The Lighthouse

Front 1

Summary.

Back 1

Exposition (sets up the story) - This story is set on a breach where 2 children, Megan (10) and Bobby (3), have been left by their parents. They have been told to stay on the beach.

Complication - Megan is too young to look after Bobby. The woman walking the dog leaves them. Bobby makes fish disappear. They argue and walk away from the beach, towards the lighthouse. Megan and Bobby separate (turning point).

Climax - The man in the 'grey tracksuit' 'hovers' over Bobby. Megan slips and falls, hitting her head on a rock. The man kills her and walks away with Bobby who protests.

Resolution - Megan's body is not found and the setting reclaims her.

Hint 1

What happens in the story?

Front 2

What is the effect of the setting?

Back 2

Distracts - It diverts the readers attention from the danger that the children are in. The ice cream van, lighthouse and sand dunes are all very innocent.

Creates atmosphere - It is very lonely. The author constantly reminds the reader that the setting is 'lonely' and 'deserted'. This creates an eerie atmosphere.

It also emphasises how alone they are.

Front 3

The fact that the story opens with an instantaneous reference to the lighthouse tells the reader that this will be a significant aspect of the story. We are aware that they are currently in a different location; they haven't yet ventured to the lighthouse, therefore the characters/reader aren't sure of what the lighthouse will have in store for the characters. The brothers protests against going also suggest that there is danger there.

Back 3

' "Let's go somewhere else, " said Megan to her brother Bobby playing on the beach with his pail and spade. "Let's go to the lighthouse. "

"I don't want to," he said, without looking up. '

Front 4

Shows how young and innocent Bobby is. A pail and spade are symbols of childhood.

Back 4

'He emptied his pail then asked if the lighthouse was over there,'

Front 5

Bobby is scared to go to the lighthouse and really doesn't want to go.

Adds suspense to the story.

Back 5

"I don't want to go to the lighthouse"

Front 6

This shows that she cares about her brother's well-being as she is pleased to see that he is happy.

Back 6

'Megan was glad to see him in a better mood. '

Front 7

This is nasty for Megan to say to her brother.

Ironic.

Back 7

' "I don't ever want to see you again." '

Front 8

This shows that Megan takes advantage of Bobby's youth and naïvety. Shows a realistic sibling relationship.

Ironic.

Back 8

' "I hope a monster doesn't get you." '

Front 9

Metaphor - It happens very suddenly and she feels guilty, which is shown by the rhetorical question.

Back 9

'Panic swept over her. What if something terrible happened to him?'

Front 10

Megan shows her regret and desperation to save Bobby when she runs back from the lighthouse.

Back 10

' Without another thought for the lighthouse or anything but Bobby, she began running back to where she'd left him, praying he'd be alright. '

Front 11

Megan gets frustrated with her brother sometimes.

This shows that they have a realistic sibling relationship.

Ironic because of how she dies.

Back 11

' She felt like strangling him. '

Front 12

Bobby and Megan are shown to be very alone/in a deserted place.

Emphasizes how deserted the place is, because she is far away yet they still notice her.

Back 12

' a woman walking her dog in the distance... '

Front 13

The man is dangerous.

"Hovering" suggests the image of a bird of prey, i.e dangerous.

Back 13

' he was hovering a few yards behind Bobby... '

Front 14

They are still in a deserted place, but now with a man that seems out of place.

Back 14

' ... they found they were on a golf course stretching for miles with nobody on it but a man in a grey tracksuit. '

Front 15

Megan seeks to scare Bobby who would be frightened of monsters - foreshadowing.

Back 15

' "You can stay here if you like," she said, "but I'm going and I just hope a monster doesn't get you." '

Front 16

She gets a fright when she thinks that Bobby is floating in the water.

Back 16

' suddenly her attention was riveted to what looked like a body in the water. For a split second she thought it was Bobby '

Front 17

Megan is still alive, even though she hit her head. The man murders her.

Back 17

' When her eyes flickered, he put his hand over her mouth and nose for a considerable time '

Front 18

How is pathetic fallacy used at the very start of the story?

Back 18

' The day was warm but with a bit of a breeze '

This hints that something was not quite right.

Front 19

What is the turning point of the story?

Back 19

When Megan leaves Bobby on the golf course.

Front 20

How does the story build towards a climax?

Back 20

' it was doubtful that she heard him above the cries of the seagulls ' suggests that the seagulls are shrieking out warnings.

' The sea was stormy now with the waves lashing over the rocks ' What started of as a slight breeze evolved into a large storm.

' dragging him towards the sand dunes with Bobby protesting all the way ' Word choice adds to the mans sense of menace - he forcibly abducts Bobby against his will

Front 21

What happens at the end to Megan's body?

Back 21

' when the sun went down she was gone with the tide. '

The setting reclaims her, almost peacefully.

Front 22

What quote foreshadows the way Megan dies?

Back 22

' ... she was forced to put her hand over his mouth '