Lesson 22 — Activity 1: Chapters 1 - 2
Completion requirements
Lesson 22 — Activity 1:
Chapters 1
– 2
Before starting this activity, please read chapters 1 and 2 of the novel. Remember to think about the strategies you can use as you read.
In Lesson 21 — Activity 1, you reviewed the basics about the elements of a novel: plot, setting, characters, point of view, and theme of the story.
Now that you have read the first two chapters of this novel, let’s take a closer look at the characters and the setting in the novel.
Now that you have read the first two chapters of this novel, let’s take a closer look at the characters and the setting in the novel.
The first chapter of the novel gives you some
background
about the setting and introduces you to the main character in the novel.
The setting in the opening scene of the story is narrated by a 16-year-old boy who is sitting at a local dump at the beginning of his summer holidays. The incinerator is one of the major features that make up the landscape on the ocean front. The narrator states that he loves to go out on the ocean with his windsurfer rig.
The setting in the opening scene of the story is narrated by a 16-year-old boy who is sitting at a local dump at the beginning of his summer holidays. The incinerator is one of the major features that make up the landscape on the ocean front. The narrator states that he loves to go out on the ocean with his windsurfer rig.
As the chapter opens, you learn that the narrator, Chris, likes to spend time worrying at the dump. He is an animal lover and becomes concerned when he sees workers from the incinerator shooting at seagulls. Chris races to rescue an injured bird as the
men continue shooting and laughing.
As the story continues, you learn that Chris lives with his father and mother and that his father had some sort of conflict two years before — which he lost — related to the incinerator.
The chapter ends with Chris and his father trying to help the injured seagull. Chris's father lets Chris decide what to do when they see that the gull has been shot in the wing, shattering the bone beyond repair.
In the second chapter, you learn more about Chris and his relationship with his parents. Chris goes windsurfing and catches a glimpse of another character who will play an important role in the story.
When the chapter opens, Chris is still upset about the cruelty of the men at the incinerator who were shooting at the gulls. Chris's mother sympathizes with him and is proud of him for helping the hurt bird. At this point in the story, you find out that the family is thinking about whether they should leave Rocky Harbour. Chris mentions that his father had lost a fight to stop the incinerator from being located in their community. You also become aware that many people who did not approve of the incinerator have left the community.
When the chapter opens, Chris is still upset about the cruelty of the men at the incinerator who were shooting at the gulls. Chris's mother sympathizes with him and is proud of him for helping the hurt bird. At this point in the story, you find out that the family is thinking about whether they should leave Rocky Harbour. Chris mentions that his father had lost a fight to stop the incinerator from being located in their community. You also become aware that many people who did not approve of the incinerator have left the community.
Chris names the injured gull Jack after an uncle who had lost a leg in the Gulf War. Chris is slowly taming the injured bird.
The chapter ends with Chris out on the ocean windsurfing. As he practises getting his form on his board after a long winter of not being out on the water, two things catch his attention: the incinerator and the sight of another windsurfer's sail.