The Running Man

Questions

Answer the following questions. The first one has been done for you.

 

Example: Explain why Joseph was scared of the Running Man.

Joseph was afraid of the Running Man because he did not understand him. He ran for no reason  'as if he were being pursued by some demon that only he could see' and his appearance was quite noticeable as his clothes were 'old and worn and hung about his tall, thin frame like rags on a scarecrow'. Joseph also described his eyes as shifting about wildly all the time, giving Joseph a clue about his personality relating in reference to the saying 'the eyes are the window to a person's soul'. In relation to the saying, the Running Man's shifting eyes would have given Joseph the idea that the Running Man was quite frenzied and mentally unhinged. Because the Running Man was so odd and his appearance was unnerving, Joseph began to fear him as it is human nature to fear what you don't understand and is a basic survival instinct to protect yourself. Through Joseph's fear of the Running Man we, as readers, understand that fear can be based on appearances and even though Joseph did not know the Running Man, he was still afraid because of the Running Man's appearance.

 

Questions:

1. How does Tom Leyton's appearance relate to silkworms?

2. What part of Mrs Mossops appearance reminds Joseph of a bird?

3. What does Tom Leyton mean in chapter 8 when he says to Joseph 'perhaps you've never seen him'?

4. Name two characters that Joseph misjudged and compare how he saw them and what they were really like.

5. Study the figure of the running man on the front cover. Describe what you see and your first impression of the figure.

6. Do you think humans will ever not judge people based on their appearance? Why/why not?

7. Describe your physical appearance. Do you think this reflects your personality? Why/ why not?

8. What kind of appearance makes you uncomfortable? (E.g. a beard) Why?