Back when I read religiously, high-fantasy adventure interested me more than romance or slice-of-life. As I’ve aged, I fell for vampires just as everyone else. Reading Twilight for the first time, I feel I’ve fulfilled a small fraction of my childhood that had otherwise been empty. I was surprised at how slow the first three chapters were. They weren’t necessarily boring, but in comparison to the few other books we had to read, there was minimal detail and far less worldbuilding. I’ve always been intimidated by the length of books, but this book is such an easy read I probably could finish it in a few days.
At first glance, it’s clear to see that the author’s purpose of the story is to show Bella embracing the unfamiliar and change. Bella in a way relates to the Cullen family in terms of them being outsiders, and the story probably revolves around her being an outsider and finding acceptance in the Fork community.
Taylor Laughtner and Robert Pattinson definitely won the hearts of many girls, but the storytelling and mysticism around magic, vampires, and werewolves is something I believe anyone can enjoy.
One example of kairos I vividly remember is when Bella wants to confront Edward about his weirdness but doesn’t. While it is inferred that this is probably something she would’ve done in her hometown, being a newcomer she doesn’t want to tarnish her reputation just yet. If she were to confront him when he was ignoring her, she may have gotten a different reaction from him than she would’ve liked.
In our introduction to Edward, Jessica seems to have a bit of edge when talking about the Cullen family, admitting things reluctantly. She tells Bella “Don’t waste your time. He doesn’t date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him” (22). While Jessica didn’t clearly state that she had any affiliations with Edward, to maintain her ethos she simply doesn’t mention it. She tries to persuade Bella from falling for Edward, in hopes to protect her, by using pathos.
Mike clearly is interested in becoming Bella’s friend, and even appeals to her pathos by saying, “If I were lucky enough to sit by you, I would have talked to you” (26). Right off the bat you can tell that he is a friendly, and admiring character.
Another instance of rhetoric is when Bella demands Edward to explain what happened when he suddenly appeared by her side and saved her from the approaching truck. To keep his credibility as a “normal” citizen of Forks, he withholds the truth. He also says that no-one will believe her if she tells the truth, diminishing her own ethos/credibility.
In chapter 2, Bella hesitantly asks about the Cullen family. While she starts off claiming that the kids were “different” (36), she backpedaled after Charlie gave the longest speech Bella has ever heard. At this time, she realized it was best not to talk to him about her genuine concerns, utilizing kairos effectively.
An example of a metaphor I found is Bella calling Mike a puppy, and commenting on his puppy-dog behavior.
Elle the Warlock 