Carl Matt
Provide three words to describe Carl.
30 points per appropriate response, the full 100 for getting all three!
Which of the following options is not a central theme of ABTWMC?
1. Freedom
2. Belonging
3. Romance
Romance
Like a box on stumpy legs, according to Sarah. – page 5
What does this quote suggest about how Sarah treats Carl?
She is mean to him and doesn't appreciate the effort he puts in to helping her.
List the three Matt children from oldest to youngest.
True or false: A giraffe is about 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning as a human.
True, there are only five well-documented fatal lightning strikes on giraffes between 1996 and 2010. But due to the population of the species being just 140,000 during this time, it makes for about 0.003 lightning deaths per thousand giraffes each year. This is 30 times the equivalent fatality rate for humans.
What is Carl's relationship like with Kerry (his mum)?
Carl loves his mother, but he also has an accurate understanding of who she is. He doesn't expect much from her but he can not bring himself to hate his mother.
What are the four central themes of ABTWMC?
Freedom, belonging, identity, relationships and connections.
What type of construction device is the "sad veggie patch" an example of?
Symbolism
Who is Bruce?
Bruce is Beryl's boyfriend.
How many hearts does an octopus have?
3
Describe why the veggie patch is an important memory for Carl.
It is something he built together with his mother and is one of the few purely positive memories he has of her. It symbolises Carl's relationship with his mother.
(150 points) Which theme does the "sad veggie patch" relate to most clearly?
(150 points) Explain how the "sad veggie patch" relates to this theme.
Relationships and connections.
The sad veggie patch symbolises Carl's relationship with Kerry, his mother, as the two of them built the veggie patch together. It is one of Carl's fondest memories with his mother, yet the veggie patch has now decayed, mirroring his relationship with his mother.
"Carl floated in a sea of families" is an example of what type of construction device?
Imagery (metaphor is an acceptable answer as well)
Provide three words to describe Aunt Beryl, and three pieces of evidence from the novel that helps you to know this is what Aunt Beryl is like.
Bitter, neglectful, selfish, angry, sad.
She plays on the pokies constantly, she bought beer instead of feeding Carl and Harley, and she slapped Harley as her first resort for disciplining him.
Which is the only planet to rotate clockwise?
Describe Carl's relationship with Harley and explain why Carl feels this way.
Carl is desperate for a sense of belonging and for relationships with people who care for him, notably his family.
Harley, who is much younger than Carl, has not realised the importance of maintaining his relationship, and instead acts based upon what he wants to do.
Carl's relationship is therefore that he greatly values Harley and wants the best for him, but he struggles to maintain this relationship because Harley is constantly taking actions that complicate their relationship.
"What am I, a local or a visitor?" Explain why Carl is struggling to explain his identity in this quote.
Carl, as someone who did not grow up at Wattle Beach, feels isolated when comparing himself to the locals. He looks different, acts different, and feels as if he is totally different from the local people. On the other hand, Carl is not a visitor, as he is staying at Wattle Beach indefinitely. This has caused Carl to question his identity and his connection to Wattle Beach.
"The arm of a handsome boy around her like a thick coil of a boa constrictor". How does this quote shape the way the audience thinks of Nathan Trelfo?
The description of Nathan's arm being like a "thick coil of a boa constrictor" encourages the audience to think of him as predatory. He isn't holding his partner in a comforting way, but instead constraining and ensaring her. The combination of the word "handsome" with this predatory image depicts Nathan as arrogant in his actions.
Why does Nugent assume Harley is the one stealing from his store?
Harley is a Matt, and Nugent claims that he "acts the same" as the other Matts. This indicates that Nugent is prejudiced against the Matt family.
What is the national animal of Scotland?
A unicorn
Develop a contention that responds to the statement: Carl's greatest struggle is with his sense of self-perception and self-worth.
Key ideas:
- Yes, but... (100 points)
- Self-worth is tied to other things, like belonging and relationships. (200 points)
- While Carl struggles with self-worth, his greatest struggle is in maintaining his relationships and sense of belonging. (300 points)
While Carl struggles with his sense of identity, notably his self-perception and self-worth, is a pronounced theme within A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove, these are largely symptoms of his feelings of isolation due to the fracturing of his sense of belonging and connection to his family. (400 points)
Respond to the following prompt by forming a contention: "Only those that are born in a location are truly locals. Everyone else is just a visitor."
Your contention must address the following points:
1. Only those born in a location - are there examples of people who are born in a location who don't feel at home?
2. Are truly locals - Need to explain what makes someone a local unless they are just agreeing.
3. Everyone else is just a visitor - Is there another way to view them then as a local or visitor? Is being born in a different place alone enough to make someone a visitor?
"Says he knows all the Matts from years ago and your brother looks the same as the lot of them. Acts the same as well."
1. What does this quote suggest about the way the people of Wattle Beach view the Matt family? (200 points)
2. Carl serves as our protagonist and also our primary point of view into the story. From Carl's perspective, is the attitude towards the Matt family justified? (300 points)
1. This quote suggests that the people of Wattle Beach expect the Matts to cause trouble. This quote is said in response to Harley stealing from Nugent's store, indicating that the other Matts have probably acted "the same as well".
2. From Carl's perspective, this attitude seems unearned. Carl and Harley have only just arrived in Wattle Beach, yet Harley is already accused of stealing. While, in this instance, he is guilty of this crime, there was no evidence of this. Harley even notes that Nugent "doesn't know" it was him, meaning the accusation is based off of his perception of the Matt family. This is an example of prejudice, and results in unfair treatment towards Carl.
Respond to the following prompt by forming a nuanced contention:
Harley represents true freedom within the novel A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove.
Which member of One Direction was born with four nipples?
Harry Styles! (According to the internet)