A Court of Thorns and Roses
Chapter 20
by Maas, Sarah J.In Chapter 20 of “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” the protagonist, Feyre, experiences a tense and isolating day following a strained dinner with Tamlin, during which she seeks solace by lighting candles to dispel shadows. Her emotional state is reflected in her artwork, which depicts a terrifying, skeletal creature with bat-like ears and enormous wings, symbolizing her inner fears and the dark atmosphere she perceives. To avoid the dangers lurking outside, particularly the Attor, she attempts to stay within the safety of her room, highlighting her sense of vulnerability and the growing tension within the household.
As Fire Night, or Calanmai, approaches, Feyre notices the increasing intensity of the preparations and the distant, rhythmic drumbeats that summon the faerie community. The sounds evoke a primal call, stirring her curiosity and a strange compulsion to investigate the festivities. She observes the distant bonfires and the smoke rising into the sky, feeling an inexplicable pull towards the celebration, despite her awareness that she is not invited. The atmosphere is thick with magic and anticipation, heightening her sense of foreboding and her desire to understand what is happening beyond the confines of the estate.
Tamlin’s sudden appearance, dressed as a warrior, underscores the seriousness of the occasion. He warns Feyre to stay inside and lock her doors, explaining that he must participate in the Great Rite, a significant and potentially brutal faerie ritual associated with Calanmai. His commanding tone and the transformation of his features reveal the gravity of the event, emphasizing the danger and the sacrifices involved. His urgent plea for her to remain safe highlights the peril she faces and the unpredictable nature of faerie customs, which are rooted in ancient and violent traditions.
Driven by an irresistible force, Feyre eventually disobeys Tamlin’s instructions and follows the sound of the drums on horseback. Her journey takes her to a hilltop where a large bonfire and a gathering of High Fae are visible. She is concealed by magic glamours that distort her perception, yet her curiosity propels her deeper into the festivities. The scene is charged with magic, mystery, and anticipation, as Feyre navigates the complex, secretive world of the faeries and the powerful rituals taking place, hinting at deeper conflicts and the dangerous allure of the faerie realm.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What are the significance and symbolism behind the Fire Night (Calanmai) celebration as depicted in Chapter 20, and how does the protagonist’s perception of this event evolve throughout the chapter?
Answer:
Fire Night, or Calanmai, is depicted as a major faerie celebration involving bonfires, drums, and rituals that seem to hold deep cultural and possibly mystical significance. The drums and bonfires symbolize a communal gathering, possibly connected to ancient traditions or rites, and are associated with powerful magic and high fae activity. Initially, the protagonist perceives the event as mysterious and somewhat dangerous, especially as she notices the uninvited nature of the celebration and the ominous, magic-laden atmosphere. Her perception shifts from curiosity to a sense of foreboding, especially when she senses the dangerous magic and the ritualistic nature of the event, which involves a “Great Rite” that Tamlin must partake in. Her evolving perception underscores the event’s underlying danger and the cultural importance it holds for the faeries, contrasting her outsider perspective with their traditions.2. Question 2
Describe the role of Tamlin during the Fire Night celebration and analyze how his actions and words reflect his responsibilities and internal conflict.
Answer:
Tamlin plays a pivotal role during the Fire Night celebration, as he is compelled to participate in the “Great Rite,” a significant faerie ritual. His appearance is commanding and warrior-like, with his shirtless, armed figure emphasizing his strength and readiness. His words reveal a sense of duty and obligation; he tells Feyre to stay in her chamber and to lock her doors, indicating the ritual’s potential danger and his concern for her safety. Tamlin’s canines lengthening and his tense muscles suggest internal conflict and the weight of responsibility he bears as a High Lord. His insistence that she remain hidden and his quick departure highlight his awareness of the ritual’s violence and the necessity of his participation, despite his apparent reluctance or internal struggle. His actions reflect a balance between duty to his people and personal apprehension about the ritual’s brutality.3. Question 3
How does the protagonist’s experience of the Fire Night celebration illustrate themes of secrecy, magic, and outsider perspective in the story?
Answer:
The protagonist’s experience vividly illustrates themes of secrecy and magic through her inability to fully perceive the true nature of the celebration. She notices the glamour that conceals the faces of the faeries, making their features blurry and indistinct, which signifies the hidden, secretive nature of faerie society. Her attempt to focus on the details is thwarted by magic, emphasizing how the faeries protect their traditions from outsiders. Her outsider perspective is heightened by her curiosity and the sense of danger, as she follows the drums and is drawn into a world she does not fully understand. The chapter underscores her vulnerability and the mystique surrounding faerie customs, highlighting her position as an outsider trying to comprehend a secretive and magical culture that operates beyond human understanding.4. Question 4
In what ways does the chapter explore the tension between duty and personal desire, particularly through Tamlin’s character and the protagonist’s actions?
Answer:
The chapter explores this tension primarily through Tamlin’s sense of duty to his responsibilities as a High Lord and his personal feelings of conflict. Tamlin’s insistence that Feyre stay in her chamber and his warning to lock the doors reflect his awareness of the danger involved in the ritual and his obligation to protect her, even if it means keeping her away from the truth or from participating. His tense, commanding demeanor suggests internal conflict—he is torn between fulfilling his duties and his concern for Feyre’s safety. Similarly, the protagonist’s desire to follow the drums and her curiosity about the celebration demonstrate her personal longing to understand and connect with the faerie world. Her decision to follow the drums, despite Tamlin’s orders, indicates her urge to seek understanding and agency, illustrating the ongoing struggle between duty (to stay safe) and personal desire (to explore and learn).5. Question 5
Reflect on the significance of the protagonist’s painted creature at the beginning of the chapter. How does it symbolize her emotional state and foreshadow events in the chapter?
Answer:
The protagonist’s painting of a tall, skeletal, winged creature with a roar and a carrion smell symbolizes her inner fears and sense of foreboding. Its chilling, deathly appearance reflects her emotional state—fearful, anxious, and repelled by the dark, violent aspects of the faerie world she is beginning to glimpse. The creature’s menacing features foreshadow the danger and violence associated with the Fire Night ritual and Tamlin’s participation in the Great Rite. It also symbolizes her feeling of being hunted or threatened, as the creature’s roar and deathly imagery evoke a sense of looming threat. The act of painting such a creature underscores her subconscious acknowledgment of the peril and darkness surrounding the faerie customs, setting a tone of tension and foreshadowing the perilous events that unfold as she follows the drums into the night.
Quotes
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1. “The drums turned faster—louder. Though I’d grown accustomed to the smell of magic, my nose pricked with the rising tang of metal, stronger than I’d yet sensed it.”
This quote highlights the intensifying magical atmosphere and foreshadows the forthcoming ritual, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on the gathering’s ominous and powerful nature.
2. “As a High Lord, I have to partake in the Great Rite.”
This statement reveals the significance of the ritual for Tamlin, illustrating the weight of faerie traditions and the dangerous, ceremonial aspects of the Fire Night celebration.
3. “Stay in your chamber.”
Tamlin’s command underscores the danger and seriousness of the event, as well as his concern for Feyre’s safety, marking a pivotal moment of tension and foreshadowing.
4. “It was magic—some kind of glamour put on me, meant to prevent my viewing them properly, just as my family had been glamoured.”
This insight into faerie glamours explains the elusive, shifting perceptions of the fae, illustrating themes of deception and hidden truths central to the chapter.
5. “By ten o’clock, I could no longer stand it. I followed the drums.”
This line captures Feyre’s internal conflict and growing curiosity, serving as the turning point that propels her into the heart of the faerie celebration and its mysteries.
Quotes
1. “The drums turned faster — louder. Though I’d grown accustomed to the smell of magic, my nose pricked with the rising tang of metal, stronger than I’d yet sensed it.”
This quote highlights the intensifying magical atmosphere and foreshadows the forthcoming ritual, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on the gathering’s ominous and powerful nature.
2. “As a High Lord, I have to partake in the Great Rite.”
This statement reveals the significance of the ritual for Tamlin, illustrating the weight of faerie traditions and the dangerous, ceremonial aspects of the Fire Night celebration.
3. “Stay in your chamber.”
Tamlin’s command underscores the danger and seriousness of the event, as well as his concern for Feyre’s safety, marking a pivotal moment of tension and foreshadowing.
4. “It was magic—some kind of glamour put on me, meant to prevent my viewing them properly, just as my family had been glamoured.”
This insight into faerie glamours explains the elusive, shifting perceptions of the fae, illustrating themes of deception and hidden truths central to the chapter.
5. “By ten o’clock, I could no longer stand it. I followed the drums.”
This line captures Feyre’s internal conflict and growing curiosity, serving as the turning point that propels her into the heart of the faerie celebration and its mysteries.
FAQs
1. Question 1
What are the significance and symbolism behind the Fire Night (Calanmai) celebration as depicted in Chapter 20, and how does the protagonist’s perception of this event evolve throughout the chapter?
Answer:
Fire Night, or Calanmai, is depicted as a major faerie celebration involving bonfires, drums, and rituals that seem to hold deep cultural and possibly mystical significance. The drums and bonfires symbolize a communal gathering, possibly connected to ancient traditions or rites, and are associated with powerful magic and high fae activity. Initially, the protagonist perceives the event as mysterious and somewhat dangerous, especially as she notices the uninvited nature of the celebration and the ominous, magic-laden atmosphere. Her perception shifts from curiosity to a sense of foreboding, especially when she senses the dangerous magic and the ritualistic nature of the event, which involves a “Great Rite” that Tamlin must partake in. Her evolving perception underscores the event’s underlying danger and the cultural importance it holds for the faeries, contrasting her outsider perspective with their traditions.
2. Question 2
Describe the role of Tamlin during the Fire Night celebration and analyze how his actions and words reflect his responsibilities and internal conflict.
Answer:
Tamlin plays a pivotal role during the Fire Night celebration, as he is compelled to participate in the “Great Rite,” a significant faerie ritual. His appearance is commanding and warrior-like, with his shirtless, armed figure emphasizing his strength and readiness. His words reveal a sense of duty and obligation; he tells Feyre to stay in her chamber and to lock her doors, indicating the ritual’s potential danger and his concern for her safety. Tamlin’s canines lengthening and his tense muscles suggest internal conflict and the weight of responsibility he bears as a High Lord. His insistence that she remain hidden and his quick departure highlight his awareness of the ritual’s violence and the necessity of his participation, despite his apparent reluctance or internal struggle. His actions reflect a balance between duty to his people and personal apprehension about the ritual’s brutality.
3. Question 3
How does the protagonist’s experience of the Fire Night celebration illustrate themes of secrecy, magic, and outsider perspective in the story?
Answer:
The protagonist’s experience vividly illustrates themes of secrecy and magic through her inability to fully perceive the true nature of the celebration. She notices the glamour that conceals the faces of the faeries, making their features blurry and indistinct, which signifies the hidden, secretive nature of faerie society. Her attempt to focus on the details is thwarted by magic, emphasizing how the faeries protect their traditions from outsiders. Her outsider perspective is heightened by her curiosity and the sense of danger, as she follows the drums and is drawn into a world she does not fully understand. The chapter underscores her vulnerability and the mystique surrounding faerie customs, highlighting her position as an outsider trying to comprehend a secretive and magical culture that operates beyond human understanding.
4. Question 4
In what ways does the chapter explore the tension between duty and personal desire, particularly through Tamlin’s character and the protagonist’s actions?
Answer:
The chapter explores this tension primarily through Tamlin’s sense of duty to his responsibilities as a High Lord and his personal feelings of conflict. Tamlin’s insistence that Feyre stay in her chamber and his warning to lock the doors reflect his awareness of the danger involved in the ritual and his obligation to protect her, even if it means keeping her away from the truth or from participating. His tense, commanding demeanor suggests internal conflict—he is torn between fulfilling his duties and his concern for Feyre’s safety. Similarly, the protagonist’s desire to follow the drums and her curiosity about the celebration demonstrate her personal longing to understand and connect with the faerie world. Her decision to follow the drums, despite Tamlin’s orders, indicates her urge to seek understanding and agency, illustrating the ongoing struggle between duty (to stay safe) and personal desire (to explore and learn).
5. Question 5
Reflect on the significance of the protagonist’s painted creature at the beginning of the chapter. How does it symbolize her emotional state and foreshadow events in the chapter?
Answer:
The protagonist’s painting of a tall, skeletal, winged creature with a roar and a carrion smell symbolizes her inner fears and sense of foreboding. Its chilling, deathly appearance reflects her emotional state—fearful, anxious, and repelled by the dark, violent aspects of the faerie world she is beginning to glimpse. The creature’s menacing features foreshadow the danger and violence associated with the Fire Night ritual and Tamlin’s participation in the Great Rite. It also symbolizes her feeling of being hunted or threatened, as the creature’s roar and deathly imagery evoke a sense of looming threat. The act of painting such a creature underscores her subconscious acknowledgment of the peril and darkness surrounding the faerie customs, setting a tone of tension and foreshadowing the perilous events that unfold as she follows the drums into the night.
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