Share Goodnight Mr Tom Chapter 3
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Why does the author share Willie’s troubles in so much detail at the beginning of the chapter?
The author wants to give an accurate account of Willie’s feelings and in doing so gains the reader’s sympathy and despair for Willie.
Why is Willie so desperate to wear his socks?
To hide the marks on his legs. He feels shame about the marks on his body.
Why did Willie feel ashamed whilst at the table? Give reasons for your answer
He had wet the bed during the night. Tom had dragged the mattress outside in order to wash it. Willie thought everyone in the village would see the mattress out
Why does Tom write the postcard on Willie’s behalf?
Willie found it hard to write a postcard so Tom helped him by doing it for him
Why is Willie worried about writing a postcard?
He does not know what to say to his mother. He is worried that Tom will tell his mother that Willie has been bad.
How does Willie ‘read’ books?
By looking at the ‘pichers’ meaning pictures. He cannot yet read words but likes to look at pictures in books
Why does Willie not think much about his birthday?
He probably did not celebrate his birthday at home.
Was Willie’s schooling so far a positive or negative experience? Use evidence from the text to support your answer
Negative. It says that he had no friends. He had not learned to read or write so at school he was not allowed to paint. He explained that he was bullied and cal
What body language does Willie show that implies he is scared of the horse?
Willie hung on to Tom’s trousers and peered around him to watch the horse. Willie was trembling and Tom had to gently push him into the field to get him moving.
Why does the doctor assume Willie is five or six years old?
It said in a previous chapter that Willie was small and very thin which makes him look a lot younger than he is.
Has Tom changed his mind about building an air-raid shelter? Explain your answer
Yes. Now he has Willie to look after he has changed his mind. We know this from what he is thinking on page 44. It says ‘…but with the extra responsibilities of
The postmaster says to Willie that he will have to mind his Ps and Qs. What does he mean by this, and how does Willie interpret it?
The postmaster means that he has to watch what he says, be polite and mind his manners. Willie interprets it literally and wonders how the postmaster knows that
Why are so many people huddled around the wireless?
They are waiting for war to be declared and waiting of news over the radio. It said earlier in the chapter that there were very few wireless radios in the villa
