Monday, July 13, 2009

Analyses of characters

1. Sean

Brave - Sean leads the villagers to fight the soldiers in order to save their homes.
Helpful - Sean helps Patrick to leave Ireland.
Determined - Sean faces the soldiers with full determination although there are many of them. He is also determined to help Patrick to leave Ireland, that he is willing to do anything.
Revengeful - Sean kill Mr Graystone and his two dogs cruelly because the latter burnt his home. He stole Lord Egham's money because the latter took his family's wealth and estates.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Potato People - Common Questions and Answers

1 )Based on one of the novels you have read, state which part of the story you liked the best. Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

In the novel Potato People, the part of the story that i liked the best was after Mr Graystone's men set fire to the village and the soldiers gave money and food to mother O'Daughtery. One of the soldiers had felt sorry for mother O'Daughtrey, a poor villager. He gave money and also collected money for her from the other soldiers. There was another soldier who gave her a piece of bread and a lump of cheese. Although they did not have to do this, they did it because they were kind and caring. This gives me a new perspective on the soldiers.

2) Based on one of the novels you have read, write on the moral value of having good and sincere friends. Give evidence to support your answer.

The novel "Potato People" portrays the theme of friendship. Sean, who lost everything, extended his friendship to Patrick and Marie. He protected them from cruel landlord, Mr Graystone. He encouraged them to leave Ireland and start a new life. He gave them money which he stole to help them. Marie extended a hand in friendship to Patrick when she met him on his way to Cork. As a friend, she helped and looked after him throughout the journey to Cork and the New World.

3) Based on one of the novels you have read, write on the moral value of hope. Give evidence to support your answer.

The novel 'Potato People' portrays the moral value of adopting a positive outlook in life. The story is about how the people of Ireland coped with the potato blight. Many lost their land and homes. Landlords who had no sense of compassion were cruel to them. Yet, many of them were positive about their future. Patrick and Marie travelled to Cork with the hope of leaving their homeland for the New World. Sean was positive of getting the fare for them. He was sure they would have a better life in the New World. They boarded the ship with optimism. They overcame a lot of obstacles and eventually became ranchers in America.

4) What have you learnt from the main character of the novel. Give evidence from the text to support you answer.

I have learnt the most from Marie, the gipsy girl from the novel Potato People. At a time when Ireland was going through the potato blight and the people were jobless and starving, Marie was a symbol of hope. She has taught me optimism. in the most difficult of times, she was always smiling and cheerful. For Patrick, "it had been a long, long time since he had heard anybody laugh" until Marie came along. She also informed Patrick that the world was "full of wonderful, wonderful things". I learnt from Marie that we should be optimistic even when things are really bad and believe that something good will come out of our situation.
Marie also proves that experience sometimes is the best teacher. Her survival skills are not obtained from any book or classroom. What she knows, she has learnt from real-life experience. With these survival skills, she was able to take care of herself as well as Patrick. She has taught me that when we face obstacles in life, we should look at them as lessons which can teach us more of life. The more difficulties we undergo, the stronger we become, just like Marie.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Potato People C13 - Red Revenge

Chapter 13 : Red Revenge

The ship 'Zeus' were about to sail. Sean was not there. Patrick decided to go back to the inn and find him. Marie thought it would be better to wait on the ship. Patrick insisted of finding Sean. At the inn, they found the street outside crowded with people.

There were many soldiers. Patrick give Marie a worry look. Then, they saw Sean coming out of the inn. He was in chains and had blood on the front of his shirt. Patrick wanted to go to him but was stopped by Marie. She was worried they too would be hanged if they were associated with Sean.

Patrick's eyes made a contact with Sean for a brief moment. There was a 'strange fire' in Sean's eyes that made Patrick shiver. Patrick realised Marie was right. There was nothing he could do to help Sean. The soldiers marched Sean down the street. That was the last time he ever saw him.

Marie suggested they should return to the ship and hide. The soldiers could be looking for them too. The ship was slowly filled with passengers. They were 'tired, sick and hungry'. More and more came on board. Patrick was amazed that such a small ship could carry so many people.

The ship 'Zeus' sailed in high tide. Patrick knew he did not want to see Ireland again. He was glad to see the last of it as the ship sailed away. Patrick visualised Sean 'smiling down on him' from the clouds with a 'hangman's noose' dangling over his head.

Marie told Patrick that some of the sailors told her that Sean was going to be hanged for murder and roberry. He had killed Mr. Graystone and his two dogs. He had cut off their heads with an old axe. Then he stole the money box containing Lord Egham's money. Later, he took Mr. Graystone's horse and rode it till it drop dead.

Patrick was very sad. Marie advised Patrick not to say anything about Sean to anyone on the ship. Marie said they did not do anything wrong. They did not steal the money nor help to kill anyone. Once they reached America, they could start a new life.

Patrick agreed with Marie. He knew he could not forget what he had seen and lived through. He would also keep his promised to Sean. Sean had said to him, "Somebody must get through all this and remember what happened here. I don't want us all to be forgotten. I want you to go to America".

Potato People - C12 : The Last Irish Lord

Chapter 12 : The Last Irish Lord

Patrick and Marie spent the next day for food. They stopped at an inn and listen to the sound of the people inside. A big man in 'smart new clothes' with 'flaming red hair' came outside and walked off down the street. Patrick could recognise him. It was Sean.

Sean was surprised to see them. He smiled and put his arms around Patrick and hugged him warmly. He took them to the inn called the 'Three Cats' and ordered some food for them to eat. They ate fresh bread, a large roast chicken and plenty of vegetables. The inn was full of half-drunk people, mostly soldiers and sailors.

Patrick had a lot of question for Sean. Sean realised this and raised his hand to stop Patrick speaking. He whispered to Patrick that there would be a ship leaving for America and he wanted Patrick to go there. Patrick wanted to know if Sean had the money for the tickets. Sean put his fingers on Patrick's lips and whispered to them to follow him.

Sean took Marie and Patrick upstairs to his room. He locked the door behind them. He pulled the bag from underneath the bag. It was full of shiny coins. He gave some money to Patrick and told him to buy tickets for a ship called 'Zeus'.

Sean told them to go. He had some business to attend to that night. He said he would explain everything once they were out at sea. Patrick had so many questions to ask Sean. Sean told him to be patient and trust him. All that Sean was willing to say was he 'followed the coloured rainbow and found a pot of gold at the end of it.

The following day, patrick and Marie went to look for the 'Zeus.' Patrick was taken to the Captain's cabin where he purchased two tickets, Patrick found that he still had more than thirty pounds left. It was more money than he had ever seen.

Patrick wondered where Sean had got hold of all the money. Marie warned patrick not to tell anyone about Sean and his money. She had a 'bad feeling.' She did not think Sean had got hold of the money honestly. Patrick said Sean could have found some of the 'old Viking gold' that was buried near their village.

Marie did not think that Sean had found 'buried treasure'. She thought he had stolen it from some rich person. Patrick did not believe Sean was a thief. Sean came from a fine old family and his family once owned land and lived in a great house. Marie remainded him all that was the past. Patrick still trusted Sean.

Potato People - Thousands are Sailings

Chapter 11 : Thousands are Sailings

The next morning, Patrick and Marie went back on the main road to Cork. They passed wheat fields and wagon trains which were heavily guarded by soldiers. Marie was angry that the soldiers were there to stop the people from taking the wheat. The wheat could be shipped to England or France where people still have money to buy. They met a lot of hungry and desperate people along the way.

Finally, they arrived at the port of Cork. Patrick had never been to such a large town before. In the harbour, hundreds of people were trying to get closed to the ships. The ships were being filled with wheat and meat. Patrick and Marie spent the whole day wandering and looking at ships.

They watch a ship called "New York Star" sail slowly out of the harbour. Patrick saw and old woman get down on her hands and knees and kiss the ground before her son took her onto the ship. She was saying goodbye to Ireland. When it become dark, Patrick and Marie went back to town. THey were very hungry and ate the remaining food from the big house.

Suddenly, they heard a sound of shooting nor far away. They ran to the place of shooting and saw a row of soldiers standing in front of a large warehouse. A large crowd of people had gathered there. The soldiers pointed their bayonets at them.

A young, nervous-looking officer with shaky voice stepped forward and told the crowd they were only be given three minutes to leave the area. They also told them the food in the warehouse was going to be transported "inland" in the next day for people who were also hungry. Some one shouted that they needed food urgently there and then too or they would be dead.

The officer promised the people that food would be distributed from a store in Castle Street 'the day after tomorrow'. There was a 'wild look' on the crowd's faces. Patrick thought the crowd was going to attack the soldiers.

Then, Patrick heard the sound of horses. Thirthy or forty dragoons were coming towards the crowd at full gallop. The crowd panicked and screamed wildly as the soldiers began o cut their way to the left and right with their 'sharp sabres'.

Patrick pulled Marie into a narrow side street. They watch in horror as the dragoons 'smashed into the crow'. Patrick want to leave the horrible scene. They ran off until they found an abandoned wagon for shelter. Patrick held Marie tightly for her whole body was shivering. He rocked her to sleep.