Comprehension Questions
The following Questions must be answered in full sentences.
Sample: Chapter 1, question 2.
2. The Redmond's are Charlies neighbours. They are friendly and Charlie is very close to them. We know this because Charlie says "The Redmond's were more like grandparents than neighbours. "
Chapter 1.
1.List 4 things we learn about Charlie Feehan.
2.Describe the Redmonds.
Chapter 2.
1.Charlie is applying for a job. What is the job he is applying for? What does he have to do to get the job? For whom will Charlie be working? What is it that actually lands him the job?
2.Are there any consequences you can foresee that may be the result of Charlie’s decision to do this job?
3.What do we learn about Charlie’s boots? What do they tell us about Charlie?
4.With whom does Charlie strike up a friendship?
Chapter 3.
1.How does Mrs. Feehan react to Charlie’s new role with Squizzy Taylor?
2.Who is Gordon Peacock? (pg 30)
Chapter 5.
1.Charlie and Nostrils are enjoying a game of football in the park when Barlow appears with a group of boys. Explain what happens. (Pg 42 & 43). What did Nostrils do that Charlie will never forget? (pg 43) What does this tell us about Nostrils?
Chapter 6.
1.What does Squizzy and Dolly give to Charlie? (pg 46)
2.What are your first impressions of Squizzy Taylor and Dolly?
Chapter 7.
1.Why is Charlie surprised that Mr. Peacock has told him there would be no wood for him? (pg 53)
Chapter 8.
1.What is ‘the job’ that Charlie and Nostrils have to do for Squizzy? (pg 58 & 59)
2.Who did Charlie and Nostrils deliver the package to? (pg 64)
3.What is it about working for Squizzy that Charlie loves? (pg 65) What does this reveal about Charlie?
Chapter 9.
1.What is it that has caused a change in mood for Charlie’s mother? (pg 67)
2.What does Charlie see happening with his mother and Mr. Peacock? (pg 68) What sort of position do you think Mrs. Feehan has been placed in by Mr. Peacock? How does Charlie respond to what he sees?
Chapter 10.
1.What was Mrs. Feehan’s condition? Why do you think she is acting the way she is?
Chapter 11.
1.Nostrils plays his first match for Richmond Hill. Who is his opponent? (pg 92)
2.How does Nostril’s opponent play the match? How does Nostrils respond? (pg 93 & 94)
Chapter 12.
1.How is Squizzy changing? Why?
2.What job does Charlie have to do for Squizzy? Why could this be dangerous for Charlie? (pg100 & 101)
3.Charlie has to collect money from Albert Fox. What does his interaction with Mr. Fox tell us about Charlie? (pg 103 & 104)
Chapter 13.
1.Who does Charlie meet in the cake shop? (pg 108)
2.Charlie’s father teaches him that the ‘true test of a man’s character was his ability to pick himself up’. What do you think this means?
3.What problem arises when Charlie tries to collect payment from Mr. Cornwall? How does this impact Charlie? (pg 114 & 115)
4. What was the ‘something good’ Charlie does for the Cornwalls? (pg 117)
Chapter 14.
1.Charlie retires from boxing. What does Mr. Redmond decide to train Charlie for? (pg 123)
2.What does Charlie borrow from the Redmonds to try to cheer up his mother?
3.Why do Charlie and his mother have nothing to do with his extended family? (pg 128 & 129)
Chapter 15.
1.Why is Charlie’s association with Squizzy Taylor becoming increasingly dangerous? (pg 136)
2.Why does Charlie continue to work for Squizzy despite these dangers? (pg 139)
Chapter 16.
1.Charlie and Nostril’s are completing a liquor run in Fitzroy for Squizzy. They come across Barlow and his gang. In your own words, describe what happens.
2.What does the incident tell us about Charlie? What does it tell us about Nostrils? How do you feel about what Charlie does (or doesn’t) do? Do you feel he really had a choice? (pg 145 – 149) How does Charlie feel about himself after the incident? Think about what happened earlier in the novel when the boys meet up with Barlow’s gang. What does this tell us about Nostril’s character?
Chapter 18.
1.Charlie visits Nostrils in hospital. How does Nostril’s feel toward Charlie? (pg 165)
2.How does Squizzy react to the news that Nostril’s was severely hurt? What are we learning about Squizzy? How is this different from our first impressions of Squizzy?
3.Charlie gives Squizzy back his boots and says, ‘Ya know, it’s funny, but they never really fit me in the first place.’ What do you think this means?
4.When Squizzy pulls a gun on Charlie he has to, in a split second, decide whether to stay or go. ‘Heads or Tails.’ What does he do? How is this different from when he has been confronted by Barlow’s gang?
5.‘For the first time in a long while, I felt free again, as if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.’ (pg 170) Why does Charlie feel like this?
Chapter 19.
1.What was Charlie running for now?
2.How does Mrs. Feehan react when Charlie tells her she has been working for Squizzy Taylor? (pg 174)
3.How has Mrs. Feehan changed?
4.How much money had Charlie earned working for Squizzy Taylor? (pg 178)
Chapter 20.
1.After speaking with another competitor for the Ballarat Mile on the train, Charlie begins to worry whether Mr. Redmond’s training is adequate. What methods does Mr. Redmond use to train Charlie for the race? What was Mr. Redmond’s experience as a runner? (Pg 185)
2.What ‘gift’ does Mr. Redmond give to Charlie? How would you describe their relationship?
3.What was Mr. Redmond’s strategy for the race? (Pg 190)
Chapter 21.
1.What does Mrs. Pickwick ‘guess’ accurately about Charlie? (Pg 193) Why do you think she ‘knows’ about his ‘loss’?
2.Who was Charlie racing for? (Pg 195)
3.How are the running spikes different from Charlie’s father’s boots? (Pg 197)
4.Why did Charlie take off his spikes and run barefoot? (Pg 201)
Chapter 22.
1.Why does Charlie give Mr. Redmond the winning silver cup?
2.How would you compare what Mr. Redmond has done for Charlie to Squizzy Taylor? How is each of these men different?
Chapter 23.
1.What did Charlie do with his winnings from the race?
2.What ‘off’ is Mr. Heath talking about when he is talking to Charlie about what he has done for Nostrils? Do you think that what Charlie has done makes up for leaving him to fend for himself against Barlow’s gang?
3. Runner ends with a party in the Feehan living room. How do the celebrations occurring now