Tomorrow, When The War Began | Chapter 7 Questions

1. Which people in the group are starting to stand out as leaders, is this surprising? Why/why not?

I don't think it is surprising at all, leaders emerge in a time of crisis and they are needed to fuel whatever comes at them and whatever they will need to do.

2. Do you think that taking Kevin’s dog Flip to Corrie's house was a mistake? Explain your thoughts.

I think the emotional connection between the two and the pity towards other's loss' led to this decision. The emotional distress of everyone allowed them to pity Kevin to take Flip.

3. What does Lee mean when he says ‘we might have to make some ugly choices?’

He means that they would either have to leave Flip or kill him. I believe Lee intended to mean the former, however.

OR THEY'RE GONNA KILL FLIP.

4. How is Ellie’s image of Kevin changing in this chapter? Is the decision to split into smaller groups a wise one? Give reasons

We see Kevin become more of an emotional figure as he realises the distress of the situation. When Corrie came to her house and began to cry, we see Kevin hold her and not say a word. This is an extremely different character compared to what he appeared as beforehand. The same form of emotions is expressed earlier when he asks to bring his dog Flip along with him. It is mentioned in the story as 'He couldn't bear to leave her alone again after what she'd been through.'

5. Why is it that Ellie’s group decides to act ‘illogically’ and survey the Showgrounds together?

They don't want to be separated, the 'logical' solution deliberated between them would have been to separate and enter individually. This solution would have led to only one of them being caught in a worse for a worse situation, however, Corrie objects to this. Instead, she calls it 'too logical' and asks that if they should go down they should all go down together.

6. Why does the idea of a female soldier surprise Ellie?

I can't quite pin down what about the soldier being female surprised Ellie. Although it is likely that is simply that female soldiers are uncommon.

7. If your parents were captured in a situation like this, would they have been ‘sensible’, or would there have been violence?

Through further discussion with my parents, they have deliberated that from within the camp they would have stuck to sensibility, for fear of their lives. However, I did not understand that the question asked for the viewpoint of the others instead, I thought it would have been from the viewpoint of Ellie or Homer's parents, in the situation they would've been in if myself had been in the position of Ellie, for instance.

8. How is Ellie ‘transformed’ once she steps out from behind a tree near the Showgrounds?

She finds confidence through the realisation of the situation,

'Up until then. everything had been unreal, like a night-stalking game at a school camp.'

And shortly later this was said 'At that moment I stopped being an innocent rural teenager and started becoming someone else, a more complicated and capable person, a force to be reckoned with even, not just a polite obedient kid.'

Throughout the chapter we see her change into a leader figure, something direly needed for the rebellion that will likely continue from the seven of them.

9. Ellie and Kevin’s quick-thinking allowed them to turn a ride-on lawnmower into a bomb. Was this moral behaviour? Did they do the right thing, or should they have surrendered themselves?

They did it in fear for their lives, whether the soldiers are Australian or not, surrendering themselves would likely have led to either their deaths, imprisonment or likely even worse.

10. Predict what you think has happened to Lee and Robyn.

I think they may have discovered the eighth character that these questions have mentioned previously.

Metallurgy Science Project

Just like at the end of every topic in Science, we create a presentation to display some of the many things we have learnt. These are selected from lists given to us by our teacher. The three that I have chosen this time are -

1. Carry out the test for carbon dioxide gas.
2. Carry out the test for oxygen gas.
3. Carry out the test for hydrogen gas.

Tomorrow, When The War Began | Chapter 6 Questions

1. What is the first sign that something is wrong at Ellie’s house?

The dogs being dead. It's the very first line that is said in the chapter and completely changes the air of the book. It is not just Ellie who realises it, it is the reader as well.

2. Who is the first person to really realise what is happening?

I honestly can't tell, it seems to be slow at first, a small bit of panic when Ellie sees the dogs, but I personally can't tell who really realises it happens first. I do have a thought that Lee would have likely have had some theories in his head before anything happened though. While his suggestion in Hell that Commemoration Day would be the perfect day to invade the country seems to be a joke, he realises at some point that it is less of a joke, and more of a reality.

3. What is Ellie’s reaction to this person’s caution? Why do you think she reacts this way?

Who's caution? I don't quite understand who is meant to be warning her of anything. But no matter what, Ellie seems to react to this all in an understandable way. For all she knows, her parents are dead, everyone she grew up with is dead. She is beginning to panic and doesn't see a break in everything that seems to hit them all at once after coming back from Hell.

4. How is the pace in this chapter different from the chapters before?

Like said before, everything hits at once. The first five chapters seemed laid back almost, calm and beginning to tell a story of pain and hurt, however, no matter what the title explained, the pace completely changes the pace of the book. It's quick-fire information of everything and displays an array of emotions from every character involved.

5. If you were in this situation, would you test the radio or not? Give reasons for your thinking

Definitely. Communication systems like mobile services and Wi-Fi can be cut off easily and lost even easier. However, for radios to even be cut off seems to be extreme, as they are used for distress signals like boats and fires. Especially a fireman's radio being cut off of other channels.

6. Do you think the way the teenagers reacted to the realisation that Australia may have been invaded or at war was realistic? Why/why not

Yes, from their perspective, they are in a ghost town after a humongous event. Especially in Australia. Two major parts of Australia are its large landmass, and how many smaller countries and islands surround it. For example, if New Zealand and an Asian country were to start a war, Australia would be caught right in the middle, and likely forced to fight or hide for fear of their safety.

7. What possible reasons exist that could spark war or invasion of Australia?

Thinking about it, I can't find many reasons. Australia seems like a typically peaceful country compared to others around the world. Politics and the influence of the United Kingdom are typical reasons as well, however I still cannot find a reason.

Tomorrow, When The War Began | Chapter 5 Questions

1. What does Corrie’s choice in career say about her character?

Corrie's choice of career as a nurse is not elaborated on too much. She wants to travel the world and go to the places where she is needed the most. It shows that she wants to help those who can't help themselves and protect those who can't protect themselves. She doesn't want to work for money Ellie says she wants to, Corrie wants to work for the people.

2. The group’s ability to avoid arguing with each other is rare- do you think that there would have been more drama if you and your friends went bush for a week?

Definitely. It's impressive they were able to keep calm and refrain from an argument between themselves, but I do not think the friends I would take into the bush would have the same feelings about it. Especially if we had gotten low on food, arguments would absolutely spark from a lack of food.

3. Why do you think Ellie and Lee feel uneasy just before their return to Wirrawee from the Bush?

Part of Ellie's uneasiness spawns off of not knowing what the purpose of the fires going is, as well as Lee's uneasiness. They don't seem to have an explanation for this feeling, instead, Ellie attempts to pin it on guilt. She explains this is because of how she left her dad with a lot of work to do with the animals in the show.

4. What do you predict will await the group back home, why do you think this?

I think it definitely won't be joy and happiness. Unfortunately, since the next chapter is right on the next page, I accidentally looked at it. The dogs died. And I don't really think that will help the mood for them when they get home, especially knowing that according to the description of the book. The book's description stating -

'Seven teenagers take a trip to Hell.

And seven come back. To Hell.'

This definitely is not stating they are going home to see their homes turned exactly into a place like they were visiting.

Tomorrow, When The War Began | Chapter 4 Questions

   1.   Do you think the way they handled the snake incident was appropriate? What could they have done differently?

I think the way they handled the snake, without preparation, thought or discussion was appropriate and fairly calm. They hadn't prepared for such a peculiar incident so the way they handled getting the snake out of the sleeping bag was smart. One thing that could been done differently was asking someone other than Kevin, who is terrified of small harmful creatures, to take care of it instead. He seemed to freeze up that would have likely ended up with him bitten in a different setting. As well as Fi standing in the river, while it seemed like a good idea to her, maybe the others warning her that snakes can swim would have been a wiser idea.

   2.   Ellie claims that ‘Hell’ is only a label and that people label things all the time, often ignoring or overlooking certain labelled places or things. She then comes to the conclusion that ‘Hell was people’. Is she right? What’s your opinion, on labelling and Hell?

I believe that she is right. Labels are the very foundation of belief within our world. Labelling the wild place 'Hell' drove people away, as they compared to a place known to be of darkness. Within our minds, we label people as something, the smart kid, the theatre nerd, the class clown, all of that creates an image of them in our minds, even if we have never met them. Because of this, hearing the single word Hell creates a dark image in our minds. Whether it creates a cold cell of ice and isolation or a hot firey world filled with noise and screaming, we create a description based on its label. This has translated to many places and people, religion, gender and so many of the other labels we hear for people. When we hear a label it instantly creates an image of someone else we've known with the same label or a similar one.  

What do you think when you hear the label, Christian? The label Muslim? The label Woman? The label Man? The label Gay? Your mind creates a description or an image for you, doesn't it?

3. What was especially peculiar about the planes that flew over Hell? ‘Their ------, their ------, their----- frightened me.’ Do these characteristics have any significance?

I don't quite understand what this question is meant to be asking me, so I'm just going past it.

4. Corrie and Kevin are the only couple in the group, but the trip was bound to bring friends closer. So why does Homer’s interest in Fi seem so odd to Ellie?

Homer is known to be without emotions or interest in others, only in the seemingly perfect women in the magazines. 'I've got a radium heart, takes five thousand to meltdown.' As he has said. Even though Ellie and Homer have been close like siblings for years, she has never seen him take an interest such as this one.

5. Fi brushes off the planes coming back from Commemoration Day. Why do you think the planes were flying over Wirrawee?

I don't think I agree with Fi, I believe it will be something more than just Commemoration day. I believe something happened at the event, and that people are attempting to get away from whatever has happened during the celebration.

6. Robyn claims there were dozens and dozens of planes flying over them. What is Lee’s response? Is his suggestion reasonable?

Lee jokingly suggests that there's a nuclear war going on.

''If you were going to invade that'd be a good day to do it,' Lee said. 'Everyone's out celebrating. The Army and Navy and Air Force are all parading around the cities, showing off. Who's running the country?'

Lee only suggests this to add a lighter tone to the topic of conversation, it's merely a joke.

Aboriginal Art and Boomerang Studies

Explain the purpose of the activity

For some time now we have been looking into Aboriginal Australian art and leading on from that we looked into boomerangs. Eventually, we designed our own using aboriginal symbols to tell a story. I chose to tell a story about myself and how I see myself in some aspects.

Explain the story on your boomerangs, including the meaning of the colour

Given pre-cut boomerangs we painted a side per period. The first side I painted was planned, yet not very clean. On the corner of the boomerang, I have six yellow circles. Three large circles and three smaller circles, these are meant to look like the sun somewhat and represent the members of my closest family, including myself, my parents, my two brothers and my sister. Further along the wood, I have a black curving line each side, these are meant to look like snakes. I painted these because recently I have been thinking how cool it would be to have a pet snake, especially one of black colouring. In between these two, there are two white half circles on opposite sides. These show white clouds, mainly because of how I daydream a lot. At the very ends, there are blue crosses going over each other. These are meant to show water or streams. I have two reasons for these crosses. The first is to do with the rain, I love listening to it, its something extremely calming to me. The second reason is because of a stream. I've always found watching or listening to a river as it flows by to be interesting and therapeutic. The blue colouring seemed like a natural choice for the symbol it represented. The brown and white dots across the rest of the boomerang are merely a design choice to make it appeal to a more aboriginal feel.

The second side of my boomerang was unplanned, as I did not think I had to paint it. Yet, it seems to be the cleaner and more pleasing side. Taking up most of the boomerang, there is a dark blue background dotted with white stars, and more noticeably a moon in the centre. This is meant to parallel the opposite of the boomerang and represent that behind a strong and close family there are many challenges and people that brought us all closer together. As this took so much time and detail, the black and brown sectors are as well a design choice.

What went well when painting your boomerang

Painting the second side I was able to get cleaner lines when I used tape to prevent paint from going over and ruining other paint. This made it appear nicely done and carefully painted, even though it went heavily unplanned.

Tomorrow, When The War Began | Chapter 3 Questions

1. Why does Robyn think they are the only people ever to have gone into Hell?

In the case of more recent times, the story of the Hermit from Hell definitely is known to scare people away from such a place. However, before that, there is nothing to say nobody did it, only to say that it is unlikely. Such a name as Hell, it can be used to scare off others, most people of religion would not want to go to a place.

2. Why do you think the valley is called Hell?

This may have been named so to scare the people from the beautiful place filled with wildlife. Such places now are scarce within the world and can often be protected with legends and myths to scare others from destroying a sacred or beautiful place.

3. Why must the teenagers seem like visitors from hell to the wild things living in the clearing? How is this ironic?

Ironically enough, Hell is described as gorgeous and full of life. When the group comes, the wildlife expects them to light fires and spread gas, leave rubbish accidentally, and destroy the tracks along the way. In place destroying the grand clearing. Compared to the wildlife living there, the teenagers come from a destroyed home. Filled with gas, dying life and different killing people, whether they kill the Earth or others.

4. What picture of Kevin do we get in this chapter?

In this chapter, we see more of Kevin and his capabilities. Especially how he seemed to be good at surviving in this scenario. However, later on, we see him being a total vandal. Breaking off branches off of alive trees instead of taking the dead branches instead. Which should have been easier to light anyway.

5. What does Ellie liken Fi to? Do you think this is a fair assessment of her character? Use examples from the text to support your thinking

Fi is compared to an exotic butterfly, in Chapter three, on page 33. From what I have read on Fi I think this is a pleasant comparison of her character to another being. Graceful, like a butterfly. Exotic in the way that she was raised so differently to the others. One example is something small, yet noticeable. Every one of the teenagers went on something known as the Outward Bound course, which I gather is a form of a camping trip. This seems something that would be exciting for everyone, however, Fi did not attend. A second example is the same scene where she is compared to an exotic butterfly, where it is said that she has never had two-minute noodles and that her parents prefer her to eat 'healthier foods.'

6. At times Ellie switches her narration from retelling the story to commenting about her life in the present - why do you think the author has chosen to write in this style?

I believe this is to help the reader remember that this has all already happened and is not being told as it goes. Ellie is reminding us that she already knows how this story ends. Also so she can tell the story as she wants. To quote how she has done this; 'I can't remember any hike or campout I'd been on where people sat around the fire telling stories or singing. It just never seemed to happen that way. But that night we did sit up late, and talk and talk.'