SPIES

The second half of Chapter 7

pages 142-148
 Turning Point the point at which a
significant thing happens; a decisive
LO moment

To be able to consider how the second half of Chapter 7

may be considered a turning point in the novel.
STARTER:
Pages 142148: what happens?
Pages 142148: what happens?
We are given insight into the dynamics of cruelty within
Keiths family.

The disappearance of the Thermos flask from Keiths

fathers picnic hamper is significant

Questions to consider:

Q1) Keith knows he is going to be punished for something

that he has not done, yet neither he nor Stephen can say
anything to avert the punishment. Why not?
The dynamics of cruelty
Keith knows he is going to be punished for something
that he has not done, yet neither he nor Stephen can say
anything to avert the punishment. Why not?

1) Stephen knows what is going on, but due to the unspoken

agreement between the two boys which underpins their
relationship dynamic, he must act like he does not know.
2) The boys cant admit that they have been spying on
Keiths mother.

It is a source of embarrassment to both boys that Stephen

has not gone home before he witnesses Keiths pain.
The dynamics of cruelty

Q2) What does Keiths silence throughout his punishment

(the caning on his hands by his father) suggest?
The dynamics of cruelty

What does Keiths silence throughout his punishment (the

caning on his hands by his father) suggest?

1) That the punishment is a regular occurrence, as he is

used to it
2) Extra punishment may await if he cries out.

Q3) To what extent does Stephen show bravery in the

second half of the chapter?
The dynamics of cruelty

To what extent does Stephen show bravery in the second half of

the chapter?

This is debatable; Stephen does not speak up to stop Keith being

caned by his father. However, he confronts Keiths mother in the
tunnel, showing that he knows about the family secret of Keith
being caned by his father (this is corporal punishment); he
acknowledges that he has been spying on her, as he knows
where to find her; he breaches the codes of social propriety to do
this that have bound his life so tightly up to now, as he confronts
an older lady (that is not his mother) of higher social class.

I would argue that Stephen has shown bravery here; this also
suggests a leap forward in his Coming-Of-Age.
Main Activity:
Quotations + Analysis

Your teacher will give you an A4 handout with several quotations

taken from the second half of Chapter 7.

Analyse them in as much detail as you can. (This is a helpful

activity for both your Literature AND your Language Examinations)
Identify and comment upon the use of stylistic features (you may wish to
review the 20 that we explored last week)
Isolate any key words; what do they denote and connote?
Comment upon characterisation / character development / character
insight / is your attitude towards a particular character changing at all?
Comment upon the atmosphere created
Comment upon any connections to Frayns overarching themes
Comment upon plot development
Plenary

As a class, discuss how pages 142-148 develop the

novel

Characters
Themes
Plot

To what extent could it be considered a turning point?