Taylah

Welcome to Taylah's page.

Hi. My name is Taylah and I am 13 years old. I have 3 dogs (including a gorgeous little puppy called Charlie) I am new to Woodleigh this year and am loving it so far. I love to play tennis and draw however, I can not draw very well. I play violin and am going through a Taylor Swift faze. In English I would love to improve my spelling and put more structure into my writing.



Charlie Brigg, Charlie, and Cassie just before Christmas.

Here is my first piece of writing for the year. It is called the **Bill Nugent Story**.

I walked slowly observing the once beautiful grass land ahead. The course, blood splatted grass grabbed my baggy green pants. I could not believe the brutal task that had been forced upon me. This was wrong, very wrong.
 * Bill Nugent: **

The prisoners came out of the gravel pit slow and weary, their future out of their hands. As I looked closer I wished I ran with Walter, wondering if it was too late to run. I felt my eyes fill with water. I tried to shadow them in fear that Foster might see.

When we reached the ravine the young German soldiers huddled together. Their young innocent faces were bruised and bloodstained. They were all so young and had their whole lives ahead of them. Thousands of thoughts raced through my head. My heart started to quicken and my head began to throb. My sweaty hands hesitantly picked up my rifle. I wasn’t thinking right. From there everything happened so fast. I looked at Corporal Foster’s stern stare then looked at the brush of fear that had swept over the boys’ faces. I heard the deafening sound of gun shots from the soldiers beside me. I closed my eyes, not wanting them to open. I felt my rifle vibrate in my hands. I wasn’t sure if I pulled the trigger. I quivered as I opened my eyes and saw the lifeless remains of the young boys. I hoped they weren’t my bullets, but I wasn’t sure.

A feeling of nauseousness overwhelmed me. The sickening realisation of what happened started to kick in. I laid out flat and started to tremble. I replayed the horrifying scene over and over. What had I done? Shame fell upon me that day. I knew I wasn’t the same man anymore.  By Taylah Argent 8a

//In this story I wanted to try and capture the feelings of Bill Nugent. I wanted the reader to know that Bill was in a state that he could not control. He was so shaken up about the whole thing he didn't know whether he actually pulled the trigger.//

Here is my Bayeux Tapestry report.

Source: [|www.clas.ufl.edu] ||
 * Picture: Scene 22 and 23 of the Bayeux Tapestry.

** B **** ackground of the Tapest ** ** ry: ** The Bayeux Tapestry is a great historical artefact that interprets what happened in the historic battle of 1066. The tapestry is a beautiful piece of art embroidered with coloured wool and fine stitching. For safe keeping the Bayeux Tapestry is kept in a museum in France in dim light so the colours will not fade. Written through the victorious eyes of the Normans the Bayeux Tapestry is a magical piece of art that is approximately 70 metres in length and around 6 metres in width. There are many theories around who made the tapestry and where it was made. Some people believe in the beautiful story of how Queen Matilda made the tapestry alongside her ladies in honour in tribute to her Husband. Others believe it was made by nuns in Canterbury which is famous for its school of tapestry, where they use methods very similar to the methods used in the Bayeux Tapestry. Embroidered with vivid pictures and scenes the Bayeux Tapestry was made with care and precision in memory of the great Norman victory. The tapestry was supposedly made to prove that the Normans won and William the Conqueror had a right to the throne. ** W **** hat kind of evidence is the tapestry? ** In many ways the tapestry is primary evidence however, it is not primary evidence of the battle of Hastings. The Bayeux tapestry is secondary evidence because it was written as an interpretation of what happened in that battle through the view of the Normans. The tapestry was designed for propaganda; whoever saw it knew that the Normans were the good guys and the rightful rulers of England.

The Bayeux Tapestry is primary evidence when you consider its heritage. The tapestry itself is from a long time ago and proves that Latin was the language of education. It also gives researchers and historians a lead on what threads and materials were used in the past and how they made magestic pieces of art.


 * Picture: The scene in which King Harold died. **Source**: www.healigan08-09.wikispaces.com ||
 * T **** heories of King Harold’s death. **

Uncertainty and confusion surrounds the origins of the Bayeux Tapestry. How King Harold died is a perfect example. For many years it has been thought that King Harold had died from an arrow in his right eye. According to history, King Harold took an oath over a saint’s bones to be loyal to William the Conqueror. By crowning himself King he broke his oath and lied in front of god; this crime is commonly known as perjury. Back then the punishment for committing such a crime was to have your eyes ripped out of their sockets. Historians are starting to think that the figure depicted with an arrow wedged in his right eyes is in fact not intended to be King Harold at all. After closer examination of the tapestry it would appear that the arrow is not wedged in the right eye of this figure (whether intended to be King Harold or not) but in fact lodged in the lower part of his helmet. This suggests that the figure depicted did not die from this injury. After taking this evidence into consideration another theory emerged suggesting that King Harold was not the figure with an arrow in his eye but a different figure being stabbed with a sword through his heart. Some historians and researchers believe this theory because the Norman makers of this tapestry wanted to illustrate convincingly that King Harold was dead. The reason being is if the Anglo Saxon people thought there was a glimpse of hope that King Harold was still alive they could rebut against the Norman ruler. ** C **** onclusion. ** The Bayeux Tapestry is a beautiful piece of art with lively pictures and scenes. Harold’s death is one of the most remembered scenes in the tapestry. How Harold died is a debatable question that up until now had no answer. After years of hard work and research it is proven that king Harold died a painful and ruthless death. It is now widely believed that the figure being stabbed in the chest was intended to depict the death of King Harold. Historians have now discovered that this figure is wearing different armour and clothing which suggests he is of higher rank or standard. Research suggests that the Normans wanted to use the tapestry to illustrate King Harold’s death so that without hope that their leader was still alive, the Anglo Saxons would lose their faith and confidence that could have lead to them taking down of the Norman Empire. Overall the Bayeux Tapestry has many more mysteries and secrets hidden within. In time historians may be able to figure out more mysteries and theories around the tapestry however, many more will remain just that…a mystery. `

Source –www. travel.webshots.au ||
 * Picture: The Norman Army travelling across the sea.

B ibliography. 1. “Bayeux Tapestry”, <[] __ >, (Visited, 15th of Feburary)  __ 2. History learning site, “The Bayeux Tapestry” < [] >, (Visited, 13/2/11) 3. Clare, J.D. (1997) __The Middle ages__, Nerlson.

** Why did the Feudal System end? **

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As the Roman Empire fell, the rise of the Feudal System began. The system followed specific rules that all obeyed. This was a time when peasants had little power in society. Peasants owed their loyalty and produce to higher ranked citizens such as nobles and priests in return for their safety. Often there was a lead noble that was respected and had loyalties throughout the area. He was known as the King. It is believed that the Feudal System ended through a combination of factors such as the Crusades, the Black Death and the rise of towns. Together this combination was enough to take down the traditional way of life. Europe was governed by the same principals of the Feudal System with slight differences. It was united by Christianity and the people’s loyalty to the Pope. =====

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The Crusades played a major part in history that undermined the laws of the Feudal System. It is said that the Pope called the first Crusade in 1090 to invade Jerusalem in fear of other religions destroying the holy land. The Pope encouraged around 100, 000 people to join the Crusade with the promise of money and a guaranteed spot in Heaven. The journey to Jerusalem was harsh and exhausting. Along the way the Crusaders leaned new ideas, skills and craftsmanship. They saw and experienced new food, technology, religions, hygiene and education such as maths, science and medicine. After many years only 20, 000 crusaders finally made it to Jerusalem. They tore down the walls in 1099 only to find that they were not needed. In Jerusalem different religions such as Christian, Jewish and Muslim all cooperated together to form a peaceful environment. The Christian Crusaders refused to travel home after their long journey. The Christians caused a massacre. A terrible battle took place leaving innocent people to face death. The Christian Crusaders seized many homes taking what they wanted including loot and money. As most of the Crusaders were peasants they were drawn to money and developed a taste for power. When the Crusaders returned home they undermined the Feudal System with their desire for products, possessions and knowledge not traditionally attributed to peasants. Carried home with the crusaders were diseases new to their society including the horrific plague known as the Black Death. =====

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The Black Death killed many people which distorted the Feudalism Pyramid and led to the death of the Feudal System. Believed to have started in Sicily the Black Death was easily spread through rats and carried around the world on ships. The Black Death, often fata, wiped out over 70 million people. When this terrible disease hit an area, people would flee, spreading the disease further. Many Nobles and Priests had places to go to escape this flu, however peasants were forced to stay and therefore they got the plague. The Black Death killed many peasants which decreased their numbers and so increased their value to the Nobles. This led to peasants being paid by their masters for their services. As a result peasants had more access to money, powerful and free will. With greater skills and wealth, peasants we able to buy and sell their products which led to the gathering of people and the rise of towns. ===== The rise of towns predicted the end of the feudal system by establishing a new rank of people that did not fit in the feudalism pyramid. These people that were once peasants had learnt to trade make a living. These people would gather around popular places such as crossroads. Crossroads were believed to attract a lot of traffic. The people who wished to sell or offer their skills to the public often paid rent for land. This gave the owner of the land (most likely a noble) money and a cash income, which he would not receive from a working peasant. Towns grew around the crossroads. This attracted more and more people. As the town got bigger people established schools for education. Knowledge and education was spread around the town until it wasn’t just nobles and priests that were educated. This soon led to the power and authority of priests and nobles to be reduced. As towns were getting bigger they became harder to manage. It didn’t take long before the people of the towns formed a guild and elected mayors to organise the town. The rise of towns influenced many people and made the power in trade cause faults in the feudal system.

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As the feudal system slowly dissolved the rise of a new civilisation evolved. These were the times of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was believed to be the start of a new dawn, an age that art inspired many people. =====

From Taylah Argent
// By Taylah Argent // || I watched the sun set slowly. My salty tears were like a river running down my face. I took hold of the steel metal bars before me. I yearned to see the sweat smiles of my children. Would they wait for me? The guards took their place outside my chamber. They were a brick, blocking my way to freedom. My spirit had been crushed. I needed to break free.
 * // Crossing The Divide //

I leaned against the solid brick wall. Feeling for any weakness. Frustration swept over me. I found a weakness and kicked. The bricks crumbled revealing a way out. Guards shouted in the distance. Rain shot down like bullets in the sky. Striking at any time. I ran like a stormy blizard. Only to stop at a line that divided me from the outside world. The taste of freedom filled my mouth. My heart was a jackhammer, beating in my chest. If I cross this line there would be no turning back. I felt a lump, heavy in the back of my throat. I was as cold as winter. My eyes came to a close. If I continued I would be a criminal for life. All fell quiet. I stepped forward and crossed the divide


 * When Did the Aztec civilisation exist? **

The Aztec civilisation was a powerful society that was located in central and Sothern Mexico. Stretching for over 80, 000 square miles it was home to around 15 million citizens. It is believed that this upcoming civilisation started alongside the Renaissance in the late 1100’s and slowly dissolved sometime into the early 1520’s.

Source: http://www.lib.uci.edu/about/publications/exhibits/meso/mesolandscape2.html ||
 * Caption: This map outlines the Aztec Empire and the regions that have been influenced.


 * 1428  Aztecs overthrow the Tepanecs.  ||


 * 1500  The capital city of Tenochtitlan gets flooded.  ||


 * 1519  Cortes enter the capital city of Tenochtitlan.  ||


 * 1345  The capital city of Tenochtitlan was discovered.  ||


 * Timeline (Aztec) **


 * 1250  Aztecs reached the Valley of Mexico  ||


 * 1358  The city of Tlatelolco was discovered.  ||


 * 1446  The Aztecs fought a 4 year war against Chalco.  ||


 * 1511  The Spanish invade Cuba  ||


 * 1521  The end of the city Tenochtitlan  ||


 * 1200- 1400 ||


 * 1400-1500 ||


 * 1500-1530 ||


 * Timeline (Europe) ||


 * 1090  The first Crusade  ||


 * 1348  The Black death  ||


 * 1300  The Renaissance begins  ||


 * 476  The start of the Middle ages  ||


 * 1300-1400  The Middle Ages end  ||


 * The political structure of the Aztec Society **

The Aztec society was a high anarchy civilisation that distinguished social classes according to how rich the citizens dressed and how they styled their hair. The leader of the Aztec people was known as the Emperor. The Emperor was at the top of the social pyramid and was often chosen based upon his braveness and experience in battle. Excluding the Gods, the Emperor was regarded as the most important person in society and was always treated with respect. Next, in the Aztec structure were the nobles. The nobles were very wealthy and owned a lot of land. Ordinary tribe’s people were the next class down from the nobles and made up the bulk of the population. At the bottom of the pyramid were the slaves. The slaves were the lowest-rank in the Aztec civilisation. Most of the slaves were prisoners however; they were generally treated well. In the Aztec society it wasn’t uncommon for people to be able to move up and down the social pyramid.

For children in the Aztec society it was considered important to act responsibly and learn how to behave properly and politely. At the age of 4 boys were expected to help carry water and firewood. At the age of 6 they were fishing and taking produce to markets. Girls around the same age learned how to spin and cook in preparation for raising a family and having a good marriage. Noble girls had a chance at the age of 12 or 13 to help in the temple and possibly go on to have a profession as a priestess.

Source: http://www.balagan.org.uk/war/new-world/mexico/painting_guide_aztec.htm ||
 * Caption: This picture shows two tribesmen and how they dressed.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec _ slavery ||
 * Caption: This picture depicts a common slave in the Aztec civilisation.

Source: Google Images ||
 * Caption: This pictue illustrates what an emperor may have looked like and how he would dress.


 * The great city of Tenochtitlan **

The Aztec civilisation contained around 15 million people who lived in nearly 500 towns and cities including the capital city of Tenochtitlan. The great city of Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the centre of Lake Texcoco. Believed to be founded in AD 1325 this city soon became one of the largest cities in the world. In 1500 historians estimated that around 200,000 people lived in this city. The city of Tenochtitlan became the largest city of Aztec culture and was the centre of the Aztec government. This attracted many people such as traders, ambassador, scribes and porters. It was in Tenochtitlan that the Aztec people gave their sacrifices to the Gods.

Source: http://apwhod2010.pbworks.com/w/page/26550608/Tenochtitlan ||
 * Caption: This picture is an interpretation of what the great city of Tenochtitlan might have looked like.


 * The Aztec Religion **

The Aztec religion was a major part of everyday life. The Aztec people believed and worshiped nearly 1000 Gods. The Aztecs believed that to make the sun rise each day they must sacrifice one living life to the God Huitzilopochtli. Huitzilopochtli was a strong and powerful God that was known as the “Sun God,” who had power over the sun and the war. Each year around 20,000 people were sacrificed to appease the Gods. The Sacrifice ritual was a quick and painful death that involved the ripping out of one’s heart. In honour of the sun, the Aztec society would hold an annual ‘Gods Feast Day” where they would sacrifice almost 1000 people. It was believed that if the God Huitzilopochtli was not pleased he would cause the sun to slowly die, leaving shadow and darkness to overpower the land. The Aztec religion influenced the way the Aztecs built the beautiful Ceremonial temples known as the Teocalli, which included swimming pools, gardens and residence for priests or priestesses. Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc were considered two of the most powerful and important Gods in Aztec society. These Gods were the basis of the Aztec religion. It was told that the God Tlaloc had control over the skies and the weather. Aztec Farmers often prayed to Tlaloc in hope of him bringing rain to their dry, desert farms.

Source: http://www.michaeldorosin.com/seton/7/html_delia/test.htm ||
 * Caption: This is one of the many beautiful Aztec temples.


 * The Aztec Empire **

The Aztec Empire was very large and strived for war to conquer new land, new cities and people for sacrifice. The Aztec army consisted of men that had been trained from a young age. In war, the Aztec soldiers admired and valued bravery. It was considered noble for an Aztec soldier to die in battle, or volunteer to be sacrificed. The Aztecs lived for war. Without war the capital city of Tenochtitlan would have collapsed. It is believed that without the jewels and loot from war the citizens of Tenochtitlan might have starved, leading to the fall of the Aztec Empire. For a new Emperor to begin his reign he must authorize and initiate a battle where he would lead his army to victory. It was in the 1400’s when the Aztec Empire grew and expanded and by 1519 the Aztecs had conquered nearly all of Mexico.

Source: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/aztec-maps.htm ||
 * Caption: This map shows the Aztec Empire and all the land it has conquered over the years.


 * The fall of the Aztecs **

As the Aztec Empire grew larger so did Europe’s land and knowledge. Europe was a foreign land and the European Empire had not discovered or explored the bulk of America. In 1519 a group of Spanish explorers travelled through Central and Southern Mexico and invaded the city of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish explorers consisted of 350 men and 50 horses. They used lethal weapons called guns that the Aztecs had never seen or heard of before. As war broke out, many nobles and priests were murdered and numerous temples and statues were destroyed. The city of Tenochtitlan was destroyed house by house. Fifty years later the population of the Aztec society dropped from 13-15 million to 1 million. The great city of Tenochtitlan was crushed and so were the great temple ruins. Grand new European Cathedrals were built in their place. Most of the surviving Aztecs were converted to the European religion of Christianity, leaving the Aztec religion to slowly dissolve and fade out.



Source: http://www.delange.org/TemMayor3/TemMayor3.htm ||
 * Caption: This was the remaining of Tenochtitlan after the Spanish invaders.


 * Bibliography **


 * 1) Detrates, J,(1992__). What Do We Know About The Aztec__, Simon + Schuster, London.
 * 2) Macdonald, F., (1998). __Step into the Aztec World__, Lorenz, New York.
 * 3) Wood., (1992__). The Aztecs__, Hamlin, London.
 * 4) Schmal, John P .”The rise of the Aztec Empire”,< [] >, ( Visited, 31/5/11 )
 * 5) “Aztec Religious Beliefs”,< [] > (Visited, 6/6/11)

By Taylah Argent

The Renaissance Essay

The Middle Ages was a dark time in history that was ruled by strict social structure. It was believed that the Middle Ages started around 1066 and slowly dissolved around the 1400’s. This was the beginning of a new civilization known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance was often referred to the rebirth of society. It was in the Renaissance that the study of exploration, art/education/science and the reformation flourished. It was believed that the Renaissance was the start of current civilization. People became more aware of the cultures around them and their love for art, literature and education. The reformation led to advances in religion and ones relationship with God.

Exploration was a major part of the Renaissance. While the Middle Ages were an age of darkness the Renaissance provoked many people to adventure out to study and trade in the cultures around them. It was believed to be the crusaders who first inspired others to travel to other countries. The crusaders traded in other areas, trading not only goods and food but also ideas. Marco Polo was a great adventurer of the time who was believed to be the first European to travel through Asia and discover Mongolia and China. After arriving back from his travels Marco Polo wrote and published a book about his journey and his new found understanding of the world. This book was very popular and inspired many people to travel. From exploration people became more aware and curious of the world and the major events that had happened in the past. Due to the trade in other countries more people were able to earn money and afford an education.

It was in the Renaissance that people looked at the world in a different way. The Middle Ages was renowned for having strict education rules however, the Renaissance enabled more people to have an education. The Renaissance taught people to realize that anyone from any social class was capable of an education. The rise of education was open to those who could afford it. It no longer mattered where you were in the feudal pyramid. From this concept people like Leonardo Di Vinci had accomplished so much and contributed to the development of the Renaissance. As education took flight so did art and science. Artists in the Middle Ages often used dull and flat colours. Overall the art in the Middle Ages was gloomy and often lacked the detail we see in paintings today. As time went on, artists in the Renaissance added more depth and feel into their art by using new techniques such as the linear perspective. The linear perspective was an influential invention that was not only used in art but also helped the development of science and math. In the Renaissance, art became more realistic and complicated. The Renaissance style of art often used strong detail to depict nature and the realism of people. This meant that everyone was individual and unique. Religious change influenced art in many ways. In the Renaissance period art was less inspired by religion.

In the Renaissance, religion changed dramatically. Religion in the Middle Ages was a powerful thing that was not to be messed with. The only people that could talk to god and have a relationship with him were the priests however, this all changed in the Renaissance. The rise of reformation soon influenced many. It was in the Renaissance that the bible got translated from the language of education (Latin) to the everyday language of German. The Bible was believed to be translated by Martin Luther with the help of the printing press which was invented by Johannes Gutenberg. When the Bible got translated people started to question the need for a priest. This led to the concept of a direct relationship with God. With the attention off the church many people were intrigued by human accomplishment and capability. This was the start of Humanism.

Around the 1600’s was when the Renaissance slowly came to an end. It was soon followed by the rise of the Industrial period. The Industrial period was a time when people managed to harness the power of fossil fuels. It was the start of another age.

By Taylah Argent

//Task 1// All these choices are valid options and each has their advantages and disadvantages. If the group decide to try and rescue their families, there would be very little chance of saving them and a good chance of themselves being killed. The group would have to consider whether it is worth risking their own and others’ lives for the slim chance of saving their parents. If they decide on another option the opportunity of saving their parents may arise again. If the group decide to inflict damage on the enemy they would be contributing to the war and their actions would be as bad as the enemies. By choosing to inflict damage the enemy, the enemy would be more aware of them and it would become in their interest to try and kill them. If the group decide to stay put and stay alive they would never know what would’ve happened if they tried other options. This option is the safest and is probably the best choice for the time and situation. Later, down the track the group could revisit the choices and assess the best option again.
 * Tomorrow when the war began**
 * Homer puts three choices to the group; try to rescue their families (even though it is very dangerous and unlikely to succeed) inflict damage on the ‘enemy’ or sit tight and stay alive. In your opinion what should the group have done?**

In the bridge explosion Ellie was prepared to do whatever was necessary to keep herself and her friends alive. War is a terrible situation that is often forced upon innocent citizens. Ellie is very young and the decisions she makes may be influenced by her age. Someone of more maturity may have gone about the same situation a different way. However, in war I believe it is inevitable that people are going to die. If someone intends to kill someone they are prepared to live with the consequences. Murder is wrong and so is war. If someone intends to kill you then you have the right to defend yourself. One can argue that murder of an aggressor may be justified if it saves many more innocent lives.
 * Ellie is relieved that she ‘probably’ has not killed anyone in the bridge explosion. However, she understands that her intention was ‘to do whatever was necessary’ and therefore it was only luck that resulted in no lives being lost. Is murder wrong in war?**

In this novel Ellie killed people to defend herself and her friends from the enemy. The enemy were deadly and would have shot and killed them if they were given the chance. Ellie only killed to save the group from armed and dangerous soldier. It would be inhumane for the enemy not to treat Corrie especially when she was unarmed and did not pose any threat. If they enemy did treat Corrie they would probably consider keeping her as a prisoner of war along with the other civilians.
 * Ellie killed people when she caused the first explosion and when she ‘saved’ Lee. Would the enemy have been justified if they had refused to treat Corrie because of this?**

There are a lot of imbalances and injustices in the region. While it may not be fair that some people are born with more wealth and opportunity than others, it does not give people the right to steal wealth and kill many innocent people in doing so. In today’s society there are certain groups that try to help correct the imbalances in society in a fair and non-violent way. I believe that this is a better and fairer way to respond to the situation rather than simply reversing the roles. Reversing the roles would be more unfair because it is imposing the act of theft and violence while still creating an imbalance in society.
 * Robyn ‘could understand’ why the ‘enemy’ had invaded. They claimed they were “addressing imbalances within the region.” They had very little. Australia had a great deal. They were going to ‘divide up the farms’ for their people and give Australians the ‘menial’ jobs. This would have resulted in a role reversal. Is that role reversal more unfair than the original situation where Australia was ‘rich’ and wouldn’t ‘share’ their wealth?**


 * Tomorrow When the War began**


 * Task 2**


 * Who is the leader of the group?**

Throughout this book all the characters proved themselves to have leadership qualities. Ellie was the voice of the group and was automatically chosen to write and record their journey. Throughout the story Ellie was brave, and was willing to do what she needed to do to give the group the best chance of surviving. Unlike Fee, Ellie wasn’t afraid to show initiative. “My fear came from Love. Love for my friends. I didn’t want to let them down. If I did, they would die”. This quote demonstrates that Ellie knew what she had to do and did it even if it seemed hard. Homer was a confident and practical leader whose aura demanded attention. “We’ve got to make more decisions guys”. Homer talks to the group and willingly takes the leadership role in organising their next move. Throughout the story Robyn also handles the situation well and always stays calm. Robyn offers great moral support and constantly thinks of others. After rescuing Lee in the truck, through all the confusion Robyn is the only one to ask if Lee is ok. “You OK, Lee?” This quote indicates that Robyn consistently cares and worries about the wellbeing of others. Kevin has a strong personality and does not back down to leadership. There were multiple times in the novel where Kevin gave orders to other members. “Do it” was a direct order given to Ellie which signifies that Kevin can take charge when he needed to. Most of the characters stood up to a leadership role depending on the situation. Throughout this novel all the characters had grown and matured to become better leaders. There is no one leader through the book but each of the characters demonstrates qualities and traits of a leader.


 * Who in the group shows remarkable courage?**

Ellie had grown throughout the novel and demonstrated remarkable courage. Courage is to overcome any danger or fear and to have the ability to stay strong when times get scary or tough. John Marsden’s fictional story plot demanded a lot of courage from all the characters. In order to survive the group needed to face their fears and work together. Ellie showed remarkable courage when she was able to look into the faces of her enemy and still be able to light the match to the ride on mower. To light the match Ellie had to think fast and put all her fears behind her “For the first time I saw their faces I struck the match”. This quote was an example of how strong Ellie had to be in order to rescue her friends. By lighting the match and killing the armed enemy, Ellie saved her friends but lost her innocence, and had to live with the haunting consequences of her actions. By showing remarkable courage, Ellie risked her life and managed to save her friends.

**Ellie is concerned by Chris’ morality; she’s concerned that if the romantic relationship break up there will be tension in the group. What tests of their friendship do you see lie ahead for the group?**

So far the group had done well to work together to form plans and ideas to help survive. However, friction in the group was possible. Members within the group could clash or disagree with a plan or idea. This could cause conflict within the group which might either lead to the group splitting in half or forcing the members to pick sides. All these factors will test the group. While some of these effects may be negative or detrimental to the group, some of these could have a positive influence which could strengthen the group and the relationship between the eight individuals.

**Why do you think Marsden included the story of Christie in the novel?**

Throughout the novel John Marsden constantly refers to the story of Christie. The story of Christie refers to a man that had separated himself from society. It was believed by the local people that Christie supposedly murdered his wife and child. Christie then lived and made a home in Hell, where Ellie and her friends had stayed. John Marsden liked to foreshadow, and maybe used the story of Christie as a predictor of how the war messed with the groups’ minds over time. The story of Christie could also symbolize how he was isolated from the world and still managed to survive. The story could resemble hope; if Christie was able to survive in Hell then maybe Ellie and her friends could too.


 * Task 4 **


 * Which character do you think undergoes the most change? Explain the journey that your character underwent during the novel?**

Of all the characters in the novel Ellie underwent the most change. Ellie’s personality, behaviour and view of life had developed and changed dramatically. At the beginning of the story she was a normal teenager who lived a relatively safe and predictable life. As the novel progressed Ellie was faced with the unwanted truth of what was required of her in order to survive a war that had been forced upon her. She had to endure complex situations and events as she was separated from her parents, and required to take on responsibility to keep herself and her friends safe. Ellie developed and experienced many new feelings that altered the way she thought and viewed life. This is demonstrated by the quote “Hell wasn’t anything to do with places. Hell was all to do with people. Maybe Hell was people.” This quote shows deep and critical thinking about ideas and concepts that she had never needed to think about before. After all Ellie had been through, she was forced to think more maturely and take on much greater responsibilities. She changed from a simple farm girl in to a young woman who needed to think act and respond like a soldier.


 * Ellie at one stage outlines what she sees as “Homer’s genius” – was Homer a ‘genius’ for coming up with the plans to ‘rescue’ Lee and to destroy the bridge?**

Homer demonstrated intelligence that could have been considered genius. Although ‘rescuing’ Lee and destroying the bridge had not been the most rightful choices, Homer showed insightful leadership which led to the success of both these plans. Homer demonstrated genius by providing well thought out plans allowing him to stay one step ahead of the enemy. “We’ve got to become totally nocturnal and triple check everyone…we should get more supplies in and make it a proper headquarters.” This quote is an example that showed Homer is thinking ahead, taking their situation seriously and focusing on what needed to be done to undermine the enemy and save the group. By showing initiative and quick thinking, Homer was able to come up with successful plans that were considered ‘genius’ from the other members of the group.


 * Ellie worries that she might become ‘like a war criminal’ because of the acts she’s committing. She says she uses “a sense within [her]” to determine what was “good or bad”. Was Ellie a ‘good’ person?**

Throughout this book the reader was led to believe that Ellie was a good person. The novel took the reader on a journey through the eyes of Ellie. Whenever Ellie did something seemingly immoral or ‘like a war criminal’ the reader was given insight into the conscious battle going on within her and could understand that Ellie felt really bad and guilty. “I didn’t know if I was hearing them with my ears or with my mind as well.” This quote was from after she killed the soldiers with the petrol bomb and indicated that the screams would haunt her. This proved that Ellie felt remorse and guilt for what she had done and the reader was reminded that she was not a cold blooded killer. Although some of the acts Ellie committed were bad, it was evident that she tried to do the best she could considering the impossible choices she faced to stay alive.


 * When Ellie finds Chris asleep on sentry duty she loses her temper with him. She understands why sleeping sentries should be ‘shot’. She becomes ‘logical, cold-blooded and merciless’. Later she says that “I guess he atoned.” Did Chris belong in the group?**

Towards the end of the novel Chris proved himself to be a worthy member of the group. Before Chris joined the group he stayed in hiding and wasn’t fully aware of the impact that this invasion had had on the other individuals in the group. When he did join the group he took a while to realize the seriousness of their situation and to adapt to what was required from him to be an effective member of the group. Although he was not very good on his first attempt at sentry duty he stepped up and helped other members of the group. “Look, with my parents oversees, I’m not quite as involved as you guys. But I’ll have a go.” This quote is an example that Chris was prepared to help other group members find their parents even if it wasn’t beneficial to him.

Task 6


 * What inspires Ellie with the idea to use the ride on mower as a bomb?**

Ellie was inspired to use the ride on mower as a bomb through Homer’s old pranks. John Marsden uses a technique called foreshadowing which gives the reader a hint to what could happen later in the novel. At the beginning, Ellie describes Homer as wild and outrageous. She then goes into detail and explains how he would leave a trail of petrol along a road and light it causing cars to swerve and the unsuspecting drivers to panic. By Homer’s crazy personality Ellie was able to use the petrol trail idea to use the ride on mower as a bomb.


 * What techniques does Marsden use to create tension in this scene?**

To create tension, John Marsden used numerous techniques and styles. John Marden writes in a very detailed way that allowed the reader to visualise exactly what was occurring in the novel. To create tension he mixed up the lengths of the paragraphs. “This was the way it was” this quote was an example of a one sentence paragraph. This technique was used to slow the reader down and is interpreted in a more dramatic way. Once the tension had reached a certain level John Marsden would use a pun to release the tension so it could be built up again. In his writing Marsden liked to use alliteration. ““A burst of bullets” this was an example of alliteration and how it makes it easier for the reader to visualise and almost hear what was happening. By Using these techniques the reader was given a detailed and visual view of the situation.


 * Marsden is careful not to let the reader strongly identify with the people who die. How does he achieve this?**

John Marsden was careful when he described the soldiers. John Marden described the enemy he referred to them as soldiers not as people. He was careful, and begun to describe the soldiers by their shadows, bullets, torch and the thud of their feet. “I heard one male voice and one female.” It was only once Ellie lit the match and was out of her hands that John Marsden started to humanise the soldiers. “For the first time I saw their faces I struck the match” By dehumanising the enemy John Marsden was able to convey the message that they were not important.


 * Why do we not condemn Ellie for the murders?**

The reader does not condemn Ellie for the murders because of the way she felt and acted in the situation. By dehumanising the soldiers the reader was led to believe that they were immoral and unimportant. John Marsden portrayed Ellie to be an innocent young teenager that was forced to make impossible choices in order to stay alive. When describing the situation Ellie it was evident that Ellie felt guilty and responsible. ““I didn’t know if I was hearing them with my ears or with my mind as well.” This quote demonstrated that Ellie felt bad and haunted by her actions. By the techniques John Marsden used the reader did not condemn Ellie for her murders.


 * Why does Marsden have them pass the “Welcome To Warrawee” sign in the last sentence and why does he describe them as going “like bats out of Hell.”**

- “Like bats out of Hell” could refer to leaving behind their first murder.

- “Welcome to Wirrawee” could be ironic because they are intruders in their own town.


 * Task 7 **


 * Part 1**


 * Famous 5**

John Marsden referred to the Famous Five early on in the novel to give an example of what Ellie and her friend’s lives were like. It was hard to find a book that explained what the group had gone through “We’ve had to rewrite the scripts of our lives the last few weeks.” The Famous Five was a book by Enid Blyton that focused on the adventures of four children and their dog. When John Marsden referred to this series he emphasised that the children were without parents or adult guidance. The children were forced to look after themselves “Well, I think we’d better go to bed.” In different books the four children then found themselves in situations that intrigued them to go on adventures which helped them learn and discover more about themselves and who they were as people. This resembled Ellie and her friends however, the adventures of the Famous Five differed to the journey that Ellie and her friends had to undertake. The Famous Five explored and solved fun and exciting mysteries where everyone was relatively safe. The journey that Ellie and her friends went through forced them to grow up and make impossible decisions in order to save them and defend their country. Compared to the adventures that the famous five went on Ellie and her friends had been forced into an uncomfortable and scary scenario “Those books don’t have any bearing on what’s happened to us.” While the famous five went on adventures without parental guidance they could be sure that they were all going to be safe and happy at the end of the day.


 * Creative Response **


 * // Forty people died in one area in this ‘clean war.’ Is there such thing as ‘a clean war’? //**

The playground appeared lifeless and cold. The once playful environment was reduced to a shattered heap in front of me. I was by myself not knowing what to do or where to go. The cruelty of war had been forced upon me. I wanted to go home but I could not bear to think what may have happened to it. I walked around the roads of my hometown trying to take in what I saw. The town I used to call home had been ravaged. Shops and houses had been broken into, and some even set alight. Seeing my hometown in this state was stealing a piece of my heart and childhood away from me.

I heard the faint sounds of footsteps behind me. My heart beat began to quicken and my throat was dry and raspy. My mind became weak and separated itself from my weary and bruised body. Only when the thought of death crept into my mind, did I force myself to move. Quickly, I made for the closest shop. I stayed there too scared to think. Three soldiers walked along the road. Their mouths remained closed and their expressions stern. I looked into their eyes and had no idea what they had done or what they were capable of doing. The “not knowing: could have driven me insane.

After a long fifteen minutes I convinced myself that they had gone. During that time I thought about how scared I was. The reality of death again crept into my disturbed mind. Death scared me. I thought about how many people might have died in this war. I also thought about the people who would choose death to escape the constant agony and nightmare of war and those who wished to erase the terrible things they saw or had done. Death was inevitable. Graphic images flooded my mind. War had changed me and not for the better. My town was ruined. I wondered what extent war would drive me to. I questioned whether I could live with the knowledge I now know. War had left a deep scar on my soul that could never be healed. Every night I feared going to sleep, not knowing what I might dream. War messed with my emotions and I will don’t know if I will ever think the same way again. This was no ‘clean war’.

By Taylah Argent


 * Tomorrow when the war began essay. **

What does Tomorrow When the War Began suggest that loyalty, courage and goodness are?

__ Tomorrow when the war began __ was a novel written by John Marsden that explored a number of admired human characteristics such as loyalty, courage and goodness. Within the novel Marsden created characters that all demonstrated these qualities while facing life changing circumstances. Loyalty, courage and goodness are all valued traits that everyone wishes to possess. __Tomorrow when the war began__ suggested that loyalty, courage and goodness were all positive and universal characteristics.

Throughout the novel loyalty was demonstrated through many scenarios, and proved to be a beneficial and positive attribute. Loyalty was evidently shared and feely given between the members of the group. When Corrie was shot Kevin showed remarkable loyalty, “Corrie’s my mate and I’m not going to dump her and run.” The group was also loyal to their family by showing genuine care and worry for their wellbeing. “We can have a go at getting our families out of the showground.” However, loyalty still had its limitations that were often met because of common sense and rational thought. When Homer proposed the option that the group rescue their family, they were forced to think rationally about their situation, and chose against rescuing them. “That’s a tough one, probably way beyond our reach.” Loyalty was not only shared between the group but it was also demonstrated in their love and connectedness to the land. It became the group’s interest to defend and show patriotism to their country. “It’s important for ourselves, and for our families, and for that matter even our country”. The group felt as if they owed protection to the land. However, patriotism and loyalty was also demonstrated in the enemy. While loyalty united the group it was also a universal trait that was shared by the enemy, influencing their actions also.

Courage was also a positive human trait that was shown by members of the group as well as the enemy. Courage was an admired feature that was not possessed by all. To have courage was to face fears and to override the human instinct of self-preservation. A physical display of courage was demonstrated when Robyn willingly stepped into danger to save Lee and return him to the restaurant. Robyn was scared but she had to face her fears and by doing so she accomplished something that she would always remember. She put her own life at risk to save Lees declaring, “I took the worst risks to get here.” Socially, Homer showed courage in the way he reacted to his feelings toward Fi. Homer was renowned for being an irresponsible adolescent and was described by Ellie as “wild and outrageous”. Homer had to change and demonstrate courage to impress Fi who was very delicate and sophisticated. Ellie demonstrated courage by having to live with the moral consequences that she killed people even for the good of the country. Ellie showed mental toughness and strength when she declared, “for the first time I saw their faces, I struck the match.” Throughout the novel the reader comes to admire the characters that demonstrated courage whether it be through physical, social or moral behavior.

Like courage, goodness is something that is universally admired and valued. However, it is easier to depict a good person in an ordinary situation compared to the complex situation Ellie and her friends underwent. “We’ve learnt a lot and we had to figure out what’s important, what matters, what really matters. It’s been quite a time.” John Marsden portrayed Ellie to be a good person even if she killed people in the war. John Marsden depicted goodness as an intrinsic trait found within a person as apposed to something applied to a person based on the consequences of their actions. When Ellie killed she had a general belief that she was doing it for the right reasons. John Marsden planted hints throughout the novel indicating that Ellie struggled to live and believe the crimes she had committed. “I didn’t know if I was hearing their screams with my ears or with my mind as well.” The reader gets a general impression that Ellie was a good person that was forced into impossible situations where no action seemed morally right.

Loyalty, courage and goodness were involved in the decisions the group made to care for each other, their families and their country. In Marsden’s fictional story plot he created the message that through loyalty, courage and goodness humans can be good, capable and creative.


 * The Story of Bertram Christie**

Harsh and bitter accusations were announced and spread throughout society. I strongly remembered the cruel and judging eyes of a town I used to call home. People that I once considered friends shunned me out of the community. The cold and icy wind crept through my body. I, Bertram Christie was once a war Hero, but now I wait to rot in a place I call Hell.

It all started when the war ended. The brutal memories were still fresh in my mind. I had longed to return to my beloved family. When I did I began to appreciate that what I had fought for was worth it. My wife Imogen and my son Alfred were my family and best friends. Whatever I did was always influenced by my love for them. My family and I lived on a farm just outside of town. I found it easier to live there rather than the town. There was no pressure to meet the neighbours or bump into friends at the local store. Overall, we lived a simple life.

As the days, weeks and months past I began to recover from the mental torture of the war. A feeling of happiness washed over me as I reminisced about the fun times my family had shared. I was returning from town after picking up some crucial supplies. The dirt from underneath my feet flared up behind me, causing a massive wave of dust. I sniffed the air. An overwhelming scent of smoke immediately stopped me in my tracks. I looked around only to find miles and miles of wasteland. The smell was coming from my home where my family waited. I ran not knowing if I could save them. My heart quickened. Blazes of yellow fire grasped the house making it look like a tiny figurine. Risking my own life I bounded through the house. From a distance I made out the distinct silhouettes of my wife and child. Imogen was curled up in a corner with Alfred in her lap. It was too late to save them. It became my mission to not let them suffer like my many comrades in the war. I rummaged through a draw in the hall metres from the blaze, and pulled out the emergency gun. I had one shot for each. Salty tears dribbled down my cheek and fell onto the burning floor. I gazed into their shocked eyes and shot once, then twice.

I soon found Hell and it was here that I waited and suffered. Each day I reflected on the months I spent with my family before the fire. Those were the happiest days of my life. Knowing that my family were just a memory that was longed to fade away frightened me. I forced myself to remember one last time but I’m too old. There was nothing I could do.