Lesson 25 — Activity 2: Chapters 3 and 4 (pages 20 – 31)

This activity will focus on the development of the novel's plot.

Depending on the length of a story, within the first few chapters, the reader has been introduced to the setting, main character(s), and the problem or conflict with which he or she is faced.

Can you identify the main character(s) and the issue he or she is facing in the novel? Remember, though, your ideas may change as you read further.

Here once again is the diagram that you looked at in Theme 2 that illustrates how a plot is developed.

Throughout the novel study you will see this symbol . Click on this to read summaries of the chapters you have completed. About Chapter 3 is below.

The third chapter of the novel presented the initial incident that starts the complications of the plot. In other words, this chapter is where the problem or conflict begins for Rennie and her family.

The second chapter suggested that something bad happened when Sgt. MacPhee and the second police officer entered the bakery. Although the chapter opened with a description of the cheerful, friendly atmosphere in the bakery, it changed quickly when the policeman with Sgt. MacPhee, Officer Harnish, asked Rennie's father about his identity and ripped a map of Italy and a picture of the Pope off the wall.

Although one of the customers in the bakery tried to stop the officers, they took Rennie's father away to jail because Mussolini, the leader of Italy, had joined forces with Hitler, the leader of Germany.

This meant that Canada was now at war with Italy. You read how the customer, Mrs. Hobinsky, helped Rennie lock up the bakery and went home with her to help explain to Rennie's mother and sister, Loretta, what had happened.

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About Chapter 4. The fourth chapter of the novel showed more of the Italian community and its members in Rennie's town and their reaction to the events that are changing their lives dramatically.

The setting in this chapter is the Trani family's kitchen. The chapter began with Mama and Rick coming home from the police station without Papa. We learned that another man in the town, Frank Da Vita, and more men from a nearby community, are all at the police station. We also learned that Rennie's father was president of the local Italian Club.

As Rennie listened to her family and neighbours talk about the situation, she found Julie's brother's ID bracelet tucked in the pocket of her sweater.

The chapter ended on a very disturbing note.

When, as the families were listening to the Prime Minister's speech on the radio, explaining that "suspicious" Italian men will be put in jail, someone threw an egg at the front window and shouted, "Italian traitors! Down with Italy!"

“William_Lyon_Mackenzie_King_1942” is licensed under Public Domain in Canada.

Complete the activities that follow and then continue and read Chapters 5 and 6 of the novel. Remember, as well, to continue with the vocabulary activity.