What is Conor really thinking?
Revisit A Monster Calls and use one remembered moment to look beneath the surface.
Before you start: Use only events our class has already heard. Work from memory, in your own words. You do not need the audiobook, exact quotations, or page numbers. Keep your response about the characters.
Your task: Write one comment at the bottom of this page with three numbered parts. Read all three prompts first, then type your answers directly in the comment box.
Choose one important moment
Pick A, B, or C. These reminders describe moments from the first few pages of the opening chapter. Use the same moment for all three parts of your response.
A · Awake after the nightmare
Conor is awake after a nightmare he has had repeatedly. He tries to push it out of his mind and checks his bedside clock: 12:07 a.m. He has kept the nightmare secret.
B · Someone calls his name
Conor hears someone calling him. At first he panics, then tells himself he is too old to believe in monsters. He tries to work out whether the sound could be the wind or a familiar voice.
C · He goes to the window
Conor both wants and does not want to investigate the sound. He gets out of bed and looks outside. The old yew tree appears in his backyard, and its branches form a monster.
Begin part 1 with “I chose scene ___.” Then describe what happens in 2 sentences, using your own words. You may use the details in these reminders as evidence in parts 2 and 3.
Scene reminders are paraphrases, not quotations. Source: Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls, opening chapter, verified against Candlewick Press’s chapter sample.
Read between the lines
What does this moment reveal about Conor’s feelings or personality? Write 4–5 sentences. State your idea, describe a specific action or response from the scene, and explain how that detail supports your idea.
Think about: Is there a difference between how Conor acts and what he might feel inside?
Need a way to start?
“Conor seems ___ in this scene. When ___ happens, he ___. This suggests ___ because ___. His actions help me understand ___.”
You may choose a feeling such as worried, frustrated, lonely, or hopeful, or use another word that fits your evidence. More than one interpretation can work.
Write Conor’s unspoken thoughts
Imagine you are Conor during that same scene. Write 3–4 sentences beginning with “I.” Show what he might be thinking but not saying. Include one specific detail from your chosen scene.
Start this part with “Imagined thoughts:” so it is clear that you created these words. Keep them consistent with what we know so far.
Check and submit · 5 minutes
- My comment has parts 1, 2, and 3.
- I used a specific story detail and explained my reasoning.
- I labeled the thoughts I invented and checked my sentences.
Submit one comment below. Follow the usual class sign-in directions. Do not put your email address or other private information in the comment text.
Finished early? Reread part 2. Replace a general statement with a more precise detail from the story.
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