When was Pearl Harbor attacked? (Find the reference to this date in the novel.)

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1 The Attack on Pearl Harbor research task When was Pearl Harbor attacked? (Find the reference to this date in the novel.) The Second World War started in 1939 but the Americans did not join the Allies until after this event. When you are researching a topic you need to ask: who? what? where? when? why? how? Use these prompt questions to find out as much as you can about this event: Where is Pearl Harbor? What was at Pearl Harbor? Who attacked Pearl Harbor? Why was Pearl Harbor attacked? How was Pearl Harbor attacked? When did America declare war? Now extend your research to find out: Who was President of the United States when this happened? How many US personnel died in the attack? What damage did the attack do? Who was commanding the Japanese forces? How many Japanese personnel died? Remember to acknowledge your sources i.e. give the details of where you found your information. Name the web page, book or person you used to find out your answers. If you are using the internet you will need to ask yourself if you have found a trustworthy and accurate source how will you know?

2 Read the Books See if you can find extracts from these books to get a taste of what they were reading, or you could even go for the whole book! Listen to the music Look on a website like YouTube to find some of these 1940s hits: Watch the news see the newsreel Also on YouTube, you can find original film footage of: Francis reads: Don t sit under the Apple Tree the bombing of Pearl Harbor The Great Gatsby - Scott Fitzgerald I ll be with you in Apple Blossom Time the GIs at war eating dinner in Italy The Sun Also Rises Ernest Hemingway Happy Days are Here Again facts about the GI s Bill of Rights. A Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway Books by Tom Wolfe and Jack London Dancing in the Dark Rosie the Riveter There are many other videos depicting life in the second world war and in 1940s America. The White Cliffs of Dover Nicole reads: Rebecca Daphne du Maurier

3 Be like Francis and Nicole life in the 1940s The Old Familiar Faces I have had playmates, I have had companions, In my days of childhood, in my joyful school-days-- I have been laughing, I have been carousing, Drinking late, sitting late, with my bosom cronies-- I loved a Love once, fairest among women: Closed are her doors on me, I must not see her-- I have a friend, a kinder friend has no man: Like an ingrate, I left my friend abruptly; Left him, to muse on the old familiar faces. Ghost-like I paced round the haunts of my childhood, Earth seem'd a desert I was bound to traverse, Seeking to find the old familiar faces. Friend of my bosom, thou more than a brother, Why wert not thou born in my father's dwelling? So might we talk of the old familiar faces-- How some they have died, and some they have left me, And some are taken from me; all are departed-- Charles Lamb This poem could relate to this novel consider the following questions and tasks. Read the poem to yourself and think about what the poet is saying. 1. What is the poet s main message in this poem? 2. There are seven stanzas in this poem - in your opinion, which stanzas could relate to Francis? 3. The poet gives you a number of examples to illustrate his point. Have you experienced any of the poet s examples? 4. You are now going to rework this poem for Francis: Put the stanzas in the order of importance for Francis you could start with the most important or build up to it. Leave out anything that does not fit what you know about him. Produce a copy of your version of this poem. Share your poem with other members of the class. How many other people chose the same order for these stanzas? Do you think that this poem would provide comfort to Francis or would it make him even more depressed than he already is? Explain your views

4 This poem could relate to Francis consider the following questions and tasks. Love's Philosophy The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine? See the mountains kiss high heaven And the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven If it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth If thou kiss not me? Percy Bysshe Shelley 1819 Read the poem to yourself and think about what the poet is saying. 1. Who is speaking in this poem? Is it a male or a female voice? Justify your decision. 2. What is Shelley saying in verse one? What does he want to happen? 3. Is Shelley right when he says nothing in the world is single? 4. Explain what you understand by in one spirit meet and mingle. 5. The first stanza deals with abstract ideas. What is the poet seeking in the second? 6. There are two questions in this poem. Does the poet want a reply? 7. Who will reply to him? Now think of this poem in relation to Francis and Nicole: Before chapter eleven in Heroes, what do you think Nicole s reply would eventually have been? How does Nicole feel about Francis after chapter eleven? How does this change Nicole? Look again at the last four lines of the poem. Think what they really mean. When Nicole and Francis finally meet again Nicole kisses Francis. However, this is not the kind of kiss that Francis is seeking. Why is that kiss the death of his hopes?

5 Here is another poem which may have significance for a person like Francis Read the poem to yourself and think about what the poet is saying. 1. Underline any words you do not understand. Find out what they mean. For Whom the Bell Tolls No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manner of thine own Or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee. John Donne What do you think that this poem is all about? 3. Think how Francis feels. Do you think that he thinks he is an island? 4. Has Francis experienced the effect of a man s death in the way the poet suggests? Which deaths do you think might have diminished Francis? 5. Do you think that Francis will feel diminished after he has carried out his plan to kill Larry LaSalle? Justify your views. 6. Who does the poet say the bell is tolling for? What is the bell and what does it represent to you? 7. After thinking in more detail about this poem, have your views changed about it? This is a profound poem dealing with eternal truths. It is a poem to make you think about your own life. Do any of the lines sound familiar to you? Why might this be? Which do you think is the most powerful line? Which line do you think is especially memorable? Be prepared to justify your opinions

6 Robert Cormier finding out about the author Find out some facts and information about Robert Cormier, you will need access to the internet to complete this task. 1. Where and when was he born? 2. Find out about this town and the suburb where he lived do you recognise any aspects of this place from the town of Monument and the area of Frenchtown in the novel? 3. How long did he live in the town? What work did he do there? 4. See if you can find a quotation from Robert Cormier which explains why he did not feel the need to look further afield for inspiration for his books. 5. Do you think that Cormier is using personal experience in this novel? Was he alive and living in his home town at the time when the novel is set? How old would he have been? What is the significance of this? 6. The ordinariness of evil is considered to be one of Cormier s key themes. Do you think that this is true in Heroes? Do you consider evil to be ordinary? 7. What sort of childhood did Cormier have? Can you explain why many of his main characters are loners? 8. See if you can find a quotation from Cormier about being alone, especially as a young person. 9. Cormier stated in an interview with School Library Journal that he aimed to take real people and put them in extraordinary situations. Find this interview online and write down what he went on to say about intimidation and authority. 10. Cormier s novels tend not to have traditional happy endings. Can you find a quotation from Cormier which explains why he chooses to do this? 11. Cormier has often been criticised for dealing with subject matter which is inappropriate for a teenage audience. Find a quotation from him which explains his views about taboo issues. 12. What is political correctness? What does Cormier think about it? How does this additional knowledge about Cormier help you in your understanding of the novel? Does the fact that the novel is set in a fictional version of Cormier s own town in any way alter your views or perceptions about the plot or characters? Does knowledge about an author always add to your understanding of a novel?