Behind the words: What does Conor reveal?
A character’s words do not always tell the whole story. Investigate three short quotations from A Monster Calls and explain what they suggest about Conor’s hidden feelings.
Before you start: These quotations revisit the opening scene, before our current listening point. You do not need to listen ahead or know what happens later. Keep your response about Conor and use only events our class has already heard.
Your task: Submit one comment with five numbered parts. For parts 1–3, explain the quotation in your own words, make an inference about Conor, and identify a specific word or story detail that supports it.
What is the difference between evidence and inference?
Evidence is something the text directly shows: a word, action, or event. An inference is an interpretation you build from that evidence. More than one interpretation can work if you explain your reasoning.
Try: “The word ___ suggests that Conor might feel ___ because ___.” Avoid stopping at “He is scared.” Explain what makes that interpretation convincing.
What does silence reveal?
The narrator describes Conor after his recurring nightmare.
“He’d told no one about the nightmare.”
What is Conor keeping private? What might this choice reveal about his feelings or his willingness to trust others? Explain why no one matters.
Part 1: Write 2–3 sentences. Distinguish what you know from what you infer.
Who is he trying to convince?
After hearing his name in the darkness, Conor speaks to himself.
“You’re too old for monsters.”
Is Conor stating something he confidently believes, or trying to convince himself? What does too old suggest about how he thinks he should react?
Part 2: Write 2–3 sentences. Explain how his self-talk fits—or conflicts with—his reaction to the voice.
Bravery, frustration, or something else?
Conor responds to the monster at his window.
“So come and get me then,”
What feeling might be behind this challenge? Choose an interpretation and support it with his words and a detail from the opening scene. Could a person act fearless while feeling afraid of something else?
Part 3: Write 2–3 sentences. Explain your interpretation rather than simply naming a feeling.
A thought he does not say aloud
Choose quotation 1, 2, or 3. Write 2 sentences in Conor’s voice showing what he might be thinking but not saying. Include one detail from that moment.
Part 4: Begin “Imagined thoughts for quotation ___:” and use “I.” These are words you invent, not a quotation from the book.
Put the clues together
How can Conor keep a nightmare secret yet openly challenge a monster? What might the difference between his outward behavior and inner feelings reveal about him?
Part 5: Write 3–4 sentences. Connect two of the quotations and explain how they support your thinking. You can refer to their numbers instead of copying them again.
Need help organizing your answer?
“Conor’s outward behavior suggests ___, but his private feelings may be ___. Quotation ___ shows ___. Quotation ___ adds ___. Together, these details suggest ___ because ___.”
Check and submit · 5 minutes
- My comment includes parts 1–5.
- I used specific words or story details and explained how they support my ideas.
- I labeled my imagined thoughts and avoided later events.
- I checked my sentences before submitting.
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? Choose one quotation and explain a second possible interpretation. Which interpretation has stronger evidence?
Quotations: Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls, inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd. Text © 2011 Patrick Ness. All three are from the opening chapter, verified against Candlewick Press’s official chapter sample. Context reminders and prompts are original teaching material.
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