.tumblr.com/post/61427094809

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart

broken by you.” (Gus, 176)

sickness & living with sufferingHazel doesn’t want to get close to people for fear she’ll hurt them.

“The urge to make art or contemplate philosophy does not go away when you are sick. Those urges just become

transfigured by illness” (Hazel, 213)

On philosophy http://smply‐me.tumblr.com/post/61427094809

The Augustus Waters of the crooked smiles and unsmoked cigarettes was gone, replaced by this desperate humiliated creature sitting here

beneath me.

“This is it. I can’t even not smoke anymore.”

“Gus, I love you.” (Gus & Hazel, 245)

sickness & living with sufferingHazel’s response to Gus’ emergency

Gus said, “I have wonderful news!” And I was like, “I don’t really want to hear wonderful news right now,” and Gus

said, “This is wonderful news you want to hear,” and I asked him, “Fine, what is it?” and he said, “You are going to live a good and long life filled with great and terrible moments that you cannot even

imagine yet!” (Isaac, 272)

sickness & living with sufferingIsaac remembers Gus’ words when Isaac first lost his sight

sickness & living with sufferingHazel is happy to find out her mom is studying again, to know that she won’t fall apart after Hazel is gone. (297)

Hazel wants her parents to stay together after she dies, doesn’t want to ruin their lives. (297)

“You of all people know it is possible to live with pain.” (Hazel’s mom, 297)

Hazel wants her parents to stay together after she dies, doesn’t want to ruin their lives. (297)

suffering & love

“I’m a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties,

okay?” (Hazel, 99)

Discuss

suffering & love

“I’m a grenade and at some point I’m going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties,

okay?” (Hazel, 99)

Discuss

“I didn’t want to be a grenade. But then again, he knew what he was doing, didn’t he? It was his

choice, too.” (Hazel, 164)

suffering & loveSeveral times Hazel criticises the ‘encouragement’,

suffering & love

“Without pain, how could we know joy?”Several times Hazel criticises the ‘encouragement’,

suffering & love

What could it mean in the context of the following quotes?

suffering & love

What could it mean in the context of the following quotes?

“Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. You gave me a

forever within the numbered days, and I’m grateful.”(Hazel, 260)

suffering & love“I hate it. But it was sure a privilege to love him, huh?”

I nodded into his shirt.“Gives you an idea how I feel about you,” he said.My old man. He always knew just what to say.”

(Hazel & her dad, 278)

suffering & love“I hate it. But it was sure a privilege to love him, huh?”

I nodded into his shirt.“Gives you an idea how I feel about you,” he said.My old man. He always knew just what to say.”

“…for about one second I was a good enough person to hope she died so she would never know that I was going, too. But then I wanted more time so we could fall in love. I got my

wish, I suppose. I left my scar.”(Gus, 313)

suffering & love“She is so beautiful. You don’t get tired of looking at her. You never worry if she is smarter than you: You know she is. She is funny without ever being mean. I love

her. I am so lucky to love her, Van Houten. You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my

choices. I hope she likes hers.”

“I do, Augustus. I do.” (Gus & Hazel, 313)http://rocketrictic.tumblr.com/post/29557421929/13‐of‐green‐august‐week‐3‐the‐fault‐in‐our

“That’s what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway. Don’t you believe in true love?”

I thought that if true love did exist, that was a pretty good definition of it. (Isaac & Hazel, 61)

What happens to Isaac and Monica when Isaac loses his sight?How do Gus and Hazel feel about this?

What happens to Hazel and Gus when each experiences medical emergencies?

loveHazel doesn’t want to kiss Gus ‘just because’. When she finally realises she loves him, later the same day they go all the way. Why?

To express their love?

If so, why would they not want their parents to know about it?

If you don’t have sex, does that mean you don’t really love?

loveIs there more to sex than ‘expressing love’?

Food for thought:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXuH‐x8r8MY

Is there more to sex than ‘expressing love’?

familyWhat are some of the good qualities about Hazel’s parents? (examples follow)

familyWhat are some of the good qualities about Hazel’s parents? (examples follow)What are some of the good qualities about Gus’ parents? (examples follow)

Both Hazel and Gus have home rules. What does this say about their parents?

Both Hazel and Gus have home rules. What does this say about their parents?Gus’ dad won’t let them watch a movie together in the basementHazel isn’t allowed phones at dinnerHazel’s parents complain that she’s always out

family“They might be glad to have me around, but I was the alpha

and the omega of my parents’ suffering.” (Hazel, 116)

Hazel’s parents ask what they can do for her when she’s distraught; they end up just holding her for hours while the tide rolled in. (267)

“I hate it. But it was sure a privilege to love him, huh?”I nodded into his shirt.

“Gives you an idea how I feel about you,” he said.My old man. He always knew just what to say.”

familyHazel is happy to know her mom is studying, and won’t fall apart after Hazel’s gone. (297)

familyHazel is happy to know her mom is studying, and won’t fall apart after Hazel’s gone. (297)She wants her parents to stay together after she dies. (297)

familyHazel is happy to know her mom is studying, and won’t fall apart after Hazel’s gone. (297)She wants her parents to stay together after she dies. (297)She doesn’t want her dad to become an alcoholic like Van Houten after she dies. (298)

faithWhat is the purpose of ‘support group’?Does it work?

Gus’ parents like to have ‘encouragements’ around their home. Why?Do they work?

Could there be more to religion than this?

faithHow is Gus’ belief different?

“Do you believe in an afterlife?”“No… Well, maybe I wouldn’t go as far as no. You?”

“Yes, absolutely. Not like a heaven where you ride unicorns, play harps, and live in a mansion made of clouds. But yes. I

believe in Something with a capital S. Always have.”“Really?” I asked. I was surprised. I’d always associated belief in heaven with, frankly a kind of intellectual disengagement.

But Gus wasn’t dumb… (Gus & Hazel, 167)

“I fear earthly oblivion. But, I mean, not to sound like my parents, but I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls…”

(Gus, 167)

real lifeThis extraordinary young man recently died of cancer.

After reading some of Stephen’s fb posts, what do you think of his philosophy of life?

readingHow has this story

made you think about:

made you think about:humanity

made you think about:humanityempathy

made you think about:humanityempathysickness

made you think about:humanityempathysicknesslearning

made you think about:humanityempathysicknesslearningwriting

anything else?

readingGus is impressed that Hazel likes reading. Why?

readingwww.GoodReadingGuide.com

Gus is impressed that Hazel likes reading. Why?

Have you discussed a book like Gus and Hazel did An Imperial Affliction?

readingwww.GoodReadingGuide.com

Gus is impressed that Hazel likes reading. Why?

Are you planning to read a(nother) book soon?

readingGus is impressed that Hazel likes reading. Why?

Are you planning to read a(nother) book soon?

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