46 pages • 1 hour read
Kami Garcia, Margaret StohlBeautiful Creatures
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Describe the relationship between Lena and Macon. What does Macon want for Lena, and how does he demonstrate this? How does his reputation conflict with his true nature?
What is the significance of family secrets in the novel? How do Lena and Ethan navigate the secrets that their two families keep from them, and how does this impact their relationship?
How does the novel explore Fate Versus Free Will? How do Lena, Ethan, Macon, and Amma see fate and agency differently, and how does this affect their choices?
How do Genevieve’s flashbacks drive the narrative? Does the locket warn Lena about what is predestined to happen, or does it provide her with a way to change her fate? Provide specific examples from the text to support your argument.
What is Ridley’s role in the novel? What does her character say about the binary between Light and Dark?
What is Amma’s role in the novel? In what ways are her powers different from those of the Casters? How does she continue to remain in the community of Gatlin, despite her supernatural powers?
Garcia and Stohl explore the emotional impact of social exclusion through Gatlin’s harassment of Lena. How does the town’s fear play into their exclusion of Lena? Why does Lena still want to be accepted by them? Provide specific examples from the text to support your answer.
How does Ethan’s grief over his mother influence his decisions? How does his grief affect his relationship with Lena?
What is the significance of Boo Radley, Macon’s Caster dog? Describe how Boo’s observations around the town influence the narrative.
How does Gatlin’s obsession with the Civil War influence the narrative? How are characters shown to be good or antagonistic based on their feelings about the war?
