Paper 1 section a question 1 c(1)

Literature in English 2014/01 June 2010 Set Text – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night time Written by Yeo Yam Hwee

Paper 1 Section A Question 1C(i) How does Haddon make you feel sympathetic towards Christopher’s father in this passage and elsewhere in the novel?

UNPACKING THE QUESTION:

The writer

How does Haddon make you feel sympathetic towards Christopher’s father in this passage and elsewhere in the novel?

[4] Haddon shows us how unmoved and fixated Christopher can be if he firmly believed that Ed Boone is a liar and a dangerous man. Here he writes about Christopher’s intransigence and how of all people, the man who cares the most for him, his father, Ed Boone, has to take the most cruel brunt of it. We are made to feel for Ed Boone because Christopher’s rejection seems to be a result of mental block on his part. It makes us wonder how he has conveniently forgotten how much his father has done for him prior to his revelation of his “crimes”.

[5] Haddon’s writing makes us consider how cruel Christopher’s comment can be to Ed Boone although we also know that Christopher’s stubbornness stems chiefly from his autism. But still the son has come across as being rather hard to his father and thus Ed Boone has to deal with Christopher’s initial refusal to have anything to do with him, including this conversation in this extract..

[6] Haddon has been plainly consistent in informing us that Ed Boone, despite his shortcomings and “crimes” is

PICKING OUT THE RELEVANT AREAS OF THE GIVEN EXTRACT IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION:

And Mother picked me up from Father’s house one day after she had finished work and Father said, “Christopher, can I have a talk with you?” And I said, “No.” And Mother said, “It’s OK. I’ll be here.” And I said, “I don’t want to talk to Father.” And Father said, “I’ll do you a deal.” And he was holding the kitchen timer which is a big plastic tomato sliced through the middle and he twisted it and it started ticking. And he said, “Five minutes, OK? That’s all. Then you can go.”

[1] Haddon conjures a moving scene here when he reduces Ed Boone, who is full of contrition, to pleading with Christopher, who does not want to deal with his father.

[2] Haddon shows us how Ed Boone genuinely loves Christopher with his persistence in seeking his son’s attention. He yearns for his son’s attention, even if it is only a miserly “five minutes”. In this instant, we have the desperate father eager to mend his damaged relationship with his son, who thinks that his father is a bad and dangerous man and so he does not want to be anywhere near him.

[3] Ed Boone’s act of using a timer to reassure Christopher that he will not overstay his welcome is both a sign of his fatherly love and consideration for his son. Through this, Haddon has also skilfully illustrated to us, just how much Ed Boone, as a care giver, is aware of Christopher’s autistic ways and idiosyncrasies.

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The Reader

To appreciate him as a character in the novelTo appreciate the role he plays To appreciate his existence and relationship with ChristopherTo understand him as a man To understand him as a husbandTo understand him as a fatherTo care for himTo understand his intentions and motivations To feel sorry for him about his problems with Christopher

Through his writing, in the way he describes Ed Boone and relates his relationship and interactions with his son.

First selected and specified area of text which must be relevantly explored and interpreted.

Second and wider area of text which must be relevantly explored and interpreted.

This is an extract which is specially chosen by the examiner. It tests you on your ability to work closely with a given text and engage your thoughts. You are expected to read and understand the text / form an opinion or opinions in relation to the question / gather the relevant points from the text / put them together and organize them in a coherent way to support your arguments by providing comments and analyses / carefully linking and weaving the points and your analysis together.

This part of the question requirement tells you in no uncertain terms that you will need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the novel to such an extent that you are able to pull out relevant incidents / episodes from the novel / to support your response to any questions raised by the examiner. A thorough understanding and appreciation of the novel is expected from you.

You have to try your best to “squeeze the given extract dry” before you move on to the rest of the test. Depending on the question, make sure you respond RELEVANTLY and as CLEARLY as possible in your answer. Misreading or misinterpretation in parts or in totality or inability to make use of any part of the novel for use in supporting your arguments will seriously affect the quality of your response. The examiner is looking for a personal response – A relevant one which clearly demonstrates appreciation of the text.

YOUR PERSONAL VIEWS ARE CRUCIAL.

You expected to know where the selected extract comes from in the novel. You have to understand and appreciate how the given text is related to the questions raised by the examiner. You should be able to tell what comes before the event[s] mentioned in the given text and what comes afterwards. An incomplete preparation is a very dangerous thing. You are expected to use the given information to the fullest.

Is this a1. purely CONTENT question OR2. a WRITER’S CRAFT question?


genuinely sorry for what he has done in the name of protecting his son. He is ever conscious of the wrongs he has done to Christopher and understands why

his son is resisting him. He is desperate to repair the deep dent in his relationship with his son but he has not given up trying ever since the fateful day Christopher runs away from home after Ed’s

confession for killing Wellington, Mrs. Shear’s large poodle with curly black hair. No matter what, he does not allow his desperation to hinder him from trying to win Christopher’s attention, even if it is a mere “five minutes” that he is asking for in this case.

[8] Haddon continues to build on

Ed Boone’s resolve as we read

of his persistence to reestablish interactions with his son. Ed’s attempt to persuade his son to accept his invitation to learn to trust him again as “a difficult project” which they “have to do together” so that they can “spend more time” together. Haddon shows us the extent of Ed Boone’s resolve and the sensitivity he exhibits when communicating with his son by speaking in a manner in which Christopher can begin to understand. No matter how one-sided his intention might be, the father in Ed Boone nevertheless promises his son that if they succeed in carrying out the project, their relationship “will get better”. In contrast to Christopher’s personification of distrust and fear, Haddon’s characterization of Ed Boone holds out a ray of hope, no matter how uncertain the eventual outcome may be. We can certainly understand this as another manifestation of fatherly love. Haddon also shows us how the father is being ever so considerate to his skeptical son

So I sat on the sofa and he sat on the armchair and Mother was in the hallway and Father said, “Christopher, look…Things can’t go on like this. I don’t know about you, but this…this just hurts too much. You being in the house but refusing to talk to me…You have to learn to trust me…And I don’t care how long it takes…If it’s a minute one day and two minutes the next and three minutes the next and it takes years I don’t care. Because this is important. This is more important than anything else.” And then he tore a little strip of skin away from the side of the thumbnail on his left hand.

And then he said, “Let’s call it…let’s call it a project. A project we have to do together. You have to spend more time with me. And I…I have to show you that you can trust me. And it will be difficult at first because… because it’s a difficult project. But it will get better. I promise.” Then he rubbed the sides of his forehead with his fingertips, and he said, “You don’t have to say anything, not right now. You just have to think about it. And, um…I’ve got you a present. To show you that I really mean what I say. And to say sorry. And because…well, you’ll see what I mean.” Then he got out of the armchair and he walked over to the kitchen door and opened it and there was a big cardboard box on the floor and there was a blanket in it and he bent down and put his hands inside the box and he took a little sandy-coloured dog out. Then he came back through and gave me the dog. And he said, “He’s two months old. And he’s a Golden Retriever.” And the dog sat in my lap and I stroked it. And no one said anything for a while. Then Father said, “Christopher. I would never, ever do anything to hurt you.” Then no one said anything. Then Mother came into the room and said, “You won’t be able to take him away with you, I’m afraid. The bedsit’s too

[7] Haddon writes through Christopher that the autistic teenager does not tell or write lies because he is incapable of lies or dealing with other people’s lies. So if we trust what Christopher has reported here about what Ed Boone is telling him, we cannot help but feel sorry for the father because, it is one of the most vulnerable moments for the father when he informs his son that he “does not care how long” it is going to take for Christopher “to learn to trust him” again because this bond – the trust between the father and his son to Ed Boone, is “more important than anything else”. Haddon has unreservedly reveal to us, through Christopher’s reportage just how earnest and sincere Ed Boone is in his desperate bid to win back his son.

[9] As an appropriate wrapping up of the very short meeting, Haddon presents Ed Boone with a chance to offer Christopher a surprise gift in the form of a golden retriever puppy as a token of his apology to his son.

[10] After all that is said and done, Haddon reaffirms our sympathy towards Ed Boone when he says with a tone of finality to his son that he “would never, ever do anything to hurt him”.

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when he reassures his son not to rush into agreeing to participate in the “difficult” project of healing. He asks his son to “think” about his proposal before coming to any decision.

small. But your Father’s going to look after him here. And you can come and take him out for walks whenever you want.” And I said, “Does he have a name?” And Father said, “No. You can decide what to call him.” And the dog chewed my finger. And then it was 5 minutes and the tomato alarm went. So Mother and I drove back to her room.

[1] Haddon conjures a moving scene here when he reduces Ed Boone, who is full of contrition, to pleading with Christopher, who does not want to deal with his father. [2] Haddon shows us how Ed Boone genuinely loves Christopher with his persistence in seeking his son’s attention. He yearns for his son’s attention, even if it is only a miserly “five minutes”. In this instant, we have the desperate father eager to mend his damaged relationship with his son, who thinks that his father is a bad and dangerous man and so he does not want to be anywhere near him.

[3] Ed Boone’s act of using a timer to reassure Christopher that he will not overstay his welcome is both a sign of his fatherly love and consideration for his son. Through this, Haddon has also skilfully illustrated to us, just how much Ed Boone, as a care giver, is aware of Christopher’s autistic ways and idiosyncrasies. [4] Haddon shows us how unmoved and fixated Christopher can be if he firmly believed that Ed Boone is a liar and a dangerous man. Here he writes about Christopher’s intransigence and how of all people, the man who cares the most for him, his father, Ed Boone, has to take the most cruel brunt of it. We are made to feel for Ed Boone because Christopher’s rejection seems to be a result of mental block on his part. It makes us wonder how he has conveniently forgotten how much his father has done for him prior to his revelation of his “crimes”. [5] Haddon’s writing makes us consider how cruel Christopher’s comment can be to Ed Boone although we also know that Christopher’s stubbornness stems chiefly from his autism. But still the son has come across as being rather hard to his father and thus Ed Boone has to deal with Christopher’s initial refusal to have anything to do with him, including this conversation in this extract.

[6] Haddon has been plainly consistent in informing us that Ed Boone, despite his shortcomings and “crimes” is genuinely sorry for what he has done in the name of protecting his son. He is ever conscious of the wrongs he has

done to Christopher and understands why his son is resisting him. He is desperate to repair the deep dent in his relationship with his son but he has not given up trying ever since the fateful day Christopher runs away from home after

Ed’s confession for killing Wellington, Mrs. Shear’s large poodle with curly black hair. No matter what, he does not allow his desperation to hinder him from trying to win Christopher’s attention, even if it is a mere “five minutes” that he is asking for in this case.

[7] Haddon writes through Christopher that the autistic teenager does not tell or write lies because he is incapable of lies or dealing with other people’s lies. So if we trust what Christopher has reported here about what Ed Boone is telling him, we cannot help but feel sorry for the father because, it is one of the most vulnerable moments for the father when he informs his son that he “does not care how long” it is going to take for Christopher “to learn to trust him” again because this bond – the trust between the father and his son to Ed Boone, is “more important than anything else”. Haddon has unreservedly reveal to us, through Christopher’s reportage just how earnest and sincere Ed Boone is in his desperate bid to win back his son.

[8] Haddon continues to build on Ed Boone’s resolve as we read of his persistence to reestablish interactions

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with his son. Ed’s attempt to persuade his son to accept his invitation to learn to trust him again as “a difficult project” which they “have to do together” so that they can “spend more time” together. Haddon shows us the extent of Ed Boone’s resolve and the sensitivity he exhibits when communicating with his son by speaking in a manner in which Christopher can begin to understand. No matter how one-sided his intention might be, the father in Ed Boone nevertheless promises his son that if they succeed in carrying out the project, their relationship “will get better”. In contrast to Christopher’s personification of distrust and fear, Haddon’s characterization of Ed Boone holds out a ray of hope, no matter how uncertain the eventual outcome may be. We can certainly understand this as another manifestation of fatherly love. Haddon also shows us how the father is being ever so considerate to his skeptical son when he reassures his son not to rush into agreeing to participate in the “difficult” project of healing. He asks his son to “think” about his proposal before coming to any decision.

[9] As an appropriate wrapping up of the very short meeting, Haddon presents Ed Boone with a chance to offer Christopher a surprise gift in the form of a golden retriever puppy as a token of his apology to his son. [10] After all that is said and done, Haddon reaffirms our sympathy towards Ed Boone when he says with a tone of finality to his son that he “would never, ever do anything to hurt him”.

Introduction paragraphs Student ADealing with an austistic child is never easy and Haddon has beautifully translated the meaning of being a father of an autistic child into that of this book Christopher, being autistic causes some problems in the lives of people that are especially close to him and one of them would be his father, Ed Boone. Haddon has written the novel from Christophers point of view. With this, we see through Christophers eyes at what happens around him and how he goes about

Christopher sees Ed Boone as a liar and a dangerous person.

He does not consider Ed’s love and concern for him.

He seems to have forgotten about all that Ed has done for him previously.

His intransigence/inflexibility reduces Ed Boone’s position to that of a stranger – except that he is a

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in his interactions. stranger who offers himself up for an opportunity to seek redemption / forgiveness from Christopher.

Ed Boone puts himself through the ordeal and has to deal with how to win back Christopher’s heart all by himself. He does not have the entire support of his wife who has her own issues to deal with.

Ed Boone cannot possibly explain his past actions in terms whereby he can even hope that Christopher would appreciate or understand.

Student BIn this passage, Mark Haddon draws our sympathy towards Christopher’s father by showing us father’s willingness to earn back his relationship with Christopher.

When father approached Christopher to have a talk, Christopher initially rejected father. However, father decided to use another approach. Knowing christopher’s love for precision of time, he took the kitchen timer which is a “big plastic tomato sliced through the middle and he twisted it and it started ticking” and he said “Five minutes, ok? That’s all. They you can go.” Christopher seemed to accept this proposal. Five minutes was all father was asking for, which by the way was a smart move by Father using a timer, and it wasn’t much. Father just wanted some time to clear up the problem and this draws sympathy from us as considering father’s effort to reconcile with Christopher, five minutes just was not enough but father snap up the five minutes just so that he could have a talk with Christopher.

Student CHaddon has make me feel sympathetic for Christopher’s father because of the way Christopher and his father interacts with each other. ‘And I said, “I don’t want to talk to Father.”’ Reveals how much Christopher does not want to communicate with his father. As father is the main caregiver for Christopher when Mother had left them, it is clearly important that for Christopher and Father must have communication with each other to further strengthen the bond between them. However, as an child who is afflicted with Autism, Christopher thought that Father loves him as he tells him the truth all the time, and when he found out that Father has been lying to him about the death of his mother and murder of Wellington, his attitude towards Father has changed. It is easy to understand how Father was feeling as he was the main caregiver for Christopher and he cannot lose Christopher anymore since he had lose his wife already. The feeling of sadness and pain of losing your wife and yet may have high chances of losing your child too, is really difficult for father to overcome with. With all these pain and sadness building inside Father, it will be hurting for him when his child said that he do not want to talk to him, which makes me feel sympathetic for Christopher’s father, since he has to bear

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with the agony and pain all by himself.

Student DEarlier in the passage, Christopher refused to talk to father. This was because Father confessed that he killed Wellington. Once he lost trust with someone, Christopher finds it hard to adjust with the person.

Being in a desperate position, Father had to do things Christopher way by timing himself for five minutes to have a talk. If Ed was not serious about sorting things out with Christopher, he would not have bothered about Christopher. In the novel, when he found out Christopher ran away from home, Ed Boone came all the way to London despite knowing the fact that Mr. Shears was there to see his son. He truly love his son a lot. He can bear not talking to his wife but not to his son.

Student EHaddon makes me feel sympathetic towards Christopher’s father by having the father trying to do so much just for Christopher to stop ignoring him and at lest reply to his question but during the five minutes talk, at first Christopher did not talk to father. But only after the father brought the dog which he bought for Christopher, Christopher than say a word asking if the dog has a name. And by the time, the 5 minutes was up. Father is really trying his best to revived this relationship between him and Christopher. [This is all the student had written for this question.]

Student FHaddon make me feel sympathetic towards Christopher’s father because he wrote down how father tried to make Christopher trust him and how he shows that he really cares and loves Christopher. After Christopher found out about the letters mother wrote to and father kept it in his shirt box and did not allow him to read, he began to not trust his father. His father also revealed to him that he was the one who killed Wellington and this made him scared and frightened to live in the same house as his father. He made the reasoning that father killed Wellington and can kill me as well and this made him frightened to stay in the house.

Student GHaddon makes us feel sympathetic towards Christopher’s father by showing us how his father had to plead Christopher to give him only five minutes to talk. Haddon gives the impression that Ed Boone needs to make a

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deal just to talk to his own son for a mere five minutes. Christopher’s “I don’t want to talk to father” makes it worse as we would feel that Ed Boone is hurt when Christopher says that.

Haddon also paints a desperate picture of Ed Boone when he is trying to get Christopher to talk to him, as well as when he’s talking to Christopher. The small gestures he makes shown his nervousness and the awkwardness of the whole conversation. Student H

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Education

Paper 1 section a question 1 c(1)