THE TASK This impressive PP was written in November and needs updating to include the second half of the novel. Please do this by inserting slides at suitable points. Remember to give lots of references and to copy the format of the original. You also need to insert a slide on Barbara Berrill. LEARN the information.

How does the author present and develop characters and themes in the novel?

Stephen 1 Presented - indecisive and contradictory Presented - indecisive and contradictory “Twice I pick up the phone book; Twice I put it down again” – Page 3 “Twice I pick up the phone book; Twice I put it down again” – Page 3 Uncertain and apprehensive about past Uncertain and apprehensive about past “Glimpses of different things flash into my mind in random sequence” – Page 5 “Glimpses of different things flash into my mind in random sequence” – Page 5 His memories are presented unclear-similar to those of an adult looking back on his childhood. His memories are presented unclear-similar to those of an adult looking back on his childhood. The character’s memory is triggered by a variety of different things The character’s memory is triggered by a variety of different things “Familiar breath of sweetness” – Page 3 His memory develops and it becomes clearer when he is in the Close. He is then able to give a detailed description of what happened His memory develops and it becomes clearer when he is in the Close. He is then able to give a detailed description of what happened “The houses have become tidy and tedious, their disparate architectural styles somehow homogenised by new porches” – Page 10. This provides a contrast. “The houses have become tidy and tedious, their disparate architectural styles somehow homogenised by new porches” – Page 10. This provides a contrast.

Stephen 2  Young Stephen Presented – Too long grey flannel shorts, stick out ears, shirt un-tucked. A follower of Keith. – Page 12  “He was the leader and I was the led” – Page 16  Slightly apprehensive about saying the right things to Keith  “I don’t think to say anything at all”  He shows jealousy towards Keith  “I think I feel a brief pang of admiring jealousy” – Page 37  He becomes more aware and suspicious of other people  “He’s putting on a performance he’s trying to conceal his true nature” – Page 42

Stephen 3  He becomes more and more consumed by the idea of Keith’s mother being a spy  “I can’t think of anything except the next and more alarming stage of our investigation” – Page 42  He tries to socialise with other groups of people  “I go out into the street to see if I can find anyone else to play with”  He sees Keith in a new light  “Keith is as reluctant as I am”

Keith Keith is presented as a well dressed, strong character, leader and a boy full of ideas. Keith is presented as a well dressed, strong character, leader and a boy full of ideas. “He was the leader and I was the led” – page 16 “He was the leader and I was the led” – page 16 “Warranted by his intellectual and imaginative superiority” – page 16 “Warranted by his intellectual and imaginative superiority” – page 16 “Serene and well-ordered” “Serene and well-ordered” Keith has a certain amount of control over Stephen’s actions Keith has a certain amount of control over Stephen’s actions “He uttered the words and the words became so” “He uttered the words and the words became so” Keith influences Stephen when Stephen is reluctant to do things Keith influences Stephen when Stephen is reluctant to do things “I think we better just leave it” – page 48 “I think we better just leave it” – page 48

Keith 2 Keith develops the idea of his mother being a spy from a game to a serious matterKeith develops the idea of his mother being a spy from a game to a serious matter “We must defend our homeland from its enemies” – page 53“We must defend our homeland from its enemies” – page 53 Keith wants to be the man to discover everything whilst Stephen follows which is shown when he dismisses the possibility that Stephens father is a German spy to.Keith wants to be the man to discover everything whilst Stephen follows which is shown when he dismisses the possibility that Stephens father is a German spy to. “My fathers a German spy too” – page 68“My fathers a German spy too” – page 68 Keith shows jealousy towards Stephen when he is out on his ownKeith shows jealousy towards Stephen when he is out on his own “He’s the one who is a hero of the projects not me” – page 121“He’s the one who is a hero of the projects not me” – page 121 He finds himself in a position a is found out by Stephen to be just as reluctant as himHe finds himself in a position a is found out by Stephen to be just as reluctant as him

Keith’s Father  Keith’s father is presented as being different from most fathers  “Not in some unseen office, like Stephens father and everybody else’s father” – page 20  He is presented as a hardworking perfectionist  “for ever making perfection more perfect” – page 20

Keith’s Father 2  He is presented as a strong dominant character who demands respect from Keith  “I’ll cane you” – page 22  As the novel develops the reader is able to become more aware of the respect which is also shown from Stephen.  “I’m not allowed to go there till I am sure there father has finished lunch” – page 43

Keith’s Mother  Keith’s mother is presented as a soft spoken relaxed and sensitive women  “She spoke softly and smilingly” – page 20  “She spent a lot of the day with her feet up on the sofa” – page 20  Keith’s mother was reluctant to speak to Stephen  “She didn’t speak to him personally” – page 20  The novel develops and she speaks to him for the first time  “As long as you both had fun together” – page 29

Keith’s Mother 2 A lot of her every day events are discovered due to spying from the boys such as sending Auntie Dee letters “every day” – page 39 A lot of her every day events are discovered due to spying from the boys such as sending Auntie Dee letters “every day” – page 39 When the spying begins treating it as a game at this point When the spying begins treating it as a game at this point “bang bang she says humorously” – page 41 “bang bang she says humorously” – page 41 Later she becomes suspicious of there behaviour and they have an awkward confrontation and is Later she becomes suspicious of there behaviour and they have an awkward confrontation and is “Shocked to find herself face to face with us” – page 51 “Shocked to find herself face to face with us” – page 51

Keith’s Mother 3 She demonstrates the aggressive side which she has to her. “She’s really angry with him for once” – page 82 Her character also presents a sense of humour on page 107 where Keith has spelt secret “secrit” “How priceless she said Humorously”

Keith’s Mother 4 In the beginning of the novel she doesn’t even speak to Stephen directly but as the novel develops she has a serious discussion about the 2 boys behaviours In the beginning of the novel she doesn’t even speak to Stephen directly but as the novel develops she has a serious discussion about the 2 boys behaviours “sometimes the best of games can get of hand” – page 106 “sometimes the best of games can get of hand” – page 106 She provides an adult perspective of what is going on. She believes Keith is being led. She provides an adult perspective of what is going on. She believes Keith is being led. “Keith is easily led, as I’m sure you realise” – page 108 “Keith is easily led, as I’m sure you realise” – page 108

Peter Peter is presented to the reader as a heroic figure Peter is presented to the reader as a heroic figure “His very absence has a kind of presence” “His very absence has a kind of presence” He is looked up to by Stephen and the other children He is looked up to by Stephen and the other children “A saint and his attributes in a religious painting, because they reflected the glory of Uncle Peter” – Page 24 “A saint and his attributes in a religious painting, because they reflected the glory of Uncle Peter” – Page 24 “All the children crowding around him” – page 70 “All the children crowding around him” – page 70