Novel, Catch Us If You Can The Most Interesting Character

Who is the most interesting character in the novel that you have studied? Give reasons to support your answer.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In the novel Catch Us if You Can by Catherine MacPhail, I think Granda is the most interesting character in the book.

Reading through the novel, I found out that he was a caring and kind grandfather to Rory. The fact that Rory was to return the favours implies that Granda must have been a good man and good grandfather. His love for Rory is absolute. Also, Granda finds it hard to bear that Rory has to be in a home and wants to get out of hospital to take Rory home. This shows how much he cares for Rory.

Granda is also a charmer. It is because he easily compliments others especially women not only for the looks but also for their talents as he praises Ruby for her cooking. All the times he remains the perfect gentleman, like opening the door for the young mother at the clinic.

Other than that, he is quite a fascinating character. He knows a lot about films and film stars. His love for movie stars makes him even name his son and grandson after some film heroes of his time. Also, he loves singing and has no inhibitions about singing some old songs, however badly, in front of others.

With all the above, I believe that Granda must be an interesting and remarkable man.

Some Characters Solve Their Problems but Some Do NotNovel, Catch Us If You Can Some Characters Solve Their Problems but Some Do Not

The characters in novels often face problems. Some solve their problems but some do not. Using information from the novel you have studied, show how one character solves his/ her problems one who does not solve his/ her problemsSupport your answer with close reference to the text.

SAMPLE ANSWER

It is true that characters in novels often face problems. Some manage to solve their problems but some do not.

In Catherine MacPhails Catch Us If You Can, a character who manages to solve his problem is Rory. His apartment is burnt down due to Grandas carelessness. He is then forced to part with his Granda. He is sent to stay at the childrens home in Castle Street, and Granda is sent to the old folks home in Rachnadar. Being very close to Granda, Rory can see that Granda is miserable at the home. Rory can sense that Granda has lost interest in everything and it breaks Rorys heart to see Granda like that.

So, Rory comes up with a plan to run away with Granda. He knows, by doing so, he can always be together with Granda. As long as they are on the run, they will be together. It can only be for a few days or a couple of weeks, but to Rory and Granda, their time together is precious.

On the other hand, Tess, a girl whom Rory meets at the childrens home, fails to solve her problems. She has a sad life. Her mother is in prison and all her relatives reject her. Being homeless and unwanted, she is sent to Castle Street. Instead of making the best of her life there, she worsens it by becoming a bitter, angry and violent person.

Her violent outbursts become so bad that she loses control of herself and her actions. She injures others, making them keep away from her. She fails to make friends and so, remains lonely and friendless. She cannot overcome her loneliness and sense of rejection. If she had chosen to be more positive, she would probably have made some friends who can help her instead of feeling rejected and unloved.

A Close RelationshipNovel, Catch Us If You Can - AClose Relationship

Using details from the novel you have studied, describe a close relationship between two characters explain why you would consider them to be very close.Support your answer with close reference to the text.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In the novel Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail, Rory McIntosh and his grandfather share an inseparable bond.

According to Rory, they are like a double act. His father abandoned his mother and him, so when his mother died, he was taken care of by his grandparents. The death of his grandmother had left him with his grandfather. He called him Granda and Granda had looked after him all his life and now it was his turn to look after Granda. However both of them were incapable of looking after themselves because Granda was too old and sick while his grandson was too young to shoulder the responsibility of looking after himself and his forgetful and sometimes disorientated grandfather. Whatever the difficulties, Rory and Granda refused to be separated. Rory argued that sending Granda to a home would kill his grandfather and forcing him to stay in a childrens home would be unbearable. That showed how close they were and how emotionally dependent they were on each other.

Rory loved Granda so much that he was prepared to make a lot of sacrifices for the old man. He let go the chance to be in the school football team because he needed to look after Granda. He had to run home from school during lunch break to bring Granda lunch. On several occasions, Granda had unwittingly lost or misplaced Rorys homework and that had earned him the wrath of his teacher, Mrs Foley. Besides all these, he had to think of the little precautions to take to keep Granda out of harm. Still, he did not want to part with his Granda who would have been better off in an old folks home. Granda felt the same also. The bond between the two was a special one. However, events took a decisive turn when Granda accidentally caused a fire in the kitchen of their flat. Granda was taken to hospital and then to Rachnadar, a home for the elderly. Rory ended up in Castle Street where he met the troubled Tess and fought with her.

He was miserable there. Granda fared no better at the home. Rory felt that they had been cheated by his social worker, Val Jessup. He plotted on the run while the police launched a hunt for them. The news of the runway pair was everywhere on television but they managed to evade the police with the help from sympathizers along the way. They suffered a lot of discomfort while on the run and the old mans condition worsened but they seemed happy. Being together has become a source of strength to them. They were finally persuaded to go and see Rorys long-lost father, Jeff McIntosh, who had been traced to Liverpool as a result of the publicity. But before they could do this, Jeff came for them. They ended up together again, and this time in a flat near where Jeff and his new family lived. Jeff was finally ready to assume responsibility for his father and his son.

Rory and Granda were inseparable. It looked as if only death could separate them. Nothing mattered as long as they were together.

The Title Suits The Story PerfectlyNovel, Catch Us If You Can The Title Suits The Story Perfectly

The title suits the story perfectlyUsing details from the novel you have studied, discuss whether you agree with the statement above. Give reasons for your answer. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

SAMPLE ANSWER

The title of the novel Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail is simple and catchy that suits the novel perfectly because it captures the actions of a grandfather and a grandson who cause a frenzy when the police launch a massive search for them. The grandfather has run away from an old folks home he hates and the grandson has escaped from a horrible childrens home.

The title has the semblance of a challenge to the people tracking down the pair. It sounds cheeky, insolent and child-like and it reflects the character of the runaway pair. The grandfather, suffering from age-related ailments can be childish and does not realize the implications of what he has done. In his pursuit, he has caused bodily harm to a youngster who recognizes his grandson, Rory, from the news on television and wants to turn them in. Then, he steals a car to get away. All these can be considered criminal but he is happily nonchalant or ignorant of all the legal implications. His grandson and accomplice, Rory, is a child who knows no better. The expression If You Can is not only tongue-in-cheek, but also suggests that tracking them down can be difficult. One would think it would be easy to catch them but it is not. Although what they are doing is unbelievably crazy, they have earned the sympathy ofmany people along the way and this has helped them to evade the police for so long. First, Darren, Rorys best friend, plans the first lap for them when he steals his mothers caravan key for them to hide out while they think of a better plan after they leave the homes.

Then, they meet Sammy and Ruby who offer them help as the police are closing in on them. Next, there is Rab at the petrol station who gives them a respite and convinces them that they should go and find Jeff McIntosh, Rorys father, in Liverpool because it is time for him to do something in his whole useless life. After that, there is Annie, Rabs girlfriend, who hands them over to her cousin, Norma. Norma finally brings the whole saga to an end when she decides to call the police because she can see that the old man really needs medical help.

The title suits the story perfectly because it is a story about a grandfather and a grandson on the run. It is also a reflection of what the story is the police are not looking for regular criminals but just two ordinary people whom the police do not want to apprehend but to protect and keep out of harm.

Love, Compassion and Family Relationship Are Important in Ones LifeNovel, Catch Us If You Can Love, Compassion and Family Relationship Are Important in Ones Life

Love, compassion and family relationship are important in ones life.Using the evidence from the text, explain how this is true. Support your answer with close reference from the text.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Catherine MacPhail put the elements of love, compassion and family relationship in her novel, Catch Us if You Can. From the beginning to the end of the story, those three elements hold the story together.

The love between generations shows that love is continuous and never ending. For example, Rorys love for his Granda is unconditional and vice versa. He is ready to sacrifice anything so that he remains united with his grandfather. The grandfather, in turn, has devoted his life to bring up the child from birth and his whole life revolves around him.

Love in a family and the power of love among family members are also portrayed in this story. For example, Sammy, his wife, Ruby and son Tyrone portray a warm and loving family. Besides that, Bernie, his wife and daughter are equally warm-hearted and helpful. Rab and Annie are loving and caring too.

Love and respect among Rorys friends also keep him from troubles. They look upon Granda with great affection. Darren, the one who is the weakest in the class, shows much compassion for Rory and helps him as much as he can. Mrs. Foley also shows sincere, love and care for Rory. She shows her concern towards Rory when Granda is admitted into the hospital. She realizes that Rory should not be in the childrens home.

As a conclusion, the concept of the elements of love, compassion and family relationship bring beauty to the story.

Theme of HappinessNovel, Catch Us If You Can Theme of Happiness

Using details from the novel you have studied, write on the theme of happiness. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In the novel Catch Us If You Can, Rory McIntosh has been living with his grandfather since he was a young boy. On the surface, this arrangement such as theirs cannot be a happy one because Granda is old and sick while he is too young to be able to look after himself, let alone his forgetful and sometimes disorientated grandfather. Granda would have been better off at Rachnadar, a home for the aged where his needs will be taken care of by professionals and Rory would have been able to lead a more normal life at Castle Street Childrens Home. But they refuse to be separated. Despite the difficulties, they are happy together. In their own obstinate way, they are guarding their right to be together and be happy.

However, when Granda causes a fire in their flat, the social worker assigned to them takes Granda to Rachnadar while Rory goes to the Castle Street home. Rory is upset and so is Granda. Rory believes the home is killing his Granda. Then, Rory decides to run away from the home, rescue his Granda from Rachnadar and they would run away from all these meddling people. They are on the run for several weeks and the television is full of news about them. Amassive search is launched for them. Ironically, while on the run, they experience some of the happiest moments of their lives, with the help of sympathizers like Darren, his best friend who steals his mothers caravan key to let them hide temporarily, Sammy and Ruby who shelter them when the police close in on them. Then, there are the sympathetic petrol station operator, Rab and his girlfriend, Annie. Their run comes to an end when Granda becomes ill and causes concern to Norma, Annies cousin who is helping them to get to Liverpool to find Rorys father. She calls the police. Alls well that ends well when McIntoshs long-lost son, Jeff, who is also Rorys father comes for them. He is ready to assume his responsibility as a son and father.

Rory and Granda are basically searching for happiness whether as a stubborn pair fiercely defending their rights to stay together in the flat in the face of insurmountable problems or whether as runaways, oblivious to the frenzy they are causing through their actions. They sincerely believe that they are looking for happiness. After all, nothing matters as long as they are happy because life is a quest for happiness.

Theme of Forgiveness or ReconciliationNovel, Catch Us If You Can Theme of Forgiveness or Reconciliation

Using details from the novel you have studied, write on the theme of forgiveness OR reconciliation.Support your answer with close reference to the text.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In Catherine MacPhails Catch Us If You Can, Rory has been cared for by his grandfather whom he calls Granda for as long as he remembers. According to Granda, his own father was a spoilt brat of a boy; just mentioning him would make Granda angry. He grew up to be someone who did not appreciate what he got and left Rorys mother who later died of heartbreak. And that was when the senior McIntosh decided to cut all ties with his son. He is adamant that the only son he had is Rory and he can very well take care of the boy.

The irony of the situation is, Rory has been looking after his Granda who is not well and needs medications for all sorts of ailments. As a result, Rory has to look after him, take him to the doctor, prepare his lunch and make sure he takes his medicines all too big a responsibility for a young boy like him. Despite the difficulties, both Rory and Granda refuse to be separated, as any solution would entail sending the old man to a nursing home and the boy, a childrens home.

However, after Granda accidentally sets fire in their flat, he is sent to Rachnadar, an old folks home and Rory to the childrens home in Castle Street. They cannot bear being separated. Rory takes Granda out from the home and both go on a run. Soon, the police is looking for them. News about them appears on the media. Rory and Granda manage to evade the police because they get help from people who sympathize with them along their journey.

Investigations reveal that Rorys father, Jeff Mcintosh is in Liverpool and they are advised to go and see him. While on their way to Liverpool, Granda becomes too sick. The police is informed by one of the people who helps them, Norma, who feels that the old man needs immediate help. Jeff, with the help of the authorities, arrives to take his father and his son with him. Both father and son are reconciled and Rory finds his long-lost father. Jeff is ready to take on his responsibilities as a son to his father, Granda, and as a father to his son, Rory.

The story ends with a reconciliation between the ageing and ailing father and the son he has vowed to disown, Jeff. As for Rory, it is a happy reunion with the father he has never known.

The Moral Value That Has Impressed You The MostNovel, Catch Us If You Can The Moral Value That Has Impressed You The Most

Using the details of the novel you have studied, Write about the moral value that has impressed you the most. Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

SAMPLE ANSWER

In the novel Catch Us if You Can by Catherine MacPhail, I learn about compassion for fellow human beings. Many characters exhibit compassion for each other and act in a kind manner because of their compassionate nature.

Rory and Granda care for each other and there is compassion in their actions. For example, Rory cares for his grandfathers well-being. For instance, he makes sure his Granda takes his medicine. Moreover, he always rushes home from school to ensure Granda takes his lunch. Moreover, Rory protects his Granda from anything he considers bad, offensive or dangerous. Rory even keeps Grandas pipe to make sure there isnt any untoward incidents. Granda tries his best to help Rory and unfortunately makes mistakes, but there is still compassion. He strongly says that no grandson of his is going to a home for as long as he is around.

In addition, Dr Nicol insists that Granda and Rory get a home help. This is because he believes that Granda and Rory are not capable of taking care of each other. Val Jessup, the social worker, also shows compassion. She shows enthusiasm to help Rory and Granda. When they are on the run, Val Jessup pleads on television for Rory and Granda to come home. The police and the nurse also act compassionately towards Granda and Rory. They are affected by the dilemma of an ageing man who is so dependent on a young boy and therefore do what they think is the best.

Besides, Darren, Rorys close friend offers his mums caravan to them because he cares for Rory and Granda. He warns them about the arrival of the police.

With all the above, I believe that we must be compassionate to people. This quality keeps us humane and make the world appear kinder and the troubles bearable.

An Important Moral Value You Have LearntNovel, Catch Us If You Can An Important Moral Value You Have Learnt

From the novel you have studied, write about an important moral value you have learnt. Support your answer with close reference to the text.

SAMPLE ANSWER

From the novel Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail, an important moral value I have learnt is that family relationships should be nurtured and not taken for granted. Granda looked after Rory after Rorys father walked out on them. Since Granda was old and forgetful, Rory took it upon himself to look after Granda. Nobody forced or told him to do it but Rory felt it was the right thing to do. He was willing to forego things that teenage boys should be doing. He did all the household chores, made sure Granda took his medication and had his meals. He even kept Grandas pipe to make sure there wasnt any untoward incidents. Granda and Rory did not take their relationship for granted. Granda, on several occasions, had expressed appreciation to Rory for always being there for him while Rory felt proud to have Granda as his grandfather. Rory was protective and defensive of Granda. They nurtured their relationship right up to the end even when they had a family, Jeff and Karen.

Sammy, Ruby and Tyrone also showed a strong family relationship. Sammy and Ruby were free and easy but respectful with each other. Ruby would tease Sammy and vice versa. But, when it came to making decisions, Ruby left it to Sammy, showing him respect as the head of the family. Tyrone was respectful and obedient to his parents, Sammy and Ruby.

All in all, I have learnt from the novel that family relationship should be nurtured and not taken for granted as family happiness and stability depend on this positive attitude.

Plot of The StoryNovel, Catch Us If You Can Plot of The Story

From the novel you have studied, write about the plot of the story and state what you think of the plot.Support your answer with close reference to the text.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Catherine MacPhails novel Catch Us If You Can revolves around a teenager, Rory, and his grandfather whom he calls Granda. Rory and Granda are on an escape adventure from their hometown to Liverpool because they do not want to be separated from each other. They have cared for and looked after each other for a long time and with Granda getting on in years and becoming forgetful, Rory takes over the responsibility of looking after Granda on his own initiatives.

One day, when their flat caught fire due to Grandas carelessness, both Rory and Granda are placed in a childrens home and an old folks home respectively. Granda is badly affected as he becomes withdrawn and lost. Rory knows that Granda is slowly dying in Rachnadar, so he decides to run away with Granda. Rory and Granda make the great escape but with no destination in mind. They only want to be free and to be together. They spend a few happy carefree days at the caravan site. When the police catch up with them, Rory and Granda are helped by Sammy who gives them shelter.

Their journey is a struggle to stay free. Strangers help them all the way, giving them shelter and making safe plans for them. Rory has doubts about whether he is doing the right thing. All doubts are dispelled as Granda looks happy even when he is exhausted.

Eventually, Rory decides they would travel south to Liverpool and look for his father, Jeff McIntosh. Granda objects and rages about this when he realizes what Rorys plans are. The climax of the story is when Granda almost loses his life in the cold bus shelter. After that, they end up in Liverpool. It is a happy ending as they meet up with Jeff and become a family again. The plot runs in chronological order. The reader can follow Rory and Grandas interesting and sometimes heartbreaking journey from their hometown to their final destination. Rory as the narrator projects a solid account of their thoughts, feelings and gives good descriptions of the setting. The approach makes it easy for the reader to understand and appreciate the story. I think the plot is simple and relevant to our society where young people tend to forget their obligations to the old.

Catch Us If You Can : Event

SPM 2011 NOVEL QUESTIONBased on the novel you have studied, write about the part of the story that you like most.

Tips1. State the part of the story you like most2. Describe it ( elaboration and detail )3. Give reasons ( provide at least 2 reasons )

Model Answer ( Band A ) In the novel Catch Us If You Can by Cathrine MacPhail, the part that I like most is the great escape Rory plans the Great Escape for three days after Darren suggests hiding in his mothers caravan. He gives Rory the spare key to the caravan. Rory carefully carries out his plan. He packs his and Grandas things. He visits Granda after school, as usual. He wedges open the emergency exit. Later that night, he visits Granda and prepares Granda by dressing him up and then tells him that he is getting out of the home.Rory takes Granda away from there while Val is having coffee with the nurses. Both of them successfully sneak out through the emergency exit and out to a quiet train station where they are not noticed. They arrive at the train final stop and go uphill in a fine drizzle and then up a long winding path that leads to the caravan site. I like this part the mostbecause it shows that Rory is a loving boy. He loves his Granda so much that he could not stand looking at his granda crying and feeling sad staying at Rachnadar. Because of this, he is determined to take Granda out from Rachnadar. This part of the story alsoshows us how determined Rory isin making his escape a success. He cannot live without his Granda who has brought him up and taken care of him since he was a baby, and because of that he takes the risk to take his Granda out from Rachnadar. I also think thatthis is the start of all the adventures and challenges of Rorys and grandas lives.They meet with a lot of people and are always on the run so that they are not caught. It makes the story interesting and leads to the happy ending when Rory is reunited with his father.

Catch Us If You Can : An event that affects a character

Question: Based on the novel you have studied, write about an event and how it affects one of the characters. Give evidence to support your answer.In the novel Catch Us If You Can, by Catherine McPhail, an event that affects one of the characters in the story is when Rory takes Granda out from Rachnadar, a home for the aged. After taking his Granda out from Rachnadar, Rory decides to escape from the town where they both lived.Their escape takes them to many places and they meet many people who help them. Rory learns valuable lessons from these people. For example, Rory learns about compassion and kindness from Sammy and Rubys family. From Rab, Annie and Norma, Rory learns that there are people in this world who would help others and the help comes in many forms. When Norma reports Rory and Granda to the police, she does so out of the kindness of her heart. This makes Rory touched and grateful.This event has changed Rorys life. His life has changed for the better when he and his Granda are reunited with Rorys father. Now, Rory not only has a father, he also has new family members; a stepmother and two stepsisters. Granda has also learned to accept and forgive Rorys father and this makes Rory very happy.Before this escape, Rory was worried about his Granda and as he has to take up the responsibility of taking care of Granda, he cannot lead a normal life of a young, growing boy. Finally, at the end of the story, however, Rorys life has improved as there are certain services provided for the elderly. He also has his father who is willing to take care of Granda whom he has neglected for years. Due to this, Rory can lead a normal life like his schoolmates. All these positive changes would not have happened if Rory had not taken his Granda out from Rachnadar.

Novel - Catch Us If You CanWhat is one life lesson that you have learnt from the main character in the novel that you have studied? Support your answer with close reference to the text.

I have studied the novel 'Catch Us If You Can' by Catherine MacPhail. The story is narrated by Rory, a young boy who lived alone with his grandfather, Mr. McIntosh whom he lovingly calls 'Granda'. Rory's father had left him when he was still small and his mother had died of a broken heart.One life lesson that I have learnt from Rory is that one should be a responsible family member. Rory was a very responsible boy even though he was still a young kid. He realised that Granda had looked after him all his life and now that Granda needed him, he would take care of him. He did the shopping and cooking. He cleaned the house.Rory also gave up football for Granda. Mr Hood, his football coach had asked him to join the football team but he lied that he did not like football anymore. The truth was, he needed to look after Granda. Granda relied on him to get his lunch and he also had to make sure Granda took his pills. Sometimes, he rushed home during lunchtime to buy two hot pies for their lunch.When Granda was hospitalised at Rachnadar, Rory realised that if he left Granda there, he would be very miserable and sick. He was very frightened when he visited Granda and he did not respond to him. He was afraid that he would 'be dead inside'. He decided to run away with Granda in order to save him.Darren's mother was concerned for Rory. She felt that Rory should not have to bear this kind of responsibility. However, Rory felt that it was his responsibility since there was nobody else. Finally, when he found out about his father, he felt that it was high time he lived up to his responsibility as a son and father.

SPM Novel "Catch Us If You Can" An Admired CharacterBased on the novel you have read, write about a character that you admire. Support your answer by citing examples from the text.Based on the novel Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail, the character I admire the most is Rory McIntosh. I admire him because he is responsible, understanding and brave.

Rory takes on the responsibility of looking after Granda on his own initiative. He makes sure Granda has everything he requires before he leaves for school. Rorys time is divided between going to school, running home to get lunch ready for Granda, reminding him to take his pills and so on. He even gives up playing football to make sure Granda has his meals and takes his medicine on time.

Rory also shows that he is understanding when he understands Grandas needs. He knows that Granda will not be able to survive in Rachnadar. He can see Granda dying slowly inside from the confinement and being separated from Rory. He makes an escape plan and they run away from the homes. It does not matter where they are going because as long as they are together, Granda feels alive and happy.

Rory has also shown his bravery because Granda depends on him for moral and physical support and encouragement. He has to make decisions about placing their trust in strangers and more importantly he has to decide about going to Liverpool. Granda is very much against the idea while Rory hopes that his father can take over the responsibility to look after Granda.

Based on the evidences above, I admire Rory because he is responsible, understanding and brave.

SPM Novel "Catch Us If You Can" A Disliked Character

Based on the novel you have read, choose a character that you dislike. Give reasons for your choice with close reference to the text.Based on the novel Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail, the character I dislike is Tess, a violent girl who lives in the childrens home at Castle Street.I dislike her because of her violent deeds. She has violent bouts of anger and temper tantrums. Though she has a sad life, her mother is in prison and her relatives have all rejected her. Being homeless and unwanted, she is sent to Castle Street. But instead of making the best of her life there, she worsens it by becoming bitter, angry and violent.Tess is her own worst enemy. Her anger and violence scare all the children. Unlike other children who are nice, she fails to make friends and so remains lonely and friendless. She cannot overcome her loneliness and sense of rejection.Her violent outbursts become so bad that she loses control of herself and her actions. She injures others. Others keep away from her. Rory tries to keep his distance from her when he sits for breakfast. Once, she becomes very worse that causes Rory to lose his patience and shouts at her. She retaliates by punching Rory on the nose. They have a fight in the childrens home.Therefore, I dislike Tess because of her violence. If she has chosen to have good behaviour, she would probably have made some friends who can help her instead of feeling rejected.

CATCH US IF YOU CAN

Literature NovelTIPS AND GUIDE

IMPORTANT EVENTSYou must remember a few important events in the novel. This is because you need to support your answer with evidence and examples . These examples and evidence are the events. For example, the question; write about what you have learnt. If you write that you learnt you should love elders and family members, you have to support it by giving evidence. Here, the evidence can be when Rory is separated from Granda, which is one of the events in this novel.

HERE ARE 3 IMPORTANT EVENTS.1. Granda throws Rorys homeworkOne day, Granda absent-mindedly throws away Rorys homework and keeps rubbish in Rorys bag.Rory is not angry. He knowsGrandadoes not do it on purpose.Rorya patient boyloves his Granda so much that he understandshis Grandas condition.

Themelove, family relationship

Lesson learntwe must love the elders and be patientwith them

2. The Separation, Rory is sent to Castle Street and Granda to RachnadarAfter the fire at the flat, Rory is sent to Castle Street andGrandatoRachnadar. Rory is not happy.Grandadoes not like to stay there and he is upset and cries. Rory seesGrandasitting on his bed and crying atRachnadar. It breakshis heart .Grandaand Rory cannot live without each other. Rory decides to run away withGranda.Roryloving, responsible, cannot live without Granda

Themelove, family relationship

Lesson learntwe should love our family and beresponsible

3.The Great EscapeRory plans the Great Escape. Darren suggests hiding in his mothers caravan. Rory carefully carries out his plan. He packshis andGrandasthings. He visitsGrandaafter school, as usual. He wedges open the emergency exit. Later that night, he sneaks intoRachnadarand takesGrandaaway from there.Rorya brave boy, a person of action, loving, responsible, cannot live without Granda

Themechallenges of growing up and coping with responsibility

Lesson learntwe should be brave to face challenges in life and do what we think is right

SPM 2011 NOVEL QUESTIONBased on the novel you have studied, write about the part of the story that you like most.

Model Answer In the novel Catch Us If You Can by Cathrine MacPhail, the part that I like most is the great escapeRory plans the Great Escape for three days after Darren suggests hiding in his mothers caravan. He gives Rory the spare key to the caravan. Rory carefully carries out his plan. He packs his and Grandas things. He visits Granda after school, as usual. He wedges open the emergency exit. Later that night, he visits Granda and prepares Granda by dressing him up and then tells him that he is getting out of the home.Rory takes Granda away from there while Val is having coffee with the nurses. Both of them successfully sneak out through the emergency exit and out to a quiet train station where they are not noticed. They arrive at the train final stop and go uphill in a fine drizzle and then up a long winding path that leads to the caravan site. I like this part the mostbecause it shows that Rory is a loving boy. He loves his Granda so much that he could not stand looking at his granda crying and feeling sad staying at Rachnadar. Because of this, he is determined to take Granda out from Rachnadar. This part of the story alsoshows us how determined Rory isin making his escape a success. He cannot live without his Granda who has brought him up and taken care of him since he was a baby, and because of that he takes the risk to take his Granda out from Rachnadar. I also think thatthis is the start of all the adventures and challenges of Rorys and grandas lives.They meet with a lot of people and are always on the run so that they are not caught. It makes the story interesting and leads to the happy ending when Rory is reunited with his father.

Catch Us If You Can - by Catherine MacPhail ( Form 5 Novel )The synopsisThis is a heart-warming story about the love between two generations, a grandchild and a grandparent. It tells the story of a young boy, Rory who was separated from his ailing grandfather due to unavoidable circumstances.

Rory and his grandfather, whom he called Granda, lived in their flat in Scotland. His mother passed away and his father abandoned him when he was young. Since then, his Granda had been Rory's guardian and they only had each other to rely on. Granda was kind, generous and charming but he was prone to lapses in memory due to his old age. Granda's episodes of forgetfulness were often hilarious, but they could sometimes also be disturbing and dangerous. There were times when Granda put Rory's homework down the rubbish chute and the rubbish in Rory's school bag, acted inappropriately at Parents' Night and left his lit pipe in his coat pocket. Due to this, over the years a role-reversal had taken place, Rory had become Granda's care taker instead of Granda caring for Rory.

One day, as a result of one of Granda's episodes of forgetfulness, their flat was burnt down and Granda was seriously hurt. The authorities then realised that neither of them was capable of taking care of the other, so they were separated. Rory was sent to the children's home Castle Street and Granda to Rachnadar, a nursing home. They were devastated with the news and found it difficult to adjust to their new environment. Rory decided to run away with Granda so that they could stay together.

They embarked on their escape across the country and encountered different kinds of people. Some were untrustworthy while some were keen to help and give support.Along the way, Rory decided to track down his father who lived in Liverpool. As the journey became perilous and with his grandfather's worsening health, Rory had to decide whether to continue with their escape or to turn themselves in to the authorities.

THEMES:Bridging the generation gapThere is a young boys love for his aging grandfather. The novel explores key issues that young boys of this age may confront as their characters are shaped by relationships around them. There are challenges of growing up and learning about responsibility shown in the life of Rory. Rory is eleven years old and he should be playing football and enjoying being a boy but he has the big responsibility of keeping Granda safe and away from Rachnadar. Granda looked after him in those days and now he knows it is his duty to look after him now. Rory accepts that responsibility with a great attitude and does not hesitate to do his duty. But from being just a student, Rory grows up within a short frame of time to make decisions and to act with great responsibility.Family and relationshipsThere is a journey of love and protection between a grandfather and his grandson. Love, compression and family relationships are portrayed through their actions. Granda and Rory love each other and that guides all their actions. Granda loves his son, Jeff but feels let down by what happened years ago. He loves Rorys mother dearly too. Granda looked after Rory before and now Rory wants to look after his Granda. That is family love.Social and civic responsibilitiesHow society tries to intervene and help those who they think are unfairly treated or who they think deserve a better treatment. The novel emphasizes the importance of social responsibility. Doctor Nicol, the teacher, Mrs. Foley, Darrens mum and Val Jessup feel that Rory need help at home and that he should be enjoying his boyhood and not be burdened with the responsibility of looking after an ageing and ailing grandfather. The police officials and the nurses are seen as kind and compassionate. The inmates at the childrens home too care about what is happening to Rory and want to help him. Members of the public believe strongly that the two should not be separated and voice their opinion on television. The great escape would not be possible without the support and help of the public. Thus society has a great role to play in molding people to be what they are.Social biasHow society is quick to decide what the aged and ailing as well as the young should betreated.Thesocial welfare service sees to the very young and the very old. The decision of the authorities is not always right and should be questioned. Ruby the traveler complain that social workers check on Tyrone to see if he is getting his education and is not being abused in any way . The authorities can be nasty to the gypsies and people on the fringes of society. The police bring fear and anxiety but they are also seen as being compassionate in their dealings with Rory. The authorities chase after Rory and Granda but the public is mainly on their side and people help them all the way.Moral Values:Family relationships and bonds must be appreciated and maintained. There must be compassion and kindness.Communication is an important feature among friends and family members. It results in the loving and caring attitude generally.Trust is a vital component in bridging generations. We must not be judgmentalas appearances may not be what they seem.

SAD EVENTQuestion: Write about a sad event and its effect on the characters in the novel that you have read. Give evidence to support your answer.

Answer:

The novel that I have studied is Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail. This novel is about a young boy named Rory who lived alone with his grandfather. When Rory and Granda were separated due to a fire, Rory made a decision to run away with Granda so that they could be together.One of the sad event in this novel is when a fire broke out at the flats where Rory and Granda were staying. On that day, Rory was heading to the bakery as usual to get lunch, the baker told him that something was going on at his flats, the Fire Brigade had gone there and someone had been sent to the hospital. Rory rushed home immediately to find many people surrounding the building. He tried to get into the building. A policeman told him that Granda had been admitted to the hospital but he was going to be all right. Rory heard that Granda had probably left the chip pan on and forgot about it. Then, Rory was taken to the hospital to see Granda.This event triggered a few other important events which changed their lives forever. As a result of the fire, Rory had to be sent to stay in Castle Street, the children's home and Granda was sent to Rachnadar Hospital. Rory hated Castle Street as he had to face the terrible Tess who bullied everyone around her. He ended up fighting with her. At the same time, Granda was suffering at Rachnadar Hospital. He blamed himself that Rory had ended up in Castle Street. Rory saw that he was retreating further and further into his shell and he did not want Granda to die 'inside'. So, he made a decision to run away.During the Great Escape, Rory and Granda had to move from place to place. This affected Granda's health. First, they went to Darren's mum's caravan. When Rory received news from Darren that they were found out, they escaped again. This time they were rescued by Ruby and family. They went on an adventurous journey from place to place. At one time, Granda even had to hit a boy who was threatening to catch Rory. Then, Granda hotwired a car and they escaped again. Their adventure ended when Granda fell unconscious at the bus shelter while they were on the run from the police. Finally, Rory had to ask for help and Granda was sent to the hospital. There, they were reunited with Jeff, Rory's father and his new family.Thus, we can see that the fire that caused Rory and Granda to be separated triggered other events which changed their lives forever. In the end, Rory's problems were solved when they could stay somewhere near his father and they also received home help for Granda and their meals are taken care of by 'meals on wheels'.