Kelso High School

English Department

Chapter Six

In today’s lesson we will:

Analyse chapter six of the text in relation to:

plot

characterisation

flashback

theme: grief and loss

Plot

Discuss briefly with your partner the main events of chapter six.

Check that your chapter summary notes include all relevant information.

Characterisation: Ruth

Chapter shows that Ruth becomes a central figure in Susie’s life.

She is described as “subversive.” What does this mean?

Reread pages 37,39, 79 and 81. Using evidence and quotations detail the strong connection between Susie and Ruth.

Characterisation: Ruth

Her father is an alcoholic who tries to have some sort of relationship with his daughter - offering her a drink and wishing that she has a good day.

Characterisation: Ray Singh

The first and only boy to kiss Susie.

Regarded as different because he is from India.

Initially a suspect

Discuss the reasons Susie is attracted to Ray.

Characterisation: Susie and Ray

Their kiss will grow in significance the longer Susie is dead and Ray is alive.

Their attraction was real and she is unable to forget it as she tries to come to terms with her own death.

Her feelings for Ray will have to be resolved before she can leave the “Inbetween”.

Characterisation: Mrs Singh

Ray’s mother.

All but abandoned by her ambitious husband. She too

must come to terms with living her life alone. Hers is a

kind of grieving process too.

Similar to Abigail - both feel trapped in a

situation they never wanted, but Ruana Singh

will never leave her son - unlike Abigail.

Characterisation: Abigail

Look at page 86. Compare and contrast Abigail and Jack’s behaviour with that of page 21.

Is becoming increasingly desperate.

Betrays Jack and Susie by not fighting for justice and by seeking comfort with Len.

Characterisation: Len Fenerman

Detective who investigates Susie’s death.

Falls in love with Abigail because he needs someone to help him come to terms with the suicide of his wife and all other deaths that remain unsolved.

Flashback

Allows us to share Susie’s kiss with Ray.

Allows us to understand later events with Ruth, Ray.

Theme: Grief and Loss

Jack’s visit to the Singh home is all part of his

need for comfort. He feels guilty that he wasn’t

there to protect Susie and guilty that he hadn’t

told her that he loved her.

Abigail is in pain and is beginning to look

outside the family for comfort.

Theme: Grief and Loss

Fenerman’s photos represent loss. He takes all the unsolved cases personally as Susie implies that one relates to his wife.

The fact that she commited suicide has led Len to feel as much a failure about her death as Jack does about Susie’s.

The End!