2. When The Vampire Diaries first came on the scene in 2009 there was initially a lot of
scrutiny stating that it was simply Twilight in a television series....
Is The Vampire Diaries merely Twilight in disguise?
Let’s figure this all out…
3. Jacki’s Twilight Spark Notes:
•Shy, clumsy girl loves •Attractive Vampire loves
Vampire. girl more than anything.
•Also loves Werewolf •Hates who he is…a
•But, loves Vampire more. monster
•Wants to become a •Doesn’t want girl to
Vampire. become a Vampire.
•Werewolf loves girl.
•Werewolf LOATHES Vampire.
•Werewolf doesn’t want girl to
become a Vampire.
4. Elena Gilbert Bella Swan
Stefan Edward Cullen
Salvatore
Damon Jacob Black
Salvatore
5. Spotlight on…
Elena Gilbert (Signifier)
Cheerleader
Popular Unselfish Doppelganger
Desire to Stay Human
Family Oriented
Selfless Protective
Completely Torn
Human Slightly Torn
Determined
Desire to Become a Vampire
Only Child
Socially
Awkward
Spotlight on…
Clumsy Bella Swan (Signifier)
6. Spotlight on…
Stefan Salvatore (Signifier)
GOOD
Attractive Pure of Heart
Vampire Hidden Dark Side
Only Eats Animals
Family Issues
In Love Protective
Attractive Only Eats Animals
In Love
Hates who he is (Vampire)
Family Oriented
Pure of Heart
GOOD Spotlight on…
Edward Cullen (Signifier)
7. Spotlight on…
Damon Salvatore (Signifier) Dark
Attractive Impulsive
Vampire Loose Cannon
Killer
Protective
Family Issues
In Love
Odd one out
Attractive
In Love WEREWOLF
Hatred of Vampires
Loyal
Pure of Heart
GOOD Spotlight on…
Odd one out Jacob Black (Signifier)
8. Therefore…
Elena Gilbert Bella Swan
Stefan Edward Cullen
Salvatore (Close but not quite!)
Damon Jacob Black
Salvatore
11. Semiotic Concept:
Icons
Picture of Katherine that Stefan
holds on to remind him of the
pain she inflicted upon him and
Damon.
Journals of Jonathon Gilbert
reveal truths from the past
and also predict what is
doomed to be repeated in
the future.
12. Semiotic Concept:
Symbols
Elena’s Necklace: symbolic of her
power over vampires. She can not be
compelled by a vampire while
wearing her Vervaine filled necklace.
Vampire Ring: symbolic of vampire’s
enslavement to the sun. Without it
they will burn in the sun.
White Oak Tree: symbolic of the end
of the entire vampire species.
13. Semiotic Concept:
Intertextuality
Twilight: In the third episode of The
Vampire Diaries Damon lies in
Caroline’s bed reading Twilight
(perfect for this analysis!) He makes a
comment about Edward being
“whipped” which is ironic because
the character of Edward and
Damon’s brother Stefan are both
vampires who are “whipped” by a
human.
14. Semiotic Concept:
Codes
KILL OR BE KILLED
In order to save the ones you love sometimes innocent people must die.
Family doesn’t always mean you share DNA
BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER
All is fair in love and war…
15. Witches Love triangle with
Hybrids
Vampires
vampire and werewolf
Love Triangle
Ghosts Werewolves
Vampires sparkle in
Doppelganger Human girl in love
with a vampire the sun
No desire to Attractive Cast
Evil Vampires Wants to become a
become a vampire Something “special”
vampire
Brother love triangle about female lead
Vampires burn in sun Theme: epic love
Themes: family &
humanity
16. At first glance, and during the
first 10-15 minutes of the first
episode of The Vampire
Diaries, yes, the two seem
similar. But as you can see
merely from the character
outlines. The main characters
are far from similar and the
plot lines go in opposite
directions almost immediately.
The Vampire Diaries is a more
raw portrayal of a vampire love
story whereas Twilight is much
more a glamorized portrayal.
Of a somewhat seemingly
similar story.
17. Sources
Dahl, J. (Director) (2009). Friday night bites [Television series episode]. In
Levy, B. (Executive Producer), The Vampire Diaries. Los Angeles: CWTV.
Hardwicke, C. (Director) (2008). Twilight [DVD].
Somerholder, I. (2010, January 26). Interview by ITN News [Video Tape
Recording]. Vampire diaries vs twilight. , Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uwK3laCY20
