40 pages • 1-hour read
Message In A Bottle
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Essay Topics
The text contains a great deal of evidence to suggest that chance is life’s ruling principle. However, both Garrett and Theresa, as well as the narrator, refer to fate. What evidence exists to suggest that destiny is actually in control of the characters’ lives?
Nicholas Sparks has said that readers are upset with him because of the text’s ending, but he feels Garrett had to die for Theresa to learn that she can always find love again after grief. What is the function of death in the text?
What does the ocean symbolize in the novel? Does its figurative meaning point to any theme(s)?
Compare and contrast Jeb and Deanna’s roles in the novel. What does each contribute to the story?
Read Sparks’s first novel, The Notebook, and compare the two stories. How do their themes differ? Do they overlap at all?
What does the frame story contribute to the overall text? How does it affect the demonstration of the text’s themes?
Dramatic and situational irony both play a significant role in the novel. What are the two most significant examples of each type, and what makes them so significant?
Watch the film adaptation of Message in a Bottle. How closely does it reflect the themes of the novel?
How does Theresa keeping the information about Garrett’s letters secret affect the narrative? Are the moments when Garrett disconnects from the present without explanation also a type of secret?
Explore the role of dreams in the story. How do they help Garrett as he tries to move on from Catherine’s death? How do they impede his healing?
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