Sam+B

__** Tomorrow, When the War Began **__ **__By John Marsden__** = = =Task 1=


 * 1.** **Homer puts three choices to the group; try to rescue their families (even though it is very dangerous and unlikely to succeed) inflict damage on the ‘enemy’ or sit tight and stay alive. In your opinion what should the group have done?**

The group should have tried to inflict as much damage on the ‘enemy’ as possible, also as early as they can and as quick as they can. So that it could be made easier to get to their families at the end. Although if they hadn’t done enough damage quickly enough the ‘enemy’ might call backup and search everywhere, so the groups best option would to be to go to ‘Hell’. If the backup can’t find them, then the ‘enemy’ could slowly kill the families until the ‘enemy’ found them or they came out from ‘Hell.’


 * 2.** **Ellie is relieved that she ‘probably’ has not killed anyone in the bridge explosion. However, she understands that her intention was ‘to do whatever was necessary’ and therefore it was only luck that resulted in no lives being lost. Is murder wrong in war?**

Murder can be wrong in war, if you go into the other’s base and murder them there. Though if you are doing it for the protection of your own and you have been captured by the ‘enemy’ that has come to your land to get wealthier, then it would be fine to kill.

The doctors had worked in the hospital before the invasion but were now reporting to the ‘enemy’ who would actually be deciding whether or not these doctors should treat Corrie.
 * 3.** **Ellie killed people when she caused the first explosion and when she ‘saved’ Lee. Would the enemy have been justified if they had refused to treat Corrie because of this?**

The ‘enemy’ probably wouldn’t be justified by refusing to help Corrie due to this this, because if they actually want a clean invasion they would help Corrie. So they can say what they want and leave if they don’t want the land, but if they want the land they will have to help out and the only thing that would then have changed is the old ‘enemy’ is in now charge. Having them in charge would leave it more capable of going back to normal if it is a cleaner invasion.


 * 4.** **Robyn ‘could understand’ why the ‘enemy’ had invaded. They claimed they were ‘addressing imbalances within the region.’ They had very little. Australia had a great deal. They were going to ‘divide up the farms for their people and give Australians the ‘menial’ jobs. This would have resulted in a role reversal. Is that role reversal any less fair than the original situation where Australia was ‘rich’ and wouldn’t ‘share’ their wealth?**

The role isn’t less fair in any way because you’re basically saying “We stuffed up our county so you have it, after you have help us out here and we will have this county that you made and well contained”. So you would be pushing the people of Australia away from where they were working hard at the land that brought out their money.

=Task 2=


 * 1.** **Who is the leader of the group?**

The leader of the group changes to what’s happening at the time. Right at the start when they have just got into ‘Hell’ the leaders of the group were Corrie and Ellie, with Ellie taking charge more often. Corrie and Ellie are the leaders because they brought up and organised the whole camp by themselves.

Later on in the book when they have just come back to town and figured out that their being invaded, Homer, Lee and sometimes Kevin take the lead by figuring out most tactical plans and making shore that everyone is not too scared and overwhelmed by the whole situation of being invaded.

Although after Lee has been shot, Robyn had been found and let the others know what has happed with Lee, Kevin and Lee stopped taking charge and left it all to Homer who got Lee out of the restaurant safely, but with a bit of panic.

Homer took the position of being the leader through most tough times and ideas, including the tanker explosion, up until Kevin wanted to be the one of taking Corrie to the hospital. Leaving the others to go back to ‘Hell’ and to make tactical plans to get their families out of captivity and end this war.


 * 2.** **Who, in the group, shows remarkable courage?**

Ellie shows remarkable courage by making the two explosions and driving the vehicle to get Lee as safely as possible out of the restaurant to safety.

Lee and Corrie show remarkable courage by being shot, leaving Lee getting unprofessional treatment to his leg and Corrie having to go into town to the hospital trying to get treated.

Kevin going into town with Corrie to the hospital and all the others for actually try to get information on their families.


 * 3.** **Ellie is concerned by Lee’s morality; she’s concerned that if the romantic relationship breaks up there will be tension in the group. What tests of their friendship did you observe in the novel?**

The main tests of friendship that occurred in the book were the moves made by Ellie trying to get closer to him, when still not sure about herself, Homer and the war, and then moving away and getting annoyed with herself because of the trouble she caused. These tests of friendship occur mainly in the haystack and the kiss at the opening after seeing the Hermits hut.

=Task 3=


 * 1.** **How reliable do you think Ellie is as a narrator? Why do you think Marsden chose her as the narrator?**

Ellie is half reliable as a narrator, just as everyone is at their best, because it is from only one person’s point of view. This would mean that you are only hearing one side of the story and if you ask someone else later you could hear a completely different story. Apart from this fact Ellie is a completely reliable narrator because she tries hard to tell what the others thought throughout the book. Marsden has made the right choice choosing Ellie as the narrator because she makes good decisions by thinking and feeling as much as possible from herself and the rest of the group.


 * 2.** **Find out what** //foreshadowing// **means in relation to novels. Write down an explanation of what you understand it to me. Then list as many examples of foreshadowing as you can. (Make sure you work with your friends on this question, as it is a tough one and you’ll need to help each other come up with different examples).**

Foreshadowing means to give or giving hints to what might happen later on; and also to start the event that will happen later beforehand.

There is foreshadowing happening on in the book when:

Homer and Fi start having private conversations with Ellie individually about love relationships and the other person.

Ellie and Lee have the conversations in the opening at the start of the book.

Robyn goes back and carries Lee when he was shot in the leg. Show that Robyn will end up going and helping the group in the war instead of obeying the Bible. = =

=Task 4=


 * 1.** **Which character do you think undergoes the most change? Explain the journey that your character underwent during the novel?**

Homer went through the most change throughout the book, in the opinion of the other characters, but if what they say in the book is true then I would agree with them. I would agree with them because he started off as a boy playing practical jokes on people in school and Ellie also knew this due to them basically growing up together. They grew up together because they almost lived next to each other and being very close friends from their childhood.

In the book when it gets close to the end of camping at ‘Hell’ Homer starts to show change by telling Ellie that that he likes (loves) Fi (a girl known to be perfect in every way possible). This goes on and becomes a relationship between Fi and Homer.

Homer also shows change when the book starts to become a book on war and invasion not on camping. Homer shows this change by coming up with tactical plans, not to prank people with but to try and solve this war.


 * 2.** **Ellie at one stage outlines what she sees as ‘Homer’s genius’ – was Homer a ‘genius’ for coming up with the plans to ‘rescue’ Lee and to destroy the bridge?**

Homer can be called a ‘genius’ for these reasons but also for the other plans (small plans) he came up with to see more of the showground. It is harder than it sounds to come up with good plans when you are placed under the situation of war, so being able to come up with plans and even though Ellie and Robyn helped with the ‘rescuing’ Lee idea Homer started it.


 * 3.** **Ellie worries that she might become ‘like a war criminal’ because of the acts she’s committing. She says she uses ‘a sense within her’ to determine what was ‘good or bad’. Was Ellie a ‘good’ person?**

In the situation that Ellie was placed under you would consider her as a ‘good’ person, because she is just trying to save her family and friends and doesn’t know what to do otherwise except to sit and do nothing.


 * 4.** **When Ellie finds Chris asleep on sentry duty she loses her temper with him. She understands why sleeping sentries should be ‘shot’. She becomes ‘logical, cold-blooded and merciless’. Later she says the “I** //guess// **he atoned.” Did Chris belong in the group?**

Chris doesn’t really belong in the group because his family is away on holiday and wouldn’t have the same desperation to get the others families to safety. Chris probably wouldn’t know as much as the others about the invasion and wouldn’t take it as seriously.

=Task 5=


 * 1.** **What role does ‘Hell’ play in the novel?**

‘Hell’ plays the role of the holiday and hiding place of mystery. The group use the opening that they found as the ultimate hiding place and the group didn’t know that it was so beautiful before they got there, they thought that it was just bush. ‘Hell’ also plays the role of a home, an old home that’s been abandoned, the owner being the ‘Hermit’.


 * 2.** **Does the novel suggest that people can ‘belong’ to the land?**

The novel suggests that people can ‘belong’ to the land but also suggests that the land can ‘belong’ to people. This is shown when the group admire the place called ‘Hell’, and question why it is got such a bad name. As Lee points out to Ellie at the opening, people give names to things without actually knowing what it is completely. The group admired the lush green bush is ways that the people back at Wirrawee would have never imagined happen, mainly giving the name for the fact of the ‘Hermit’ going and living there for a while being chased. Also for all the dangerous parts of the bush and the creatures that live there.

=Task 6=


 * 1. What inspires Ellie with the idea to use the ride on mower as a bomb?**

Corrie bumping into the ride on mower is what inspires Ellie to blow it up, because Corrie and Kevin are talking about what Corrie bumped into. Ellie is inspired by this because she worries that if they get caught that they will die so she does the first thing that comes to mind, make a distraction so they can run away safely. Ellie makes more pressure on herself than Kevin and Corrie do by taking blame for the trap she thinks she put them in.


 * 2. What techniques does Marsden use to create tension in this scene?**

Marsden uses Ellie’s thoughts to make the scene have more tension to create more panic. Marsden also uses other panic quotes like “Are you sure it will work?” or “How big of a risk of our lives is it going to be?” Using quotes like these help bring in tension of uncertainty and can also make people rethink each of their friendships within the group.


 * 3.** **Marsden is careful not to let the reader strongly identify with the people who die. How does he achieve this and why does he do this?**

Marsden achieves this by making it so that the group run and hide for safety first, before even thinking of running back to check who they killed. He makes this less obvious to the reader by Making Ellie think of who she has just killed and question herself if it was the right thing to do. Marsden does this so that the group doesn’t panic by killing someone too worthy of living. Also Marsden did this so that it is a two sided war and not one, because having it two sided will make more action and a longer book.


 * 4.** **Why do we not condemn Ellie for the murders?**

We don’t condemn Ellie for the murders because she was doing it to protect herself, friends and family. Murder in war is only wrong if you do it as a sneak attack on their base to kill everyone like and assassin. Although Ellie knows this she keeps rethinking over it thinking she did murder like an assassin and that they will never think of her as the same person. = =

=Task 7=

The Secret Seven

 * Web Summary:**

The Secret Seven Society consists of Peter, his sister Janet, and their friends Jack, Colin, George, Pam and Barbara. Although not an official member of the Secret Seven, Peter and Janet's golden spaniel Scamper also attends meetings. After all, he can be trusted not to give away any secrets to Jack's interfering sister Susie! The children meet in a shed with "S.S." on the door. Admission is by password only and badges must be worn. Peter, as head of the society, makes jolly well sure that everyone complies with the rules! While munching rock-buns and guzzling home-made lemonade, the Seven puzzle over peculiar goings-on in their local community, aiming to solve mysteries and put things right. Their work often involves hiding and keeping watch, hunting for clues, shadowing suspicious characters and questioning people. Burglaries, stolen animals and missing children feature in various stories — as do fireworks, a tree-house, a telescope and Susie's toy aeroplane. Exciting stuff for young readers, and no doubt the Secret Seven books have inspired many children over the years to form secret societies of their own.


 * What Website:**

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 * My Summary:**

This is a first book in the //Secret Seven// series with a total of 15 books. In this book it was their very first adventure as the Secret Seven super-sleuths and was already on the trail of a great mystery. The gang are dressed in disguises, following a mystery lead to a spooky old house in the snow.


 * Why did John Marsden use this book in "Tomorrow When the War Began"?**

John Marsden used this book in “Tomorrow When the War Began” because it is another book on seven main people going on an adventure. An adventure of great mystery and may lead to worries and mishaps.

=Task 8=

//Knock, knock, knock// “Bertram Herbert Sexton Christie will be charged with the murder of his wife and son, Imogen Mary Christie and Albert Bertram Christie”.

Bertram Christie walked, with his head down, out of the court with two policemen at his side. Their strong grips tormenting his wrists, as he was pushed towards the awaiting cameramen, new reporters and the eager community. Rumours of the events that had occurred floated through the crowd, whether it was true? Contemplating eyes warning him to stay distant, away from their innocence.

Bertram Christie considered whether he //should// run away. Away from the looks across the street and the nervous people whispering behind his back; freeing himself from the guilt resting on his shoulders. Images and thoughts charged through his mind, plans to escape this cautious neighbourhood and blend into the environment.

With the crowd gone, Bertram has the time to lift his head and see what’s around him. He saw a bike about 50 metres away, tempting him to start a new life without memories of the past. Getting closer and closer he decided to try to make a dash for the bike, for freedom.

He had a collection memoirs and food for the next few days prepared in metal shoebox, ready to take on his future journey away from Wirrawee. The path ahead of him seemed foggy, but it was clear that he desired space to mull over his thoughts and distract himself from his dismal, empty life. He could see the tangled jungle of mountains ahead of him; it was distant, lonely and vacant, fitting Bertram like a jigsaw. He travelled among the wildlife towards what seemed a neglected bush cottage. It was barely visible. The hut needed attention, it was missing parts of walls and it was falling in, in some places. Like him.

Sitting on the bed, Bertram opened up his metal shoebox, slowly thinking of what had happened back in Wirrawee. As he opened the box he saw a stern looking wedding photo of himself with his wife, the next of his wife and son, her slim smooth face vaguely smiling back at him and his son, nothing of a victim in his beading eyes. Newspaper cuttings fell from the box, drifting in the air then resting timely onto the wooden floor. Bertram carefully positioned the fragments of his past back into the shoebox, his frail mind finally setting onto the never ending countryside, untamed and twisting into distance. = =

=Task 10 - Essay=


 * “Loyalty, courage, goodness. I wonder if they are human inventions too, or if they just are.” **
 * What does ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ suggest loyalty, goodness and courage are? __Discuss__**

‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ is a book written by John Marsden, about an unknown country invading Australia for the resources, wealth and land. The main characters in the text (with exception of Chris) clearly demonstrate the qualities of loyalty, courage and goodness. These are qualities that we strongly value in Australian society. These qualities are mainly built up through who you are with and who you model, what you do in life and the decisions you make. These concepts are explored through Ellie’s eyes and it is her judgement of other people and events that influence our understanding.

Loyalty to the people or things we care about is an animal instinct, like a mother protecting its babies. To demonstrate this loyalty often takes great courage, to protect those we care about. Without loyalty they would be in distress, arguing with each other all the time, it may be a life or death situation. If they get angry with someone they might go awol, and try to change the whole group around with no control. This is clearly demonstrated throughout Corrie and Kevin’s relationship. A good example is when Corrie has been shot in the back and the group are deciding on what to do, dump her at the hospital and run for your life. To that Kevin said, “No. I don’t give a stuff what’s rational and what’s logical. Corrie’s my mate and I’m not going to dump her and run. It has to be me or Ellie because we’re the only drivers, and Ellie, if you don’t mind, I want to do it.” The fact that Chris is really calm about this, shows that he doesn’t have the same loyalty to the group as the rest.

Loyalty demands great courage and the courage that is shown by Ellie as she risks her life to rescue Lee from his restaurant is a good example of this quality. In the text courage often means that you have to risk your life, the community or what you believe in. When Ellie goes to rescue Lee with Robyn, she thinks about the consequences and why she really wants to do this. When she thinks about her fear she writes “My fear came from love. Love for my friends. I didn’t want to let them down. If I did, they would die.” Throughout the novel the teenagers are forced to show great courage, performing their loyalty to others. It takes courage for them to be able to fight for freedom (both for themselves and the community that has been captured). It takes courage as they find themselves without adults for support, for the first time in their lives and to stand up for what they believe in. Without their courage to show the loyalty, the group would turn themselves in to the invaders or hide out and do nothing.

The novel explores the concept of goodness, from the different point of view of the characters. The book questions whether murder is wrong or can be ok in some circumstances. Murder can be wrong in war, if you go into the other’s base and murder them there. Though if you are doing it for the protection of your own and you have been captured by the ‘enemy’ that has come to your land, then it would be fine to kill for freedom. Not knowing if she is in the right or wrong Ellie writes “When I thought of it badly like that: killed three people, I was so filled with horror. I felt that my life was permanently damaged, that I could never be normal again, that the rest of my life would just be a shell. Ellie might walk and talk and eat and drink but the inside Ellie, her feelings, was condemned to wither and die.” This theme of questioning goodness is explored throughout the novel, by bringing different feelings out of the characters, as a result of the challenges they face. This makes them question whether they are good or bad and is frequently linked to the concepts of loyalty and courage.

‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ is a complex book, showing young people put into an awkward invasion, without being able to prepare anything. To get something they have to risk their life, for food, tools and many other utilities, all with no adult help. Also to survive they need to use some covered up values, loyalty, courage and goodness. They show these values by opening their relationships and friendships to a new level, testing whether or not they can handle all the presser at once or crash to the floor crying. ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ puts out a strong message to try and make the very best of your friendships and the importance of the people around you making you the best you can possibly be. You can’t just say that everything will be the same, all normal, tomorrow when absolutely anything could happen.

=**By Sam Bird **=