1) Tyler's landscaping job develops his muscles, but also allows him to use his skills at digging holes: "I was good at digging holes. It was the rest of life I sucked at" (p. 39). What figurative holes has Tyler dug for himself in his life? Is it really true that he isn't good at anything else?
Tyler has dug himself many figurative holes. Such as the hole of not having his parents trust, not being trusted by teachers, and always being pinned as the bad kid in school because of his arrest. It is not true that he is not good at anything else. He is good at making some decisions whether he likes to admit that or not, for example when Bethany was drunk off her butt and wanted to have sex he grew up and knew better than to do it even though he really wanted too. Another example is that he's also pretty smart according to his dad who says that he was qualified for all the advanced classes they had signed him up for when Tyler asked to switch classes.
2) Although he doesn't seem like a depressed person, Tyler admits to being preoccupied with death. "Thinking about death relaxed me" (p. 44). Why? In what ways has he died and been reborn again throughout the story?
Death relaxed Tyler I think because it was like finally being at peace, once you were dead no one could tell you, how terrible you were or how much they hated you. Tyler died when he first got arrested and then was reborn after all the hard work he had done. He also died when he was about to have sex with Bethany, he was then reborn when he made the decision to not allow himself to take advantage of her. Finally Tyler also died when he put his dad's gun in his mouth, but once he turned and looked in the mirror and saw he didn't fit he was reborn knowing that his dad did the same thing he was doing at that moment.
3) At Tyler's high school there is a clear distinction between the popular crowd and everyone else. Where do you fit in the social scale at your school? In what ways has the status you hold in your social sphere defined you? In what ways is this role true to who you are? In what ways is it not?
In the whole social scale I honestly have no idea where I fit in, definitely not with the popular crowd but also not with the completely low class people (you can probably figure out who they are). I'm kind of a nerdy jock? It defines how people see you and judge you, cause whether you like it or not you're always being judged, it also defines who you hang out with at school and other wise. It's true to who I am because I am a huge freaking nerd who loves sports and I fit that role pretty well, and to be completely honest I don't know how it doesn't fit me.
4) Why does Tyler like Bethany? Were there any signs early on that she might not really like him the same way he liked her? What do you think is her real attraction to him? Is it true when his sister Hannah says that it could never have worked out? In your own life, are there any examples of two very different people who manage to be together despite their apparent differences?
Tyler likes Bethany for the same reason a ton of guys like certain people, her looks. There weren't really signs that Bethany might not like him however it was kind of hinted if someone was going to carry you around your house, I don't think you'd tell them no either. Her real attraction to Tyler is that he was like a forbidden fruit, Chip hated Tyler and I think Bethany enjoyed that she could anger her brother by hitting on Tyler. Also I think she was attracted to him because she liked the attention she was getting from everyone by hitting on a "loser" like Tyler. It isn't completely true as to what Hannah said about how they wouldn't have worked out because (this is going to sound so cheesy) If two people really like each other they'll say screw it to social standards and be together. I mean of course there are, you see couples in the halls at school you'd never expect would be together and yet there they are in the hall way hopefully just holding hands.
5) What do you think of Tyler's reaction to Bethany's behavior at the party? How would you react? Would you be sad? Angry?
I think the part of the party your talking about is when Bethany is all over the dude in the back seat of Chip's car when Tyler drives them home. I think Tyler had the appropriate reaction, although I would've flipped out a little more. If I'm completely honest I bet 90% of people will say "I won't care" however I know myself I would lose my temper and probably slash the tires on their car. -insert laughing emoji-
6) Why do you think Laurie Halse Anderson chose "Twisted" as he title of this novel? What does it mean in relation to the story?
I think Laurie chose the title "Twisted" because although it doesn't seem like it the book is really dark and has many dark "twists" if you will. In relation to the story I believe it refers to all the dark twists in Tyler's senior year, Bethany hitting on him, being accused of taking the photos of her, putting the gun in his mouth, etc.
7) On the surface Tyler seems to disrespect the janitors that he is made to work with as part of his probation. Yet they act as sort of a conscience and offer support later in the story. Have you ever gotten help from a unexpected source?
Yes I have gotten help from an unexpected source. I'm sure everyone has and if they haven't yet? They will eventually, someone you least expect might be the one to help a person in their darkest hour.
8) Who has Tyler been trying to be? his father? a loser? a cool guy? which of these identities is closest to his true self?
Tyler is definitely not trying to be his father just saying. I think he is just trying to fit in, he doesn't want to deal with being bullied anymore and so he is trying to fit in (so a "cool guy"). Honestly I would have to say he is more of a loser, although he has changed and become a bigger person (literally and metaphorically) he still has that side of him that is dorky and nerdy and counts as a "loser" in societies eyes.
9) Laurie Halse Anderson views Tyler Miller as the literary grandson of Willy Loman, the main character in Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesmen. What parallels are there between the two stories?
The parallels of self doubt are found in both stories, although it's harder to see the idea of being popular is important to both stories. Willy's wife also kind of represents Hannah in a way by buying into Willie's ideas like Hannah buys into Tyler's chances with Bethany.
10) What do you think will happen to the characters in this story in the next year?
Although a bunch of things can change and they might go back to their old ways this is what I think with happen. I think that Tyler will go off to college despite all the doubt he has gotten and such, he will continue to work for Mr. Pirelli and grow up to be a better person. I think Bethany and her family will move because of the incident and she'll have a hard time finding a college to go to because of the incident. Mom will listen to Tyler about photographing people instead and her business will become more successful. Dad will be more of a family man and stop being so cruel to his family, although I don't think he will be rehired anywhere within a year. Hannah will go into sophomore year thinking how much High School actually sucks and maybe will still be dating Yoda, Yoda will definitely go off to college and become very successful. (<----My favorite Nerd)
Tyler has dug himself many figurative holes. Such as the hole of not having his parents trust, not being trusted by teachers, and always being pinned as the bad kid in school because of his arrest. It is not true that he is not good at anything else. He is good at making some decisions whether he likes to admit that or not, for example when Bethany was drunk off her butt and wanted to have sex he grew up and knew better than to do it even though he really wanted too. Another example is that he's also pretty smart according to his dad who says that he was qualified for all the advanced classes they had signed him up for when Tyler asked to switch classes.
2) Although he doesn't seem like a depressed person, Tyler admits to being preoccupied with death. "Thinking about death relaxed me" (p. 44). Why? In what ways has he died and been reborn again throughout the story?
Death relaxed Tyler I think because it was like finally being at peace, once you were dead no one could tell you, how terrible you were or how much they hated you. Tyler died when he first got arrested and then was reborn after all the hard work he had done. He also died when he was about to have sex with Bethany, he was then reborn when he made the decision to not allow himself to take advantage of her. Finally Tyler also died when he put his dad's gun in his mouth, but once he turned and looked in the mirror and saw he didn't fit he was reborn knowing that his dad did the same thing he was doing at that moment.
3) At Tyler's high school there is a clear distinction between the popular crowd and everyone else. Where do you fit in the social scale at your school? In what ways has the status you hold in your social sphere defined you? In what ways is this role true to who you are? In what ways is it not?
In the whole social scale I honestly have no idea where I fit in, definitely not with the popular crowd but also not with the completely low class people (you can probably figure out who they are). I'm kind of a nerdy jock? It defines how people see you and judge you, cause whether you like it or not you're always being judged, it also defines who you hang out with at school and other wise. It's true to who I am because I am a huge freaking nerd who loves sports and I fit that role pretty well, and to be completely honest I don't know how it doesn't fit me.
4) Why does Tyler like Bethany? Were there any signs early on that she might not really like him the same way he liked her? What do you think is her real attraction to him? Is it true when his sister Hannah says that it could never have worked out? In your own life, are there any examples of two very different people who manage to be together despite their apparent differences?
Tyler likes Bethany for the same reason a ton of guys like certain people, her looks. There weren't really signs that Bethany might not like him however it was kind of hinted if someone was going to carry you around your house, I don't think you'd tell them no either. Her real attraction to Tyler is that he was like a forbidden fruit, Chip hated Tyler and I think Bethany enjoyed that she could anger her brother by hitting on Tyler. Also I think she was attracted to him because she liked the attention she was getting from everyone by hitting on a "loser" like Tyler. It isn't completely true as to what Hannah said about how they wouldn't have worked out because (this is going to sound so cheesy) If two people really like each other they'll say screw it to social standards and be together. I mean of course there are, you see couples in the halls at school you'd never expect would be together and yet there they are in the hall way hopefully just holding hands.
5) What do you think of Tyler's reaction to Bethany's behavior at the party? How would you react? Would you be sad? Angry?
I think the part of the party your talking about is when Bethany is all over the dude in the back seat of Chip's car when Tyler drives them home. I think Tyler had the appropriate reaction, although I would've flipped out a little more. If I'm completely honest I bet 90% of people will say "I won't care" however I know myself I would lose my temper and probably slash the tires on their car. -insert laughing emoji-
6) Why do you think Laurie Halse Anderson chose "Twisted" as he title of this novel? What does it mean in relation to the story?
I think Laurie chose the title "Twisted" because although it doesn't seem like it the book is really dark and has many dark "twists" if you will. In relation to the story I believe it refers to all the dark twists in Tyler's senior year, Bethany hitting on him, being accused of taking the photos of her, putting the gun in his mouth, etc.
7) On the surface Tyler seems to disrespect the janitors that he is made to work with as part of his probation. Yet they act as sort of a conscience and offer support later in the story. Have you ever gotten help from a unexpected source?
Yes I have gotten help from an unexpected source. I'm sure everyone has and if they haven't yet? They will eventually, someone you least expect might be the one to help a person in their darkest hour.
8) Who has Tyler been trying to be? his father? a loser? a cool guy? which of these identities is closest to his true self?
Tyler is definitely not trying to be his father just saying. I think he is just trying to fit in, he doesn't want to deal with being bullied anymore and so he is trying to fit in (so a "cool guy"). Honestly I would have to say he is more of a loser, although he has changed and become a bigger person (literally and metaphorically) he still has that side of him that is dorky and nerdy and counts as a "loser" in societies eyes.
9) Laurie Halse Anderson views Tyler Miller as the literary grandson of Willy Loman, the main character in Arthur Miller's play, Death of a Salesmen. What parallels are there between the two stories?
The parallels of self doubt are found in both stories, although it's harder to see the idea of being popular is important to both stories. Willy's wife also kind of represents Hannah in a way by buying into Willie's ideas like Hannah buys into Tyler's chances with Bethany.
10) What do you think will happen to the characters in this story in the next year?
Although a bunch of things can change and they might go back to their old ways this is what I think with happen. I think that Tyler will go off to college despite all the doubt he has gotten and such, he will continue to work for Mr. Pirelli and grow up to be a better person. I think Bethany and her family will move because of the incident and she'll have a hard time finding a college to go to because of the incident. Mom will listen to Tyler about photographing people instead and her business will become more successful. Dad will be more of a family man and stop being so cruel to his family, although I don't think he will be rehired anywhere within a year. Hannah will go into sophomore year thinking how much High School actually sucks and maybe will still be dating Yoda, Yoda will definitely go off to college and become very successful. (<----My favorite Nerd)