Secrets

SECRETSSECRETSSECRETSSECRETS

BY-BY-

BERNARD MCLAVERTYBERNARD MCLAVERTYBY-BY-

BERNARD MCLAVERTYBERNARD MCLAVERTY

SHORT SUMMARYSHORT SUMMARYSHORT SUMMARYSHORT SUMMARYThis story utilizes the method of flashback first

As we proceed through the story, we are introduced to Aunt Mary and ‘the boy’, the protagonists.

In the beginning of the short story, there is an ill-suffering Aunty Mary and a boy, who has been at his girlfriend’s home for a while , preparing for “A Levels”, when she is dying.

His pricking conscience is making him guilty.The flashback tells us the events behind the aunt’s and boy’s hostility ,coldness against each other. It also tells us that the central characters were hardly on the same page, though they used to have a very nurtured bond.

After Aunt Mary passed away, the boy reminisced/remembered their close moments during childhood he spent with Aunt Mary, how he misplaced her trust by reading her personal letters sent by her love and how Aunt Mary never forgive him and forget about it due to his boyish curiosity.

CHARACTERSCHARACTERSCHARACTERSCHARACTERS

There are altogether 4 characters, 2 round characters and 2 flat characters.

character 1-the Boycharacter 1-the Boycharacter 1-the Boycharacter 1-the Boy

The nephew is one of the main characters in the story. The story goes into flashback and comes into present day again and the boy’s character really grows in the story that’s why he is a round character. He is a very inquisitive person he asks a lot of questions and he wants to know everything in the story he asks his Aunt Mary many questions about her personal life and the Aunt her self calls him too inquisitive in the book which is repeated many times (page 291 17th line, page 293 6th line).He is a stubborn character even though his Aunt Mary told him clearly not to read those letters he still went and read the letters, he was very sly as soon as his Aunt left to church he sneaked into her room and started reading the letters. He is also a very sensitive character who has a lot of feelings if you look at page 296 last paragraph,he feels so bad after reading the letters when he was not told to and how much he regrets it because now he can’t even say sorry because she is dead.

character 2- Aunt Marycharacter 2- Aunt Marycharacter 2- Aunt Marycharacter 2- Aunt Mary

Aunt Mary is a round character and the story revolves around her. The author has described her in a lot of detail from her dressing style to her feelings. ( Page 291 1st paragraph) Describes the way she dresses and how she looks at her present day but on page 292 4th paragraph the nephew looks at a picture where his Aunt Mary was a young beautiful girl and is not able to recognize her and that’s where the author showed how the character grew in the story. The Aunt loved books she read all different types of books to her nephew and had her own bookcase shelf she was a very organized Lady who kept all her things organized from letters to postcard stamps to books. Aunt Mary was a very strict lady for example in the book she warned him not to read the letters and when he did she got very angry at him and wished to never talk to him till she died. Even though she is strict she also has a very sensitive side to her which the author described through letters and the letters were from her boyfriend who was in the army and he described her as beautiful, gentle, shy which shows that she is sensitive. I think that in the end the Aunt is a very strong character and tried he best not to make her emotions come in the way.

character 3- John character 3- John character 3- John character 3- John

John is the boyfriend of Aunt Mary. He is an army officer who is fighting in war. He writes letters to Aunt Mary and expressed his feelings to her about how much he misses her and that he loves her a lot and thinks about her all the time. He also describes the war in few letters about how he see’s people dying everyday. He Is a flat character because he doesn’t grow in the story but he can be an important character because if he didn’t write the letters then there would be no story.

character4- Great Aunt Marycharacter4- Great Aunt Marycharacter4- Great Aunt Marycharacter4- Great Aunt Mary

There is nothing much given about the mother but she is a flat character because she doesn’t grow in the book. The only thing she did in the whole book was house hold chores which most of the mothers do. In the story she comes and she goes with just a little part to play so if you removed her from the story the story wouldn’t make a difference as she is not a very important character.

SECRECYSECRECY

LOSSLOSS

SORROWSORROW

THEMESTHEMESTHEMESTHEMES

VOCABULARYVOCABULARYVOCABULARYVOCABULARY1.Threshold - A piece of wood or stone placed beneath a door; a doorsill.

2.Crucifix - A cross with the figure of Jesus crucified upon it.

3.Guttural - Harsh; throaty.

4.Irises - Any plant of the genus Iris, having showy flowers and sword-shaped leaves.

5.Inquisitive - Very curious or asks a lot of questions.

6.Devotions - An act of religious observance or prayer.

7.Nape - The back of the neck.

STORY ANALYSISSTORY ANALYSISSTORY ANALYSISSTORY ANALYSIS

1.Explain the title.In what way is it suitable 1.Explain the title.In what way is it suitable to the story ?to the story ?

1.Explain the title.In what way is it suitable 1.Explain the title.In what way is it suitable to the story ?to the story ?

The story’s title is suitable as we seen the whole story is a The story’s title is suitable as we seen the whole story is a

secret!We do not know the name of a protagonist,the boy. The secret!We do not know the name of a protagonist,the boy. The

reader is unable to find out why the aunt does not want to reader is unable to find out why the aunt does not want to

reveal her love life.reveal her love life.

A secret which no one would ever find out was that,did the aunt A secret which no one would ever find out was that,did the aunt

forgive The Boy for reading her personal letters and the answer forgive The Boy for reading her personal letters and the answer

also dies with her.also dies with her.

2.WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT ELEMENT OF 2.WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT ELEMENT OF THE STORY-PLOT, CHARACTER & SETTINGTHE STORY-PLOT, CHARACTER & SETTING

2.WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT ELEMENT OF 2.WHAT IS THE PREDOMINANT ELEMENT OF THE STORY-PLOT, CHARACTER & SETTINGTHE STORY-PLOT, CHARACTER & SETTING

We think that the characters are the predominant element of the story because there are 2 very strong characters in the story The Aunt Mary and her nephew they both share a very strong bond and without them the story wouldn’t be strong and the characters are the one thing that brings out the story very strongly if you remove the characters the story wouldn’t make sense.

3.WHO DOES THIS STORY CENTRE ?3.WHO DOES THIS STORY CENTRE ?3.WHO DOES THIS STORY CENTRE ?3.WHO DOES THIS STORY CENTRE ?

The story is about a boy who finds out about his aunts secretive love life. Later on the aunt finds him going through her lover’s letters and says she never wants to see him again. Then on her deathbed he keeps thinking about if she will ever forgive him.

4.WHAT SORT OF CONFLICT THE LEADS BETWEEN THE 4.WHAT SORT OF CONFLICT THE LEADS BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS?CHARACTERS?

4.WHAT SORT OF CONFLICT THE LEADS BETWEEN THE 4.WHAT SORT OF CONFLICT THE LEADS BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS?CHARACTERS?

The conflict in the story is between The Aunt and Nephew. The nephew reads the Aunts letters when he was told not too and the aunt catches him reading the letters and that’s where the conflict takes place. We think it is both external and Internal conflict because it starts off as an external conflict where there is an argument on why the nephew read the letter but then in turns into an internal conflict because the Aunt and the nephew stop talking and keeps their thoughts in their minds.

5.HOW IS THE CONFLICT RESOLVED?5.HOW IS THE CONFLICT RESOLVED?5.HOW IS THE CONFLICT RESOLVED?5.HOW IS THE CONFLICT RESOLVED?

The conflict is resolved when the setting The conflict is resolved when the setting

changes back to the present leaving the changes back to the present leaving the

reader unaware of the events in the past. reader unaware of the events in the past.

6.HOW DOES THE AUTHOR HANDLE 6.HOW DOES THE AUTHOR HANDLE CHARACTERIZATION?CHARACTERIZATION?

6.HOW DOES THE AUTHOR HANDLE 6.HOW DOES THE AUTHOR HANDLE CHARACTERIZATION?CHARACTERIZATION?

The author tells us about the aunt by the actions of the little boy. We get to know about her through the letters the little boy opens. In this story the boy is a flat character whereas the aunt is a round character.

7.WHO TELLS THE STORY?WHAT POINT OF 7.WHO TELLS THE STORY?WHAT POINT OF VIEW IS USED?VIEW IS USED?

7.WHO TELLS THE STORY?WHAT POINT OF 7.WHO TELLS THE STORY?WHAT POINT OF VIEW IS USED?VIEW IS USED?

The story is told by the narrator. Third person is used.

8.WHAT IS THE SETTING FOR THE ACTION?8.WHAT IS THE SETTING FOR THE ACTION?8.WHAT IS THE SETTING FOR THE ACTION?8.WHAT IS THE SETTING FOR THE ACTION?

It is over the period of history, with occurring flashback, connecting to the current events and leading to the consequences and fallout between Great-aunt Mary and the boy.

9.HOW DOES THE STORY GET STARTED?9.HOW DOES THE STORY GET STARTED?WHAT IS THE INITIAL INCIDENT?WHAT IS THE INITIAL INCIDENT?

9.HOW DOES THE STORY GET STARTED?9.HOW DOES THE STORY GET STARTED?WHAT IS THE INITIAL INCIDENT?WHAT IS THE INITIAL INCIDENT?

The story starts as the aunt is

dying and is laying on her deathbed. The boy keeps thinking if his aunt is ever going to forgive him.

10.BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE RISING ACTION 10.BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE RISING ACTION OF THE STORY?OF THE STORY?

10.BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE RISING ACTION 10.BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE RISING ACTION OF THE STORY?OF THE STORY?

We think that the rising action of the story starts of when the nephew starts getting very inquisitive and starts asking the aunt many questions on her personal life and then reads the letters that he was strictly told not to read by the Aunt . We think that this is the rising action of the story Secrets.

11.WHAT IS THE HIGH POINT OR CLIMAX OF 11.WHAT IS THE HIGH POINT OR CLIMAX OF THE STORY?THE STORY?

11.WHAT IS THE HIGH POINT OR CLIMAX OF 11.WHAT IS THE HIGH POINT OR CLIMAX OF THE STORY?THE STORY?

The climax of the story begins when the The climax of the story begins when the

boy secretly goes to his aunt’s room and boy secretly goes to his aunt’s room and

starts reading her personal letters.starts reading her personal letters.

The entry of the aunt in the room(while The entry of the aunt in the room(while

The Boy was still reading the letters) The Boy was still reading the letters)

marks the highest point in the story.marks the highest point in the story.

12.DISCUSS THE CLOSING ACTION OR THE 12.DISCUSS THE CLOSING ACTION OR THE FALL OF THE STORYFALL OF THE STORY

12.DISCUSS THE CLOSING ACTION OR THE 12.DISCUSS THE CLOSING ACTION OR THE FALL OF THE STORYFALL OF THE STORY

The falling action is when after the boy read his Great Aunt Mary letters, “Get out”, she said. “Get out of my room”, and when the boy was about to leave, ‘You are dirt.’ She hissed and ‘will always be dirt . I shall remember this till that day I die’

13.DOES THIS STORY CREATE A SPECIAL 13.DOES THIS STORY CREATE A SPECIAL MOOD?MOOD?

13.DOES THIS STORY CREATE A SPECIAL 13.DOES THIS STORY CREATE A SPECIAL MOOD?MOOD?

Yes,this story does create a special mood.Yes,this story does create a special mood.

All through out the reader is left on his All through out the reader is left on his

own imagination as only incomplete own imagination as only incomplete

incidents are narrated which makes the incidents are narrated which makes the

reader a part of the unsaid secretreader a part of the unsaid secret

14.IS THIS STORY TRUE TO REAL-LIFE?14.IS THIS STORY TRUE TO REAL-LIFE?14.IS THIS STORY TRUE TO REAL-LIFE?14.IS THIS STORY TRUE TO REAL-LIFE?

In our opinion In our opinion the story is realistic, realizing how things in life can change from hopeful to hopeless in an instant the way matter turns eventually turn out for the aunt’s and the boy relationship between them, is a point which shows that the story is realistic, as this type of matters occur many times, with friends, family, relatives, people.

15.ARE THE EVENTS OR THE INCIDENTS IN 15.ARE THE EVENTS OR THE INCIDENTS IN FLASHBACK OR IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER?FLASHBACK OR IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER?15.ARE THE EVENTS OR THE INCIDENTS IN 15.ARE THE EVENTS OR THE INCIDENTS IN

FLASHBACK OR IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER?FLASHBACK OR IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER?

The story is a flashback as The story is a flashback as

it starts in the present it starts in the present

journeys back to the past journeys back to the past

and returns to the present.and returns to the present.

16.WHAT IS THE GENERAL THEME OF THE STORY? WHAT IS THE 16.WHAT IS THE GENERAL THEME OF THE STORY? WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING THEME?UNDERLYING THEME?

16.WHAT IS THE GENERAL THEME OF THE STORY? WHAT IS THE 16.WHAT IS THE GENERAL THEME OF THE STORY? WHAT IS THE UNDERLYING THEME?UNDERLYING THEME?

We think that the general and the most obvious theme of is a Secret because the whole story is about a secret and the stories name is the secrets too. The stories that we think that could be similar are P.S I love you, Message in a bottle etc.

17.DOES THIS STORY CONTAIN THE ELEMNT 17.DOES THIS STORY CONTAIN THE ELEMNT OF SYMBOLISM?OF SYMBOLISM?

17.DOES THIS STORY CONTAIN THE ELEMNT 17.DOES THIS STORY CONTAIN THE ELEMNT OF SYMBOLISM?OF SYMBOLISM?

The ‘Boy’ symbolizes life and Aunt Mary symbolizes death asThe ‘Boy’ symbolizes life and Aunt Mary symbolizes death as The boy has a girlfriend whose home he has been for a while studying with his girlfriend for “A Levels”, when his Great- Aunt is dying. Guilty feelings pricking his conscience sparked his mind when he smells his girlfriends hand cream on his own bare hands and he thinks and care about her.He has his own future ahead of him, full of promise, but the circle of life for his aunt is just ending while his has just begun. In this way the boy and his Aunt represent life and death.

18.WAS THERE A VILLAIN IN THIS STORY?A HERO?A DYNAMIC 18.WAS THERE A VILLAIN IN THIS STORY?A HERO?A DYNAMIC CHARACTER?CHARACTER?

18.WAS THERE A VILLAIN IN THIS STORY?A HERO?A DYNAMIC 18.WAS THERE A VILLAIN IN THIS STORY?A HERO?A DYNAMIC CHARACTER?CHARACTER?

There was no villain or hero in this story but there is a dynamic character and that dynamic character is the Aunt because she is a very strong character and she has gone through a lot in the story and when she died the nephew cried and wished that he could have said sorry and told her how strong she was and how much he was going to miss her.

SECRETS REVEALED BY-SECRETS REVEALED BY-SECRETS REVEALED BY-SECRETS REVEALED BY-

SONNY DESAISONNY DESAI

DOMINIC WONGDOMINIC WONG

RACHELLE FERNANDESRACHELLE FERNANDES

AKANKSHA BARADIYAAKANKSHA BARADIYA

SONNY DESAISONNY DESAI

DOMINIC WONGDOMINIC WONG

RACHELLE FERNANDESRACHELLE FERNANDES

AKANKSHA BARADIYAAKANKSHA BARADIYA