Tomorrow, When the War Began

John Marsden

Chapter 1:

1.  Why is it important for Ellie to write everything down?

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2.  What special event is occurring in Wirrawee and why is it significant?

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3.  Fill in the table below with details about each of the characters.

Name / Character Description / Gender
Ellie / A good writer, practical, interested in others, country girl and narrator of the story. / F
Homer
Fiona
Lee
Robyn
Corrie
Kevin
Chris

Chapter 2:

1.  Who is supposed to live in Hell? What crime does Ellie believe he has committed?

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2.  What was Kevin scared of and why is it surprising?

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3.  Match the following words/phrases with their definitions: Write out the correct definitions below the table.

WORD/PHRASE / DEFINITION
nurse / not appearing very often
paddocks / trying to inspire people, give them courage
occasional / to explain something logically
motivational / fields, meadows
rationalise / troubled, upset, bothered
protuberances / to overcome one’s fears and do something risky
escarpment / to hold (something) in your arms like a baby
unnerved / the edge of a cliff
take the plunge / gently
gingerly / things that stick out

Chapter 3:

1.  What did the teenagers discover? Who did they think built it?

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Chapter 4:

1.  What was the ‘artificial noise’ that Ellie heard?

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2.  What was unusual about them?

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Chapter 5:

1.  Why did the group decide to go back to the land rover?

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2.  Why is Ellie anxious to go home?

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3.  Mention two pieces of evidence in this chapter that Fi and Homer are developing a romantic relationship.

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Chapter 6:

1.  How does Marsden portray the cruelty of war in the first paragraph?

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Chapter 7

1.  Read the description of the Showground on page 83 and the label this diagram. Show where Corrie, Kevin and Ellie are.

2. What is Lee trying to warn Kevin about?

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3. How did the teenagers change?

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4.  How did Ellie change in Ch 7? What did she learn?

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Chapter 8

1.  How does Homer change?

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2.  What qualities does Homer show? Use page references to show where you found the evidence.

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Chapter 9

1.  What does Homer suggest to the group that gives them a sense of hope and purpose?

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2.  Change the simile used to describe the house as it explodes into a metaphor.

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Similie: A similie is when you compare two things that are very different. You would usually using the word ‘like’ or ‘as’. For example, “Her eyes are like the ocean” or “As brave as a lion” or “A book is like a good meal”.

Metaphor: A metaphor is also a comparison, but instead of saying one thing is like another, you are describing something in a way different way to better convey your meaning, for example:

“Her eyes are the ocean”, “A book is food for thought”, “A sea of troubles”.

Chapter 10

Look closely at the section of this chapter which begins with "I sidled closer to the door …" and ends with Ellie crying "Robyn!". Your job is to analyse the way the author has created a mood of suspense/tension.

You will examine three aspects of the writing:

a.  Choice of words

b.  Imagery

c.  Structure

Choice of words

1.  Make a list of verbs from the passage which help to build up an atmosphere of tension or fear. Example: sidled

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2.  Similarly, identify adverbs that contribute to the tense atmosphere. Example: silently

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3.  Look also at adjectives in the passage. Pick out any that reveal something about Ellie’s state of mind or the need for quiet. Example: took three slow careful steps

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Imagery

4.  There is one metaphor in the passage (describing the sound of the door opening). Find it.

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5.  There is one simile in the passage (used to describe Homer). Find it.

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Structure

6.  Look at the length of the sentences and at the way sentences are broken up into shorter phrases with commas. (Look especially at the final paragraph.) In what way is the structure of the sentences similar to the breathing of a frightened person?

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Chapter 11

1.  What techniques does Marsden use to make his recording of the group’s escape sound so dramatic? Find at least five examples of similes, body language, and imagery.

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Chapter 12:

1.  What changes has the take over had on Ellie’s thinking psychologically, emotionally and behaviourally? Account for these changes.

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Chapter 13

1.  The international broadcast presents the group with a conundrum ( a puzzle ). If the rich countries like Australia aren’t prepared to help other overcrowded and poor countries, do they have a right to force those countries to share? Explain your thinking. You might also like to comment on Australia’s past with the aborigines.

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Chapter 14

1.  How does Ellie’s journey to the Hermit’s hut reflect her relationship with Lee?

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Chapter 15

1.  Lee believes if it feels right then you should act on your emotions. Ellie believes in the rational approach believing you must know and understand how you feel before embarking on a relationship. Who has the right approach? Explain your answer in relation to Ellie and Lee.

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2.  In your own words explain what happened to the hermit’s wife and child.

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Chapter 16

1.  Ellie is at a critical cross road, she is discovering that life is far from the simple belief that “Thou shall not kill”. Ellie shares a link to the Hermit; she has been responsible for the death of others. What troubles Ellie about the acceptance of the idea that you sometimes have to kill?

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2.  Why is the name Hell ironic?

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Chapter 17

1.  Devise a plan to rescue the trapped citizens of Wirrawee from the showgrounds.

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Chapter 18

1.  What conclusions has Ellie reached at the end of chapter 17?

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Chapter 19

1.  Why is Homer’s plan so important to the group? What could it change?

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Chapter 20 & 21

Write down the key events as they happen in these two chapters.

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Chapter 22

Are you satisfied with the way Marsden ended the story?

LIKES / DISLIKES