1.

Summary (Thuỳ Linh)

The story revolves around the love story between Hazel Grace and Augustus
Waters, two cancer victims meeting in a support group. They form a deep
relationship through a book and overcome numerous struggles to go to Amsterdam
to look for a satisfying ending for their favorite book. Their journey is filled with
laughter, love, and heartbreaking truths about illness and mortality. As they face
the realities of their conditions, their love deepens, forcing them to confront
difficult questions about life, loss, and what it means to leave a mark on the world.
It's a bittersweet story about finding joy even in the face of suffering.
2. Author (Thuỳ Linh)
a) Background (Basic information about: date of birth, hometown, when to
start writing,...)
- Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1977, Green spent his formative years in
Orlando, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama.
- He attended boarding school at Indian Springs School, where he discovered
his passion for writing and met other aspiring authors.
- He double-majored in English and religious studies at Kenyon College,
initially intending to become an Episcopalian priest.
- While working as a student chaplain at a children's hospital, Green was
deeply affected by the experiences of the patients, ultimately choosing to
pursue writing instead.
b) Literary career
- Green's debut novel, "Looking for Alaska," published in 2005, was a critical
and commercial success, earning him the prestigious Michael L. Printz
Award.
- "The Fault in Our Stars" (2012), a poignant love story about teenagers
battling cancer, which became a global bestseller and was adapted into a
popular film.
- Several other acclaimed novels: "An Abundance of Katherines," "Paper
Towns," and "Turtles All the Way Down," often tackling philosophical and
emotional challenges faced by young adults.
- In 2018, Green embarked on a new literary path with "Let Your Heart Not
Be Troubled," a collection of essays exploring philosophical and theological
questions.
c) Writing style
- Main theme: Love, Loss, Connection, Life meaning, Hope: Many of John
Green’s stories depicting the young encountering numerous challenges. He
approaches these topics with realism and sensitivity to analyze the roller
coaster inside each character’s mentality. Afterwards, he emphasizes the
sense of hope, love and beauty amidst all difficulties that each character
realizes to treasure their lives more.
- Tone
+ Confessional: Honest and open first-person narration that invites
personal connection.
+ Witty: Playful dialogue and humor balanced with serious themes.
+ Reflective: Thoughtful exploration of philosophy, theology, and
existential questions.
+ Pop-culture-infused: References to movies, books, music, and other
cultural touchstones.
+ Vivid: Evocative language creates strong imagery and sensory details.
3. The fault in our stars
a) Setting (Thư)
- Place: Indianapolis and Amsterdam
- Time: The specific dates and years are not explicitly mentioned within
the novel, but based on context clues such as physical setting,
contemporary culture, technology, and societal norms and its
publication year, the story takes place presumably anytime between
2008 and 2012.
b) Plot (Thư)
"The Fault in Our Stars" is a novel written by John Green that follows the
story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living
with cancer for years. The plot can be broken down as follows:

Introduction: The story begins with Hazel Grace narrating her life living
with cancer. She attends a support group where she meets Augustus Waters,
a charming and witty boy who lost his leg to cancer. Hazel and Augustus
develop a connection, bonding over their experiences with illness and a
shared love for a book called "An Imperial Affliction" by Peter Van Houten.
 Relationship Development: Hazel and Augustus start spending more time
together. Augustus arranges for them to meet Peter Van Houten, the
reclusive author of their favorite book, in Amsterdam. Their relationship
deepens as they share their fears, hopes, and dreams with each other.

Amsterdam Trip: Hazel and Augustus travel to Amsterdam with Hazel's

mother to meet Peter Van Houten. However, their meeting with the author
doesn't go as planned, as he turns out to be dismissive and rude. Despite the
disappointment, they make the most of their time in Amsterdam, exploring
the city and deepening their bond.

Augustus's Revelation: While in Amsterdam, Augustus reveals to Hazel that

his cancer has returned and has spread throughout his body. This news
devastates Hazel, but she resolves to support him through his illness.

Decline in Health: Augustus's health deteriorates rapidly, and Hazel

struggles to come to terms with the inevitable loss. She realizes that loving
Augustus means accepting his impending death.

Augustus's Death: Augustus eventually succumbs to his illness, leaving

Hazel heartbroken. She must learn to cope with her grief and continue living
her life without him.

Closure: In the aftermath of Augustus's death, Hazel finds solace in the

memories they shared and in the impact Augustus had on her life. She finds
closure by reading a letter Augustus wrote to Peter Van Houten, expressing
his love for Hazel and his hopes for her future.

Overall, "The Fault in Our Stars" explores themes of love, loss, mortality,
and the search for meaning in life, all through the lens of two teenagers
facing terminal illness.

c) Narrator (Thư)
- First-person narrator: Hazel Grace Lancaster
 - The narrator being the main character, Hazel Grace, allows readers to
intimately understand Hazel's thoughts, feelings, and experiences,
deepening their emotional connection to the story.
d) Title

The title is inspired by Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar: “The fault, dear
Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." This quote
is suggesting that nothing is to blame for all of the world's evil-nature but
ourselves. John Green is suggesting something different- sometimes it is up to
fate. Hazel never wanted to have cancer. Augustus never wanted to lose a leg.
Isaac never wanted to lose his eyesight. The whole novel is swarmed with
innocent teenagers who had their life destroyed by an inevitable illness they had
no input in. John Green wanted to show that despite the fault in our stars (bad
fate,) people can still survive- and even thrive.

e) Characters (character type, role in the story, personality, actions,

relationships with other characters,...)
- Hazel Grace (Thu Trang)
Appearance

Describing her first encounter with the cancer support group to which her mother
insisted she join, Hazel states the following regarding the group’s coordinator and
his request that each member identify his- or herself:
“Then we introduced ourselves: Name. Age. Diagnosis. And how we’re
doing today. I’m Hazel, I’d say when they’d get to me. Sixteen . Thyroid
originally but with an impressive and long-settled satellite colony in my
lungs. And I’m doing okay.”

Additional information regarding Hazel's physical appearance is provided in the

opening chapter, information that emphasizes the effects of the cancer eating away
at her body and of the treatments that invariably take an enormous toll on one's
physical stature:
 "I was wearing old jeans, which had once been tight but now sagged in weird
places, and a yellow T-shirt advertising a band I didn’t even like anymore.
Also my hair: I had this pageboy haircut, and I hadn’t even bothered to, like,
brush it. Furthermore, I had ridiculously fat chipmunked cheeks, a side effect
of treatment. I looked like a normally proportioned person with a balloon for
a head. This was not even to mention the cankle situation."

While “beauty,” as the ancient Greek adage notes, “is in the eye of the beholder,”
( Người yêu hóa Tây Thi =))))))))) we can surmise that Hazel is physically
attractive from her introduction to Augustus (Gus), who would become her close
friend and lover and who is also battling cancer – the disease to which he will
succumb. Noticing his tendency to stare at her, Hazel questions him regarding his
motivations:

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Augustus half smiled. “Because you’re
beautiful. I enjoy looking at beautiful people . . .”

Typical dynamic characteristic development

Tóm tắt storyline / actions

Hazel is the main character and narrator of the novel.
- She has terminal cancer, which began as thyroid cancer and has spread to her
lungs.
- She is an intelligent and thoughtful 16-year-old, but she distances herself ( her
mom think she was depressed) from those around her because of her disease.
- Hazel feels that her death will negatively affect the people closest to her but that
she can reduce the effect if she stays away from them. ( giữ khoảng cách với gus )
- She by the novel An Imperial Affliction (That's the thing about Pain, it demands
to be felt). The book’s defeatist attitude toward cancer captures what Hazel
understands to be the overall hopelessness of being alive.
- Hazel meets Augustus (Gus) Waters, a teenage boy who also has cancer, at a
cancer patient support group.
- Augustus wants to make meaning out of his life, whereas Hazel wants to make as
little impact as possible with hers.
- Although Hazel initially keeps Augustus at a distance, he persuades her to open
up, and she falls in love with him.
- Hazel’s relationship with Augustus changes her views on life and death. It also
helps her come to terms with the impact her death will have on others.
- She learns to open up to those about whom she cares. She takes risks, like a trip
to Amsterdam with Augustus, embracing the knowledge that she and he cannot be
together forever but accepting that they can enjoy the present moment with each
other.
- She comes to see life as meaningful, regardless of its length.
- As Hazel develops throughout the book, she comes to understand that her loved
ones will survive her death (whenever it happens) and that close relationships are
what make life meaningful.
- Augustus’s death, in particular, clarifies this idea for her.
- She realizes that even though grieving him is deeply painful, she can continue on
and lead a fulfilled life.
- The way Augustus’s parents process the loss of their son also soothes her fears
that she will ruin her parents’ lives by dying.
- Finally, The author of An Imperial Affliction, Peter Van Houten, shows Hazel
that while his grief from losing his daughter has made his life smaller and harder,
he is still alive.

Terminal Cancer and its Impact on Relationships:

"Cancer perks are given even though you only ever had cancer once. You’re still
eligible for perks if you had cancer in the past and then get another cancer. You are
also eligible for perks if you are given the all clear and then get cancer again, or if
you were never given the all clear in the first place, like me. Technically, I have
late-stage, currently incurable cancer. But I’m not dead yet."

Hazel's description of her cancer reflects her resigned acceptance of her terminal
illness and its effects on her relationships. She acknowledges her continued
eligibility for "cancer perks," highlighting the ongoing presence and impact of her
disease on her life and interactions with others.
 Isolation and Views on Death:
"I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to
minimize the casualties, okay?"

This quote exemplifies Hazel's belief that her death will negatively affect those
around her, leading her to distance herself emotionally from others to minimize the
pain of her eventual passing. She sees herself as a threat to others' emotional well-
being, contributing to her feelings of isolation and reluctance to form deep
connections.
Connection to "An Imperial Affliction" and Views on Life:
"Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and
you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together
unless and until all living humans read the book."

Hazel's fervent attachment to "An Imperial Affliction" reflects her identification

with its portrayal of the hopelessness of life, particularly in the face of illness and
death. The book resonates deeply with her own experiences and worldview,
shaping her understanding of the meaninglessness of existence.
Relationship with Augustus and Changing Perspectives:
‘I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

Hazel's description of falling in love with Augustus illustrates her gradual opening
up to him despite her initial reservations. Through their relationship, she begins to
challenge her belief in minimizing her impact on others and embraces the
possibility of finding meaning and connection in life, even in the face of mortality.
Growth and Acceptance of Death:
"Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you."

Hazel's realization about the nature of grief reflects her evolving understanding of
life and death. Through her experiences with Augustus's death and the reactions of
those around her, she comes to accept the inevitability of her own passing and
finds solace in the enduring connections she has formed with others.

Hazel's Final Realizations:

"My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
This quote encapsulates Hazel's acknowledgment of the complexities and
uncertainties of life and death. Despite her inability to fully comprehend or control
her fate, she finds comfort in the enduring significance of her relationships and the
meaningfulness of her existence, however brief it may be.

- Augustus Waters (Hoàng Linh)

Character type and role in the story

Augustus "Gus" Waters is a main character and the male love interest in The Fault in Our
Stars

Character-wise, Augustus Waters is quite dynamic and changes a great deal during the
story. He is initially shown as a charming and confident young man, but as his health
deteriorates, he progressively shows his weakness and ingrained phobias. His character
arc revolves around this development of his emotions and introspection.

As Hazel's romantic interest, Augustus gives her life a boost of vigor and passion. Despite
the imminent danger of her disease, he dispels her pessimism and inspires her to embrace
life's potential. Hazel's personal development is accelerated by their relationship, which
inspires her to face her anxieties and recognize the beauty of life's ephemeral moments.

Appearance & Background

“Long and leanly muscular, he dwarfed the molded plastic elementary school chair he was
sitting in. Mahogany hair, straight and short. He looked my age, maybe a year older, and he
sat with his tailbone against the edge of the chair, his posture aggressively poor, one hand
half in a pocket of dark jeans.”

“Look, let me just say it: He was hot. A nonhot boy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at
best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a hot boy . . . well.”

Augustus caught Hazel’s attention when she found him continuously staring at her.
Augustus is described as being tall, very handsome, intelligent, having blue eyes and
mahogany hair. In the story, he was described as “hot” by Hazel, which she didn’t feel
awkward or being assaulted while being stared relentlessly at.
“I followed him down carpeted stairs to a huge basement bedroom. A shelf at my eye level
reached all the way around the room, and it was stuffed solid with basketball memorabilia:
dozens of trophies with gold plastic men mid-jump shot or dribbling or reaching for a
layup toward an unseen basket. There were also lots of signed balls and sneakers.

“I used to play basketball,” he explained.”

Augustus used to be a star athlete. Unfortunately, his bone cancer took away one of his
legs. In the beginning of the story, Waters is having a relatively great health condition,
which his body haven’t shown any signs of cancer for months (which is not the case for
Hazel, as she struggle everyday to fight late-stage incurable lung cancer)

Characteristics

“Oh, I’m grand.” Augustus Waters smiled with a corner of his mouth. “I’m on a roller
coaster that only goes up, my friend.”

Augustus is a complex individual who possesses a good amount of wit, charm, and
empathy. He is witty and has a fondness for philosophical reflections; he frequently muses
over the existential issues that consume Hazel's thoughts. His love of life and adventurous
energy stand in stark contrast to Hazel's introverted disposition.

His will to create strong bonds with people around him is explained through his
relationship with Isaac and Hazel. His friendship with Isaac offers understanding and
support, and his connection with Hazel ignites a transforming love story. Through these
relationships, Augustus exhibits his potential for intense love and fidelity.

Views on life

“I fear oblivion,” he said without a moment’s pause. “I fear it like the proverbial blind man
who’s afraid of the dark.”

Augustus's outlook on life and death is shaped by his past, especially his encounters with
cancer and the death of his girlfriend Caroline Mather. He emphasizes the importance of
“leaving your mark” on life and tries to make a lasting impression on people around him by
appreciating the fleeting nature of life.
Despite his sickness, Augustus's main goal is to enjoy life to the fullest and seize every
opportunity. He wants to make an impression on the world and be recognized for his
selfless deeds and unflinching spirit.

“I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of
saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void,
and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day
when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only
earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

As the story goes, Gus showed Hazel his love for her by giving her the best moments and
opportunities of her life, strongly expressed in his efforts to connect Hazel to her favorite
author Peter van Houten. That’s his will to “leave his mark”, which shed light to Hazel’s
pessimism and changed her perspective on life

Collapse, fear of dying and the acceptance of death

“I’ll fight it. I’ll fight it for you. Don’t you worry about me, Hazel Grace. I’m okay. I’ll find a
way to hang around and annoy you for a long time.”

Accepting his own mortality is the main source of conflict for Augustus. He struggles with
his fear of dying and the fact that his condition is inevitable, yet he doesn't give up. Rather,
he transforms his worries into a resolve to live every day with intention and significance.

The story of Augustus captures his path of accepting life as it is, even though he knows it
will end eventually. He discovers the beauty of life and finds comfort in the fact that all
human experience is interconnected.

4. Moral lesson (Thùy Linh)

- Acceptance and Forgiveness: The world is not a wish granting factory Hazel
didn’t have the ability to choose a few healthy days over all the sick ones she
had left; Peter Van Houten did not turn out to be the same author Hazel and
Gus had hoped for. Because you don’t always get what you want. Through
their journey, they learn the importance of acceptance—acceptance of their
own mortality, of their circumstances, and of each other. Additionally, the
characters grapple with forgiveness, both of themselves and others, as they
navigate their relationships and confront their fears. That's the thing about
 pain, it demands to be felt. Without feeling pain, the feeling of joy cannot be
understood. Without anxiety, there is no peace.
- The Impact of Love and Relationships: The love story between
Hazel and Augustus becomes a source of meaning for both. Their
connection provides emotional support, joy, and a sense of purpose.
They leave a lasting impact on each other, demonstrating the power
of love in shaping a meaningful life. Hazel, the protagonist, initially
views life as a ticking time bomb, waiting for the inevitable "bad end."
Augustus challenges this perspective, encouraging her to live a life
that's "okay" despite the limitations. He emphasizes experiences,
connections, and the pursuit of things that matter to them.
-