Theme and Context (The Fault in Our Stars)

Read the following quotations from The Fault in Our Stars:

1. 1. "Nothing to be gained by worrying between now and then" (Green 65).

2. 2. "...'Living our best life today!'"

3. What theme do these quotations imply? Select the best answer.

• Worrying can only grant little life to enjoy.

• Do not waste time in fear and live.

• Worrying about the future prevents an individual from enjoying the present.

• Worrying about the future will not change it.

Select the best context for the following quotation:

“Nothing to be gained by worrying between now and then” (Green 65).

• Hazel is worried her lungs are filling with fluid again but will know for certain if something is wrong once she gets her PET scan.

• While eating at the table with her mom and dad, Hazel was worried about her lungs being filled with liquid.

• After Hazel worries about Gus not calling and her future PET scan scheduled, she concludes worrying about the future and past is meaningless.

• She was eating quickly, feeling her lungs filled with fluid.

Answer explanation

Irrelevant and unnecessary details should not be included in the context.

Select the best context for the following quotation:

“...‘Living our best life today!’” (Green 132).

• Hazel is at the support group. Patrick gives his regular prayer. He ends it with an encouraging chant of living their lives to the fullest.

• Hazel at support group and some girl says that she admires Hazel for being strong.

• The support group Hazel is a part of recites a quote in unison before they depart.

• Hazel is at support group and the meeting is ending, and they are praying for the ones who have died and are dying,

Answer explanation

1. 1. Context should be concise.

2. 2. The quote should not be revealed in the context.

3. 3. As always, when we write about literature, we use present tense verbs.

Read the following quotations from The Fault in Our Stars:

1. 1. "...the world was not a wish-granting factory..." (Green 121).

2. 2. "...No matter how high you get, you can't go all the way around" (Green 124).

1. What theme do these quotations imply? Select the best two answers.

• Even with wishes and hard work, some things will be impossible to achieve.

• There is no easy way through life.

• Not everything you wish for can be assured.

• Life is filled with obstacles that one can not always overcome.

Select the best context for the following quotation:

"...No matter how high you get, you can't go all the way around" (Green 124).

• When Hazel and Gus write an advertisement to donate her childhood swing set, they use an analogy to compare swinging to life.

• Hazel and Augustus made an ad to give away Hazel's old swing set.

• Hazel and Augustus were thinking about how you cannot go all the way around the swing set, no matter how hard you try.

• Hazel is sitting on a swing set and comparing it to life.