The Running Man
Activity 7- Annotated Passage
In this final activity you will be required to analyse a cited text from the novel The Running Man. As shown in the example, you will annotate the provided passage and write a paragraph on a question asked below.
Example Question- How is Joseph characterized at the start of the novel and what assumption do you make about him? Cite specific examples from the text.
Question- How has Mrs Mossop been characterized in this part of the novel through the use of narrative conventions and language techniques? How does this explain her fear of Tom Leyton?
Joseph has been constructed as the main character of the story who blames himself for another character's death that is unknown to us at this point. He was obviously close to the now dead character as he experienced a 'sickly ache of regret and loss' and is sitting in the front pew of the church where the funeral is being held. We know that Joseph is very important in this person's life as he is now 'at the centre of it all' and through his single thought 'It's my fault', we can assume that Joseph feels guilty and to blame for this person's death. When Joseph 'forced a weak smile to his lips' we recognize through his halfhearted attempt at a smile that he is keeping up a facade and trying to appear fine when he has a lot of turmoil inside. From all of the language techniques, description of the environment and Joseph's feelings, we reach the conclusion at this point that Joseph is fairly young as he compares himself to a schoolboy but that he has gone through a lot more than a normal boy would shown by his thoughts and actions in this scene.
Source- The Running Man by Michael Gerard Bauer
HINT *Be sure to include the key objectives and think about the assumption Joseph made about Mrs Mossop based on her appearance and what in her past caused Mrs Mossop to fear and misunderstand Tom Leyton.
Glossary (both passages):
Casket- Box in which a corpse is buried or cremated
Kneeler-A board (sometimes cushioned) for someone to kneel on
Whirring-Sound of something in rapid motion, as of a motor working or wings flapping
Surged-Rise or heave upward under the influence of a natural force, as on a wave
Brashly-In an offensively bold and cheeky manner
Avenging-Take revenge for a perceived wrong
Piteously-In a manner of evoking or deserving pity
