Section 1B – Theme is established early in the Action (The Vinny Bolzano story)
In pairs, you are going to establish the significance of this short extract.
Comment / True / False / Evidence(Proving / disproving comment)
Eddie can imagine himself telling the authorities about Beatrice’s cousins
Beatrice graphically described the whole story of what happened to Vinny Bolzano
Catherine wasn’t really bothered about what she heard
Betraying the ‘code’ of a community like this would always be forgiven
Eddie tries to make sure that Catherine fully understands that you should NEVER talk to anyone about illegal immigrants
Section 1B – Theme is established early in the Action (The Vinny Bolzano story)
THEME TASK 2 - In pairs, now analyse and evaluate the other comments made – you can use this template if you wish. Remember to include the evidence you have already selected in the previous activity
Comment + Evidence(Understanding) / Quote/Evidence / HOW the writer reveals the theme (Analysis) / Comment on how this helps to establish the theme of Loyalty to a particular code early in action (Evaluation)
Catherine was upset about what she heard / “What, was he crazy?”
“Ts! So what happened to him?” / •What Cath says: asks questions – an inquisitive thing to do which reveals Cath’s astonishment
• wants to find out the consequences –moving on the next stage of the story
• Word choice: ‘crazy’, Cath thinks Vinny’s actions were perhaps driven by madness as otherwise he could not possibly have ‘snitched’
•The non-word – ‘Ts!’ – expresses Cath’s disgust at what the boy has done.
• Cath uses an almost derogatory tone when referring to Vinny Bolzano. She cannot condone the course of action he took / • It is clear – through what Cath says and the way she says it - that she cannot comprehend why Vinny Bolzano did what he did
• Her reaction – calling him’crazy’ – shows that clearly in this kind of community the LAST thing anyone should do is go to the authorities
•T he tone Cath uses indicates that anyone who would ‘snitch’ would NEVER be forgiven, even for years to come – inviting prophetic irony as the inevitable ending to this drama unfolds
Eddie cannot imagine himself ever telling the authorities about Bea’s cousins / ‘On his own uncle!’
Betraying the ‘code’ of a community like this would NEVER be forgiven / ‘You’ll never see him no more, a guy do a thing like that? How’s he gonna show his face?’
Eddie tries to make Cath understand that you should NEVER talk to anyone about illegal immigrants / Just remember, kid, you can quicker get
back a million dollars that was stole than a word you gave away (16)