A Court of Thorns and Roses

Throughout the novel, Feyre, Tamlin, Rhysand, Lucien, and Nesta demonstrate various levels of sacrifice, love, and secrecy. Which themes does each character portray, and how does their embodiment of these themes affect their relationships with each other? As you develop your ideas, consider the following:

• How do the motifs “flowers” and “painting” contribute to the characters and themes?
• How is the faerie lore used to Subvert Expectations and play into the Consent and Power Dynamics in Sexual Intimacy?
• To what extent do these characters demonstrate different kinds of love when dealing with Sacrifice and Moral Compromise as the Duty of Love?

Teaching Suggestion: While reading the novel, it may help to ask students to keep a journal for quotes, paraphrased plot points, and reflections. For example, you may ask students to create a table of character names. Under each name, they could identify a vital quote or key plot point that occurs during the reading section. You may also consider having students keep track of motifs, notating when these arise in the book. If the number of characters to track is overwhelming, consider assigning certain students with specific characters. Then, after each reading, they can share their findings with the rest of the class.