OLD
RIDLEY TEACHERS' NOTES
AUTHOR'S
NOTE: I first read
the myth of 'Tithonous and Eos' when I was in year 7. That was back
in 1958 when I went to Nundah State School in Brisbane. A version of the
original myth was in 'The Queensland Reader', a reading book for kids
first published in the 1890's. 'The Queensland Reader' was very old
fashioned but had some good stories in it all the same. My teacher, Miss
Butcher, made every student in the class read a part of a story out loud.
We were encouraged to read 'with expression'. As I remember, I used to
over-do it big time. Ugh! Too horrible to think about now! Still, I have
never forgotten the tragic story of 'Tithonous and Eos' and have enjoyed
using it as the basis for my new story, 'Old Ridley' READING: [1] Make a note of how many references are made to time, the passage of time, and the seasons throughout the story. [2] Why has the author made all of the trees in Old Ridley's garden deciduous? [3] Why do you think the author has chosen to use following expressions? [a] 'a multi-legged droid, might scurry, insect-like …' [b] 'an insect of some sort …' [c] 'It's a cicada … They shed their shells to renew themselves.' [4] Considering the above, read the myth of 'Tithonous and Eos.' [5] In what genre would you place this story- Fantasy or Science Fiction? Give reasons why it could fit both genres. WRITING: [2] Imagine
that Joachim could not face his parents or his tutor after his awful
transformation into a younger version of Old Ridley. In the role of the
transformed Joachim, write a letter to either [a] your parents or [b] your
tutor stating exactly what you think has happened to you AND how you feel
about it! LISTENING/SPEAKING [2] Write a short [5 minute] script of a conversation between Joachim and Old Ridley if they had called out to each other, from window to window, before the terrible transformation. VIEWING [2] What insect forms the main pattern in both the carpet on the stairway in Old Ridley's, mansion, and also the balustrade of that stair way. Why is this so? [3] Why do the two pages of illustrations showing cogs, like the interior of a clock, transform into the face of a cicada? [4] How is the cicada's antenna identical to Old Ridley's moustache? Why? [5] What words can you read in the stained glass window? Why are they there? [6] There seems to numbers and letters - something like a science formula - scattered over a few pages. Why is this and what might that formula be? [7] Marc McBride has also illustrated Emily Rodda's 'Deltora Quest' series and Gary Crew's 'The Kraken'. Find these in your library. What visual or stylistic similarities do you see between Marc's art in those books and his work in 'Old Ridley'. [8] If you could have one of the magnificent original works of art in 'Old Ridley' for a Christmas present, which one would you ask Marc for and why? Ideas for The Diviner's son | Old Ridley | The Castaways of the Charles Eaton
9 November 2002
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