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Analyzing the First Four Chapters of Skellig

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51 views5 pages

Analyzing the First Four Chapters of Skellig

Uploaded by

Mina Emad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Starting Skellig

Use the first four chapters of the book to answer the following questions.

Chapter One

1. What have you found out about the narrator? Try and think of at least three things.
● Narrator: Michael
○ family just moved into new house (“fixer-upper”) - on Falconer Road
○ frustrated about moving, doesn’t like change
○ sick baby (sister)...baby came too early
○ man before him DIED in the house (creepy, unwelcoming house)
2. What is the book going to be about? Remember it can be about more than one topic.
What clues are we given in the first chapter?
● foreshadowing
○ “found him” (creature)
○ “garage”
○ sister (baby)
○ Michael growing up (and his parents)
3. What does the estate agent say about the house? What does he mean?
● “you have to see it in your mind’s eye” - allusion to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Dreams/imagination (what you want to see).
4. Who is Ernie Myers? What happened to him? Why do you think the author includes
this detail?
● previous owner
● died (stroke? old…)
● solitary and lonely
● found body a week later
● connection to the creature in the garage???
● WHY? - creepy, makes the house unwelcoming, mysterious, about death
(theme)
5. Why do you think the protagonist’s parents bought this house?
● cheap
● not enough room
● exciting, fresh start
● new adventure
6. What do you think about the line “the baby came too early”?
● see question 1
7. Why does the protagonist call the doctor “Doctor Death”?
● shows Michael’s fear that his sister might die
● he hates the doctor, because of the fear he causes
● his appearance adds to the fear (Michael looks at the negative)
● Doctor Death smokes (later in the book)

Chapter Two

1. Find two examples of possible foreshadowing in Chapter Two (use quotations).


● “I heard something scratching…” - foreshadows that there are living things in the
garage - unpleasant creatures like rats or bugs, etc. Lots of dead bugs.
● “It was like the whole thing was sick…” - “whole thing” = garage.
PERSONIFICATION. Sickness, deterioration, death, illness = themes.
● “...even for danger money” - sets up Michael to be brave (or foolish).
2. How would you describe the garage? Find some interesting words that the author
uses to convey the state of the garage to the reader.
● dust, spiderwebs,
● a mess
● crumbling
● might fall down
● not organized
● neglected (not looked after)
● cracks and holes
● like Ernie Myers, the garage is old and crumbling and neglected
3. Why do you think Michael tries to go into the garage?
● wants to find out what’s in there (adventurous, brave)
● parents tell him not to (!!!!)
● bored (Sunday)
● no friends around?
4. Why do you think his mother tries to stop him?
● worried
● maybe she knows there’s something wrong with the garage
● fear of losing Michael (baby)
● she’s stressed about other things (one more thing to worry about)

Chapter Three

1. How would you describe the atmosphere that the writer creates for the meeting
between Michael and the “man” in the garage?
● creepy, dark, awkward, tense, curious, unexpected, eerie
● unfriendly, unwelcoming, aggressively mean
● unclear
● was it a dream?
● provokes questions?
2. How does the writer introduce the “man” in the garage? Why does he do it that way?
● “I thought he was dead” - theme of the book, motif of the book - creature is
sick/decaying
● white face/black suit - contrast, confusing image
● eating bugs - is he human?
3. What possible explanations are there for the "man" Michael finds in the garage? a)
a) Make a list of at least three.
● angel (bad guardian angel?) - failed, etc
● stone sculptures - gnome, gargoyle - come to life
● demon in human form
● (is the character good or bad?)
● ghost of Ernie Myers
● something to do with the house, maybe lived there before, friend of EM?
● god of the house
● homeless person
b) Which is the most likely? Give reasons for your answer.
● your opinion

4. Describe Michael’s relationship with his parents, based on Chapters 1-3.


a) How would you describe his relationship with his father?
Find two QUOTATIONS (examples) to back up your answer.
● “‘Didn’t we tell you---’” he started (7) - empathetic with Michael, knows he’s
stressed, holds back criticism.
● “He thumped the side of the garage and the whole thing shuddered.” -
show what could happen to Michael, shows his dad is more casual/more of
“a kid”
● “‘Get all that dust off before your mother sees, eh?’” - father used to be like
Michael? Showing Michael he’s on the same “team” as him.

b) How about his relationship with his mother?


Find two QUOTATIONS (examples) to back up your answer.
● Chapter 4...
● “‘Sorry it’s so rotten and we are all in such rotten moods.’” (5) - apologizing for
getting angry before, parents aren’t perfect
● “Do you not think we’ve got more to worry about…” - anger at Michael, very
upsetting, taking it out on him,
● “You understand though. Don’t you, Michael? Don’t you?” - impatient, trying to
“fix” Michael’s behaviour.

Chapter Four

1. Describe how Michael feels about his baby sister (hint: it is complicated). Find two
QUOTATIONS from Chapters 1-4 that support your answer.
“They told me I had to keep...’Hurry up and get strong if you’re going to.’” (9) -
worried, he wants her to get better but is acknowledging that she could die.
“Then I went back into the wilderness we called a garden and she went back to
the flaming baby.” (4)

2. Examine the writer’s description of the baby in this chapter. Why do you think he
describes the baby in that way?
- associations with death and weakness through description of her body

For Chapters 5-8, please create your own questions (2-3 per chapter).

Chapter 5

1. Why did Michael’s family move house?


cheaper, bigger house, for the baby, adventure (to fix up a house), etc.
Why does the author choose to make Michael’s family move before the book
starts?
to create change, new opportunities to learn, places to explore, conflicts,
challenges
2. Why do you think Michael chose to refuse Ms. Dando’s fruit gum?
3. Why is Michael’s teacher called Rasputin (nickname?)?
4. Why is Michael struggling at school?

Chapter 6

1. What do you think about the pigeons in the chimney? Why did the author put
this detail into the novel?
2. Why did Michael want to go back to the garage?
3. Why doesn’t Michael tell anyone about the man in the garage?
4. Why is there a hole in the floor where the toilet was?
Chapter 7

1. What does “he laughed but didn’t smile mean”?


2. Why does the man not want to talk to Michael?
3. What do you think Mina’s first impression of Michael is and why?
4. Why does the man in the garage insult Ernie Myers?
5. Why did the man want aspirin?

Chapter 8

1. How did the man know which Chinese dishes to order?


2. Why does Michael say “she tried to make a fuss of me”?
3. Do you think that Michael is getting used to his sister getting the attention?
4. Why does the author choose the words “the baby puked over her shoulder”?

Common questions

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The house on Falconer Road is described as a 'fixer-upper' and is linked to themes of change, decay, and the unknown. Its unwelcoming nature and the previous owner's (Ernie Myers) death within it adds a layer of mystery, indicating that the story may explore themes of mortality and the supernatural .

Michael's relationship with his parents shows both empathy and tension. His father appears empathetic, yet casual and somewhat disengaged, while his mother is stressed and irritable due to external pressures. This family dynamic leads Michael to seek independence and instigate actions like exploring the garage, affecting his emotional responses and decisions .

The suspense and mystery are crafted through descriptive language and selective revelation. The author uses dark and eerie descriptions, uncertain dialogue, and the setting of the neglected garage to create an unsettling atmosphere. Techniques like foreshadowing, sudden surprises, and contrasts in appearance contribute to an aura of suspense that engages the reader’s curiosity and anticipation .

Names like 'Doctor Death' are symbolic, reflecting Michael’s fear and the perceived threat to his sister’s life. It suggests the doctor’s role as an ominous figure in Michael’s eyes, influencing how he processes his sister’s health crisis. This choice of name highlights Michael's apprehensions and evokes an emotional response from the reader .

The 'creature' in the garage represents various thematic elements such as the ambiguity between life and death, and the presence of otherworldly influences in ordinary life. Its mysterious nature invites speculation about its identity and purpose, including interpretations as a guardian angel or a darker entity, contributing to the narrative's exploration of existential and spiritual themes .

The premature birth and sickness of Michael’s sister exacerbate familial tensions and add suspense to the narrative by placing emotional and logistical strain on the family. This situation amplifies the parents' stress, increases Michael's isolation, and adds urgency to his actions and decisions, heightening the story's emotional depth and tension .

The garage is depicted as dusty, crumbling, and neglected, symbolizing decay, mystery, and hidden knowledge. Michael's forays into the garage parallel his journey into the realms of fear, courage, and discovery, reflecting his growth and the challenges he faces as he confronts both tangible and existential unknowns .

Michael's encounters with the 'man' in the garage provoke questions about the nature of identity and existence. Michael's initial fear and curiosity mirror the man's ambiguous presence as potentially both human and supernatural. These interactions drive the narrative's exploration of themes like transformation, as the man may symbolize aspects of change and hidden facets of self .

Michael’s feelings towards his sister are conflicted; he is worried about her health, yet acknowledges the potential for her not to survive. This tension influences his behavior, as he is driven by both a desire to protect her and frustration with the attention she necessitates. These mixed emotions are pivotal in shaping his motivations and actions throughout the narrative .

Sickness is a recurring motif symbolizing vulnerability and fragility. The baby’s illness and the decrepit state of the house reinforce themes of deterioration and uncertainty. These elements create an atmosphere where characters, including Michael, must navigate personal and external vulnerabilities, contributing to their growth and development .

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