Jai

TWTWB assignment Tomorrow when the war began TASK 1 1, In My opinion I believe that the group made the right decision in attacking the enemy as this could result in the freedom of their loved ones. Although I believe what they did was the best decision for the group I do however think that there are problems with this decision such as the overall safety of the group and this can be reflected in the injury/ death of Corrie, Chris and eventually in the later books Robyn. My reasoning for this is that trying to rescue their families from the very well protected fair grounds could result in the death/ injury of numerous people within the group. 2, I do believe that murder is wrong in war, but I also understand that sometimes it’s the only way countries can change their lifestyle that they have become accustomed to. I believe that murder in war can be avoided by the overall avoidance of war. When Ellie says she understands that she must do whatever is necessary I believe that it is understandable in the circumstances that are kill or be killed. 3, I believe that they were unjustified in refusing to treat corrie as this was an act of the rest of the group. Corries role during the book is more of a minor role as one of ellie’s best friends and is occasionally mentioned during action/attacking scenes. What I perceive from the book is that during attacks she has stayed away of the action and takes up minor roles during this. 4, I believe it is unfair to have a role reversal as there is no fairness in that resolution. To give the Australians menial jobs would not solve the problems at hand as it is important to have this social pyramid. A more sensible way to resolve the problem is to resolve them through non- violent means. Task 2 1, The leader of the group is homer as he seems to take charge in times of panic and also seems to control the group in the organisation of attacks. For example during the attack on the bridge he took control and was one of the main idea sharers of the group. As well as that I believe the way Marsden shows it so that they all individually show courage at different times in the book 2, I believe that Ellie shows remarkable courage throughout the book although all the characters show remarkable courage. Ellie with her bravery and courage. Lee with his morality, fi with the glint in her eyes she gets before an attack. And Homer with his courage and organisation. I believe that they all show courage in their separate ways and that no one person should be put above others. As well as that I think Robyn show remarkable courage all the way up to her death. 3. During the whole series Ellie seems to have issues with Lee throughout the war. Lee and Ellie are constantly getting together and breaking up. As well as that Ellie is constantly changing her opinion of him. Lee also seems to be shyer with Ellie as time goes on in the book. As well as that Ellie’s moment with lee up on the rock. She seems to explain it like she’s afraid/ scared of getting to far ahead of themselves. Task 3 1, I believe Marsden chose her as the narrator as she is the thinker of the group and expresses more feeling in her writing. As well as that she is a girl and girls tend to show more emotion which can help Marsden to set the scene/ overall mood. As well as that Ellie tend to think a lot about her actions which can make the story smooth and easy to understand. 2, Foreshadowing is the literal use of implying circumstances in the future. Some examples of foreshadowing in the book are when corrie get shot, the spotting of the planes in hell, the quietness of Chris suggests that he may be killed later on, the attack on the bridge suggesting the path they will take throughout the book. Task 4 1, I believe that Ellie went through the most change in the book as she goes from a rural country farmer to a war like figure who will do whatever it takes to get back to her family. From the start Ellie grows up in a typical home with her parents and lives an average childhood. But when the war begins all the characters change. Fi goes from delicate to outgoing, homer from irresponsible to responsible, Robyn from peaceful to a fighter and lee from artistic to cold hearted. Ellie is different she goes from average girl to a not so average girl. All the actions she takes in the book such as blowing up the bridge and the rescuing off lee cause change in her behaviour and thinking. 2, I believe that for the benefit of the group homer was a genius as without his ideas they wouldn’t have affected anything in the war and Lee would still be trapped. Throughout the book Homer shows great leadership and presents great ideas that work for the benefit of the group. Although before the war Homers ‘genius’ as he is seen as this irresponsible and childish teenager but when the war begins I think in some way he matured. 3, I think Ellie was a good person given the circumstances and honestly would have liked to not have killed anyone. Ellie is constantly worrying that she would go to hell for what she had done to the ‘enemy’ over the duration of the war. I think that what she is thinking may be along the line of is it right to kill for the lives of others?’ my answer to this is that killing should not be questioned in the first place. 4, I believe that Chris did not belong in the group as they all seem to have a willingness to fight and to get their families back. With Chris I felt he did not have such longing but more to the point that he wanted to belong and to find safety in numbers. Task 5 1, Hell plays an important role in the book as a haven for the group, as well as that it almost acts as a home for the teenage war veterans. Throughout the book the teenagers are constantly using hell as a haven/ war relief camp ground. As well as that without hell they wouldn’t have been able to fight in the first place. Because of hell the teenagers are able to find a safe haven and a home. 2, I believe that the book does suggest that you can belong to the land in the place of Ellie and the group. Throughout the book Marsden is constantly referring to the land as Ellie’s or the groups land. As well as that he refers to the enemy as intruder on ‘their’ grounds. Task 6 1, Ellie is inspired to blow up the mower as of the result of Corrie and Kevin running in to it. She then gets the idea to blow up the mower with a chisel and a hammer but later decides it would be too dangerous and uses matches and oil soaked shirts. She lights the t shirts which trail along and therefore blow up the mower and the patrols. 2, Marsden uses long descriptions as well as pauses and flash backs to create tension in the scene. He explains the process of collecting the tools to spark the explosion as well as that he explains the lighting of the explosion. As well as that he created a scene that seems fast tracked and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. 3, Marsden does not let the reader closely identify the enemy as they are seen as monsters and he doesn’t want them to see them as real people. And therefore making them believe that they are the bad guys. If the writer does give the enemy a face there may be the problem of the reader feeling sorry/or going for the enemy. 4, We do not condemn Ellie for the murders as he writes it in a way that makes Ellie feel innocent. As well as that they make it seem that the enemy aren’t real people.

Task 7

1, lord of the flies is a novel about a group of boy who are stranded on an island during world war two after their plane is shot down. They start off civilised but slowly slip into chaos when the tribes split and the balance is off ridden.

2, In some ways there situations are similar in the way that they both are unsupervised and they both know that there in it alone from the beginning. They also are similar in the way that they are to provide for themselves.

Task 8

I rode in the shivering cold as the rain ran down my back. I passed numerous houses where families sat warm and safe inside. The smell of smoke from chimneys filled my nose and my eyes were glistened with tears. I had never ridden as fast as I did that night.

My step-dad swerved around the corner a minute later. It was only an hour ago I was curled up in my safe and cosy room to read a book, and now I was on the verge of death. Steve put his foot to the floor and came roaring up the sidewalk towards my bike. My step-dad normally needed a lot of drinks to push him over the limit, but tonight he over did it. It felt like minutes before he had stumbled through the front door of our house, cursing while he held a drink in hand. Lily, my sister ran to my step-dad for a hug but instead was knocked to the ground. She started crying. This is when I came into the room. All I saw was lily on the ground and Steve’s unfocused eyes. I ran at him and gave him a shove in the chest. He shouted at me, and took a swing for my face. His fist rushed over my head, the alcohol making him dizzy. It was then that I sprinted for the bike and raced out the back gate.

That brings me back to where I started racing in the rain trying to avoid my drunken step-dad. He bumped the back of my bike, and I nearly lost my balance. Going onto the road again, I ditched my bike and jumped the fence of the nearest house and ran into the backyard where I hid behind a pile of what looked like old dustbins. Dad never did find me but I will never forget the troubles and abuse I went through as a child. People say that you follow in your father’s footstep (or in my case step-father), and nowadays I believe them.

I miss my son and my wife so much and can’t believe their gone. It wasn’t meant to be, I swore to myself I wouldn’t turn out like my step dad because of what he did. I guess I forgot I made that promise to myself. Now days I write in this Journal so that I never forget them and what has happened in my lifetime. My only regret is that I didn’t make the most of what life I had.

Bertram Christie

1st of July, 1982

Task 10

“Loyalty, Courage, goodness. I wonder if they are a human invention too, or if they just are.”

What does TWTWB suggest that loyalty, goodness and courage are?

Tomorrow when the war began explains loyalty, courage and goodness in a way that makes people believe that these things are natural but can just as quickly disappear in a change of environment or situations. The group’s situation was not chosen by them but by a greater force so at first they were caught off balance, but the human mind evolves to suit the situation so Loyalty and courage especially start to stand up and stand out.

Loyalty

The idea of loyalty is to protect and care for someone as if the other’s life is just as important as your own. So you watch each other’s backs and protect them. In the group this spider web of loyalty was created in the first couple of days and has withstood the battering winds of anguish, pain and sadness throughout the book and the series. “We’ve got to stick together, that’s all I know. We all drive each other crazy at times, but I don’t want to end up here alone, like the Hermit.

I just hope we can survive.” Ellie quotes this and I think that this is the groups feeling throughout the novel and that the group needs each other more than they need a safe home or ammunition or food and water. They rely on each other more than they rely on anything else in this turned upside down world of theirs. It’s almost like there connected and if one person goes down or dies the others won’t go unaffected.

Courage

The group’s courage is the fuel to their fires as without it they would not have done what they had during the war and may have even affected the outcome of it. Ellie and the group’s stories of before the war throughout the novel suggest that they were just average teens who expected everyone to do things for themselves and never really showed outstanding courage. But when the war begins and they realise it’s up to them they have to look after themselves and make the decisions on their own. “In the midst of death we are in life.” Ellie writes this and I think it shows that even though all around them people are dying they are living and fighting which goes to show how much courage the group has. There are times in the book that are scary, sad, painful and frightening, and yet they still manage to wake up in the morning and fight for the freedom of their country.

Goodness

The goodness of the group all relies upon the eye of the beholder as from one view the prisoners would have seen them as heroes, but on the other hand the enemy would have seen them as trouble makers and attackers. Ellie is constantly worrying that killing for the good of another is wrong, although she also understands that death can’t be avoided and that she ‘must do whatever it takes.’ The old teens would never have accepted what they did as good but the change in situation makes them different and maybe even good. The war changes the teens for good but also for bad. For example Ellie kills people when she blows up the mower, but acknowledges that this is the new her and things that were once considered terrible suddenly become not so terrible and maybe even good.

They've got no weapons

... Except courage

They've got no help

... Except themselves

They've got nothing...

Except friendship.

This quote shows that even throughout war friendship, courage and loyalty do survive. These things are all connected and form goodness.

John Marsden writes the tomorrow series in a way that makes the reader not only read the book but feel the book. He makes you feel like you are in the book and you are feeling sad or excited or nervous with the rest of the group.