Maire

TWTWB assignment

Tomorrow When the War Began __ Task One __ 1) With each individual there are different opinions in what the group should do. However the group chose to inflict damage on the enemy. As Robyn said “I don’t think I could sit around here for months, not doing anything.” You can’t sit around doing nothing when a war is going on. Knowing that your families are held captive. The best option is to inflict damage on the enemy because you are making them weaker and you have a better chance of succeeding. 2) War results in many deaths. Homer said to Ellie “You’ll be glad to know, that I don’t think any of them were hurt.” Ellie is a deep thinker and has to convince herself that she is not a murderer. You do whatever is necessary to help the people close to you even if you hate the idea of killing people. They were successful in blowing up the bridge though no lives were lost. They invaded their home, took the families in captive and the only way the War might stop is you have to weaken the enemy. As Homer said “There the ones who tore up the rulebook not us.”

3) The enemy chose to pursue the bulldozer risking their lives to capture Ellie, Lee and Robyn. These soldiers are more like strangers to them, it is sad for Ellie when the people do die but are not as important to her as friends and family. So they killed the enemy soldiers in order to save Lee and when Corrie got shot, they had to trust the soldiers for them to save her.

4) Australia is a very large country with not many people. While Australia is neighbours with countries such as Indonesia, that are very small compared to this country, with many more people. In this view you can see why people in less fortunate countries would want to invade Australia. They would be “Addressing imbalances with the region.” Share the large expanse of land evenly with many more people and give the Australians the menial jobs. It would certainly be better off for the invaders though this is not any less fair than the situation before hand. You are simply changing who is better off. So no matter what you do some countries would be better off though to the worsening of another. __ Task Two: __ 1) Each person takes some lead role in the group. But the person who comes up with the genius ideas is usually Homer. Homer has changed remarkably during the beginning of this war. He has used his knowledge from the pranks he would pull at school to much bigger things like blowing up the bridge. He also thinks about the best option in various situations such as the plane blowing up Corrie’s house. "If it lands I think we’ve only got two options. We can sneak out the opposite side to where it’s landed, and use the trees to try and get away into the bush. The bikes are no use and the Toyota’s out of reach. So we’d be on foot relaying on our brains and fitness. The second option would be to surrender.” He thinks things through no matter how scary or out of control the situation is. That’s why Homer is the leader in the group. 2) They all show remarkable courage as the events unfold in this book. They have all stepped up in one way or another. Ellie especially showed courage in a number of events such as the Lawn Mower as a makeshift bomb, driving the bulldozer in order to save Lee and parking the petrol tanker under the bridge. Another person who showed remarkable courage is Robyn. She showed courage in going back for Lee when he was injured from the bullet wound. “She ran to Lee, heaved him onto her back, across her shoulders and carried him through the shattered door.” Lee probably would either be dead or captured without Robyn.

3) Ellie is a deep thinker. She really likes Lee but is worry about the circumstances that’s going to come with it. Lee believes “that the future is the future. It has to take care of itself.” Ellie likes to think about the range of possibilities that might happen if she rushes into the relationship. While Lee is not thinking like that at all. This tests them as friends to each other, if they understand where the other person is coming from. They both need to understand this isn’t like a normal situation and they can’t just ignore each other if they do breakup. They still would have to work as a team and trust each other. This is why Ellie is so worried what is going to happen now, is going to affect the future.

__ Task Three: __

1) Ellie observes the people around her. Ellie doesn’t focus just on herself; rather she captures how her friends are feeling in different situations and describes their emotions and hers, very well. Marsden chose Ellie because she is a deep thinker and contemplates the situation and observes it, noticing the little things other people might not. 2) Foreshadowing means giving hints to what might happen in the future. For example in the book when the planes come over Hell with no lights the seven teenagers joke that it might be the start of World War Three. And later you found that it //is//. Another is when Corrie gets shot in the back is meaning that she is in poor shape and something more serious might happen to her in the future. __Task Four__ 1) Each person in Tomorrow When the War Began changes someway due to War. Homer though is definitely one who has changed immensely. He has matured and become a sensible thinker. He has incorporated what he learnt from the pranks at school to using them in War in a much more sensible way. He thinks about the situation deeply and explores possibilities instead of rushing into it just for the thrill. Everyone in the group thinks he has changed for the better, being much more sensible.

2) Homer comes up with plans everyone else would think would be too big or too many problems. He suggested the bridge because it would make a huge impact and slow down the enemy immensely. As Ellie said “That was Homer’s Genius. He combined action with thought and he planned ahead.” Homer thinks outside the box and on a grand scale. Making his thinking genius to others and the fact that he has changed dramatically due to the war, makes it even more so.

3) Ellie does whatever is needed to weaken the enemy to help her family and friends. These soldiers are more like faceless creatures than human beings to us. So we do not feel sorry for them when they are killed. There are no details on who they are or what they look like, apart from whether they are men or woman.

4) Chris is detached from the rest of the group. Chris’s family are oversees so there is not much of an incentive to inflict damage. Because there is no one really close to him held captive. He doesn’t feel the need to help as much as the other seven so he doesn’t think it is as important to weaken the enemy and stay alert. Chris certainly doesn’t belong in the group as much as the others.

__ Task Five __ 1) Hell plays a vital role in this book. It acts as a safe sanctuary for them, where Ellie feels most comfortable. She feels she could ‘blend in’ with the surrounding environment. It is ironic that such a beautiful place is called ‘Hell.’ But it could be Hell for some people and for others it could be a sanctuary where it is the only place they might feel safe. That is what it is like for Ellie, she feels like there are no right or wrongs and it is just nature. 2) Yes this novel gives an impression that if human beings treat the land with respect and care; we can belong to the land. Like the Aborigines, they took only what the needed and worked with nature, not against it. Just like Ellie and the others they have put their daily routines around the fact that they are practically living in Hell. But if we abuse nature and not accept it, humans do not belong to the land and nature will not accept us. __ Task Six __ 1) The enemy is chasing after Ellie, Corrie and Kevin and they are all very aware of the fact that they don’t have much time. They are in Mrs Alexander’s backyard with limited supplies. They realise that they if they don’t something quick the worst scenario is that they will get killed. Ellie looks around for ideas and inspirations, she spots the ride on mower and the garden shed, which would have supplies such as petrol and cloth. The idea suddenly sparks into Ellie’s head, the Mower being a bomb. 2) Marsden created tension by the short time he has allowed the characters to construct the bomb. Ellie’s frantic thinking pattern to try and get them out of the situation that she feels, she lead them into. Makes you feel the tension in the air, like anything could happen in a matter of seconds. ‘We could hear the crunch of the gravel under soft menacing feet.” Marsden creates a real forbidding feeling as the enemy creeps closer. When Ellie was trying to get the mower alight she couldn’t because her hands are shaking so much. “We’re about to die because I could light a match.” Those are small moments add so much more tension to the situation. 3) Marsden describes the soldiers in very little detail. He only describes them as “dark figures” or “sentries.” Marsden doesn’t give the soldiers any detail or human characteristics because he doesn’t want the reader to view them as human beings. He does not want us to become attached to the soldiers and view them as people like us. If we did view them as people, Ellie would become less heroic in the story. 4) We do not condemn Ellie for her murders because we do not view the soldiers in this book, as people. Marsden gives very little details on the soldiers because of this. Marsden has to be careful that we don’t feel sorry for the soldiers and view Ellie as the heroic person in the book. We do not know who these people are, as well as Ellie and the others so we do not feel sorry for them when they do die.

//__ My Brilliant Career Task Seven __//

Summary: My Brilliant Career is about a woman, Sybylla Melvyn growing up in New South Wales, Australia written by Miles Franklin. It was first published in 1901 though based in the 1890s. This was a time where woman were restricted in many ways. Sybylla feels trapped by society so she took a risk of being different but her actions were riddled with consequences. Sybylla soon discovers she might have to choose between a conventional life for a woman or having a brilliant career.  She stood up for what she believed even though there were many challenges in her way.This book shows the fickleness of wealth and power and shows strength can be performed in many different ways. The wealth and power relates to government before the invasion and Ellie and the group show strength throughout the whole book.

The Wedding-Task Eight
This day felt surreal. Like it was happening in a dream and I was going to wake up any time soon. But no, I knew this was the day I was going to marry Imogen Mary Christie. I smile broke across my face when the thought of her entering the chapel, her long dark hair spilling out over the crisp white wedding dress. I smoothed out my black suit and neatened up my tie, my hands shaking from the prospect of it all. A knock at door disrupted my thoughts, and I knew it was time. I turned to my lifelong friend, James. “This is it buddy.” I said, my voice slightly shaking.“You will be fine.” He said confidently. I nodded and glanced one last time in the mirror. Then I opened the slightly squeaking door and walked up to alter. A lovely fragrance fills my nostrils as I breathe in, from all the roses hanging around the church. Pink ribbons bring a splash of colour to the dark wood of the seats. This is it, Alfred. The organ started to play the tune as the bride appeared at the end of the aisle. Every turned to look at her with emotion. Slowly she began to glide up the aisle, the flower girls delicately scattered rose petals of all colours on the ground in front. Her dark hair cascaded down her wedding dress and her brown eyes were filled happiness. The bridesmaids help up her pure white train with delicacy, as she made her way closer to the Alter. She daintily stepped up the Alter to face me as the celebrant began to say his piece I look into Imogen’s eyes to say “I Do.” I smiled as I slipped the ring onto her slim finger. Applause erupted around the Church as she took her veil off and we began to kiss. A rush of adrenalin went through my body and true happiness. Imogen tossed the bouquet of roses were into the air and a crowd of hopeful woman crowed around hoping to catch it. She slipped her hand into mine and we ran out of the church together forever.

Tomorrow When the War Began Essay “Loyalty, courage, goodness. I wonder if they are human inventions too, or if they just are.” What does TWTWB suggest that loyalty, goodness and courage are? In Tomorrow When the War Began, Marsden addresses these three concepts, loyalty, goodness and courage. These concepts are very important in a war like situation which Ellie and the group find themselves in. They come into play more and more as the book progresses. The war has made their lives go completely upside down and have changed their view on life. Without these concepts the group would not function and maybe even fall apart. Without a doubt these are very important and vary from each person, making them, who they are. The War brings out loyalty, goodness and courage in ways they would have never thought possible. Without goodness in our lives we would be full of hatred and anger. When you are put in War you are tested whether what you are doing is right or wrong. Ellie and the others feel they are fighting for the greater good and killing the enemies. But on the other hand, another part of them feels like they are dangerous and evil for killing another human being. This shows two things, courage and goodness mixed together. Of course goodness depends on the individual person and their views, whose side you are on and what you believe is right. Ellie and the other are “good people” in “tough circumstances” considering the difficult time they have been thrown into to. Loyalty is what bonds people together; it always shows through in some way or another. In Tomorrow When the War Began Ellie and others show immense loyalty to each other which help them in being so successful. Their faithfulness and devotion to each other is what has helped them get this far through the war together. Loyalty gives you great courage to whom you care about no matter how dangerous the situation. No matter who or what you are you show someone loyalty in your lifetime, whether it’s standing up for friends or putting your life at risk to save theirs. These people mean the world to you and you would do whatever possible to help them. Robyn said she “couldn’t sit around here for months, not doing anything.” Because she knows that her and her friend’s families are in potential danger. Throughout the book these seven people show loyalty in various situations brought on by war. Even though war brings death and hate it also can bring people closer together and trust each other greatly. Courage is shown in everyone at some point in time their life. It can be brought out in a necessary situation. It can combat and confront fear, pain, danger, intimidation and uncertainty. All these qualities Ellie and the others have shown in numerous events through the book and takes on a great role. You need to find the strength to face these fears and let your courage show through. Kevin showed immense courage when Corrie got shot in the back and made a decision to take her to hospital, by himself. You do courageous things for the people you love no matter how daunting the situation ahead is. In war it does take a great deal of courage killing someone. And still continue to believe you did the right thing and live with yourself afterward. Courage pulls you through no matter how “guilty and ashamed, you are, about what happened.” Tomorrow When the War Began explores different aspects of these three concepts. Marsden has shown that the war has made them mature and realise that you capable of much more than you first thought. It keeps you together and makes you realise you can’t take it all for granted. Marsden clearly shows that people, great and small can rise to the challenge. No matter what is thrown at them like Ellie and the group have shown throughout the whole book. This is truly great book that shows no matter who or what you are you can face great challenges and can be capable of so many things you never thought possible.

By Maire