Jasper Jones Opening Chapters Analysis PDF

The importance of the opening chapters of Jasper Jones Fill in the chart below as thoroughly as you can - we will use these ideas to practise writing essay paragraphs. Use quotes to support your ideas. (i) Theme: Racism/Prejudice Why do you think it is important to the plot that the theme of raci...

The importance of the opening chapters of Jasper Jones Fill in the chart below as thoroughly as you can - we will use these ideas to practise writing essay paragraphs. Use quotes to support your ideas. (i) Theme: Racism/Prejudice Why do you think it is important to the plot that the theme of racism/prejudice is introduced in the opening chapter? The theme of racism and prejudice is important to acknowledge in this start of the novel, as it makes the underlying theme more prominent in plot events - so readers can understand the effects of racism/ prejudice. The importance of establishing the theme so early, gives greater opportunity for the theme to develop as the book goes on. How does Silvey use characters to introduce the theme of racism/prejudice in the opening chapter? Character How does this character let us know that Quotes to support this idea racism/prejudice will be a significant theme? (Think about what the character thinks and does, what we learn about them, etc.) Charlie 1) Aware of the racist acts 1) “Jeffrey’s parents are faced upon Jeffrey vietnamese so he’s ruthlessly bullied and 2) He refers to how the town belted about by the boys sees Jasper, the quote at school” shows he’s continually heard about Jasper in a 2) “I heard Jasper Jones derogatory way and hasn’t being referred to as a questioned it as it is half-caste, which I’d never normalised. understood before” 3) He initially believes Jasper 3) ““So who did?” I ask killed Laura before a cold feeling of terror and dread suddenly 4) Through Charlie we learn has me backing away from the apocryphal stories him. I gag on the word about Mad Jack Lionel - “You?”” murderer, crazy etc. 4) Charlie recounts some of the stories about Jack - “No one knows what really happened but fresh theories are offered regularly…as the myth grows in girth, so too does the fear of the mad killer hidden in his home”  Jasper 1) We understand the town, 1) “We can’t tell anyone… Corrigan views Jasper as a specifically the police. scapegoat and a criminal Because they’re gonna say based on his race. it was me.. They’re gonna charge me and put me away Mad Jack Lionel: (ii) Theme: Coming of age Why do you think it is important to the plot that the theme of coming of age is introduced in the opening chapter? The author, Slivey, uses the theme of coming of age so early in the novel to make the reader more connected with the characters of the book and their journey. As the reader we see the characters mature with their experiences which leads to the journey of adulthood, the use of the theme so early on allows greater development from boy to child for the characters. How does Silvey use characters to introduce the theme coming of age in the opening chapter? Character How does this character let us know that coming of Quotes to support this idea age will be a significant theme? (Think about what the character thinks and does, what we learn about them, etc.) Charlie 1) Charlie is growing up, and 1) “This is the first time I’ve experiencing things for the ever dared to sneak away first time, this can be seen from home” in the quote. 2) “And it happens like that. 2) He is learning the truth Like when you first realise about the world, and the there is no such thing as mistreatment of Jasper magic. Or that nothing and Jeffrey based on their actually answers your race. prayers or even really listens, when you’re disarmed by a shard of knowing” (iii) Setting: The the town of Corrigan Why do you think it is important to the novel that we learn about Corrigan in the opening chapter? The importance of Silvey introducing Corrigan as the main setting in the novel, helps impact the reader's image of the environment Jasper and Jeffrey are placed in. The use of rural Australia in the 1960’s helps the reader understand the basis of the challenge Aboriginals had, a result of political and societal ignorance. How does Silvey let us know what Corrigan is like? What do we learn about Corrigan? How is this information Quotes to support this idea revealed? Corrigan is a predominantly white town, We can discover with much prejudice on the aboriginal racism is prevalent, community. The setting of 1960’s Aus a result of the treatment of symbolises the conservative stance the Jasper and Jeffrey nation had on minorities which included the first nation people, Aboriginals. (iv) Key event: Laura’s death Why do you think it is important to the novel that we learn about Laura’s death in the opening chapter? It’s important we learn about Laura’s death in the beginning of the text, as it’s obviously the key event going to be discovered in the rest of the novel - therefore beginning the development of the event, building suspense for the readers surrounding its consequences. What tells us that this is a key event to the novel? How is this information revealed? What ‘tells’ us that this is a key Quotes to support this idea event? We can tell it’s going to be a key event in the novel due to Charlies commentation of the guilt he felt when he was doing things that had nothing to do with Laura’s death.