Embedded Files
Interactive graphic novel
Interactive graphic novel
Spend at least 20 minutes exploring this story carefully and thoughtfully.
Spend at least 20 minutes exploring this story carefully and thoughtfully.
Complete the activities included below using this worksheet.
Complete the activities included below using this worksheet.
You will need to have the worksheet open as you read through the rest of this webpage.
You will need to have the worksheet open as you read through the rest of this webpage.
Title Page
Title Page
The page is responsive to the movement of the curser. Intense sound effects of rain, waves and thunder are combined with intermittent flashing of ‘lighting’. The graphics on the page tilt, mimicking the movement of waves.
The page is responsive to the movement of the curser. Intense sound effects of rain, waves and thunder are combined with intermittent flashing of ‘lighting’. The graphics on the page tilt, mimicking the movement of waves.
Black and white and grey colour scheme.
Black and white and grey colour scheme.
Hand drawn image of a boat at sea during a storm.
Hand drawn image of a boat at sea during a storm.
The boat has an eye painted on it.
The boat has an eye painted on it.
What is the symbolism of the storm?
What mood and atmosphere is created by the colour scheme and sound effects?
What idea is emphasised by the movement on the page?
Chapter 1 - The Storm
Chapter 1 - The Storm
As the responder scrolls down, the story begins. A combination of text and images jolt and swing across the page. A feeling of disorientation and overstimulation reflects the experiences of the refugees.
As the responder scrolls down, the story begins. A combination of text and images jolt and swing across the page. A feeling of disorientation and overstimulation reflects the experiences of the refugees.
Truong is introduced. The background image of the boat fades away and a large close-up of Truongs impassive face is shown.
Truong is introduced. The background image of the boat fades away and a large close-up of Truongs impassive face is shown.
‘Finally the storm arrived in full force’: The background darkens, the storm intensifies.
‘Finally the storm arrived in full force’: The background darkens, the storm intensifies.
Quyen is introduced.
Quyen is introduced.
Reference to ancestors, burning of incense - cultural traditions and ritual travel with them.
Reference to ancestors, burning of incense - cultural traditions and ritual travel with them.
Photos interspersed with illustrated elements.
Photos interspersed with illustrated elements.
How do we know the boat is old?
What is the effect of using illustrated elements combined with real photographs?
The protagonist is Mai - a teenage girl traveling alone on a refugee boat. She is isolated and fearful.
The protagonist is Mai - a teenage girl traveling alone on a refugee boat. She is isolated and fearful.
She has been sent away by her mother because her father has returned from a re-education camp and Mai is in danger.
She has been sent away by her mother because her father has returned from a re-education camp and Mai is in danger.
Truong
Truong
Quyen - Truong's mother
Quyen - Truong's mother
Mai's isolation and vulnerability have caused her to desire social connections.
Mai's isolation and vulnerability have caused her to desire social connections.
Mai is caught between two families- the family she has left behind and the attachment she feels to Truong and his mother on the boat.
Mai is caught between two families- the family she has left behind and the attachment she feels to Truong and his mother on the boat.
Family is symbolic of love and care and safety. Mai wants to remain a child and have someone look after her.
Family is symbolic of love and care and safety. Mai wants to remain a child and have someone look after her.
Chapter 2 - A Good Child
Chapter 2 - A Good Child
Soft traditional Vietnamese folk song in the background
Soft traditional Vietnamese folk song in the background
The translated lyrics appear on the screen, a soldier’s wife’s lament. Soft pink watercolour of hibiscus flowers appear behind the handwritten text.
The translated lyrics appear on the screen, a soldier’s wife’s lament. Soft pink watercolour of hibiscus flowers appear behind the handwritten text.
As the chapter progresses, leaves begin to fall in the background.
As the chapter progresses, leaves begin to fall in the background.
Heightened emotion
Heightened emotion
Metaphor and simile: ‘The street, like a wound, had closed over her face.’
Metaphor and simile: ‘The street, like a wound, had closed over her face.’
Sounds immerse the reader in the story e.g. cars, voices
Sounds immerse the reader in the story e.g. cars, voices
Mai's mother sends her away with a sum of money to Rach Gia to meet an Uncle.
Mai's mother sends her away with a sum of money to Rach Gia to meet an Uncle.
Technique
Technique
Flashback
Flashback
Evidence
Evidence
Story then moves from the present into the past. Recount of the events leading up to Mai being on the boat. The sacrifice of her parents and danger they faced in their country.
Story then moves from the present into the past. Recount of the events leading up to Mai being on the boat. The sacrifice of her parents and danger they faced in their country.
Technique
Technique
Symbolism
Symbolism
Evidence
Evidence
The soft traditional Vietnamese folk song in the background
The soft traditional Vietnamese folk song in the background
Analysis
Analysis
The song symbolises Mai's past life in Vietnam and her parents' relationship. Her father worked on boats but also opposed the Communists. He was sent to re-education camps where he was tortured and went blind.
The song symbolises Mai's past life in Vietnam and her parents' relationship. Her father worked on boats but also opposed the Communists. He was sent to re-education camps where he was tortured and went blind.
Chapter 3 - Relief
Chapter 3 - Relief
Mai gives a letter to her Uncle and then was helped to find a hiding place behind a house by the river. She stayed there a few days and was then given an address by her Uncle for the second hiding place - a boat anchored by a bridge on the Loc Thang river. From the boat she was taken by canoe at night. On the canoe she meets another young woman - it is Quyen. Mai is confused about what is happening but when they get to the wooden boat with the eye painted on it she climbs aboard and ends up in the stinking, smelly hold. There are 200 people on a boat meant for 15. Mai meets Truong, Quyen's little boy. A mine goes off and shakes the boat but they are alright.
Mai gives a letter to her Uncle and then was helped to find a hiding place behind a house by the river. She stayed there a few days and was then given an address by her Uncle for the second hiding place - a boat anchored by a bridge on the Loc Thang river. From the boat she was taken by canoe at night. On the canoe she meets another young woman - it is Quyen. Mai is confused about what is happening but when they get to the wooden boat with the eye painted on it she climbs aboard and ends up in the stinking, smelly hold. There are 200 people on a boat meant for 15. Mai meets Truong, Quyen's little boy. A mine goes off and shakes the boat but they are alright.
Background darkens to indicate night falling
Background darkens to indicate night falling
Rowing to the boat - minimal text, images become small, only the sound of a match.
Rowing to the boat - minimal text, images become small, only the sound of a match.
Sensory imagery
Sensory imagery
Chapter 4 - After the Storm
Chapter 4 - After the Storm
The narrative moves back to the present.
The narrative moves back to the present.
The storm has ended.
The storm has ended.
The boat is damaged and the engines don’t work.
The boat is damaged and the engines don’t work.
Food and water are very limited.
Food and water are very limited.
People are getting sick.
People are getting sick.
The heat is unbearable.
The heat is unbearable.
People start to die.
People start to die.
There is a strong contrast between the noise and movement of the storm and the silence after.
There is a strong contrast between the noise and movement of the storm and the silence after.
Mai is caught in limbo - trapped on the boat. The boat represents a liminal space that has been abandoned by time, caught between the past and the future.
Mai is caught in limbo - trapped on the boat. The boat represents a liminal space that has been abandoned by time, caught between the past and the future.
In times of extreme danger and illness Mai retreats into the past. She retreats into her memories of being part of a loving family.
In times of extreme danger and illness Mai retreats into the past. She retreats into her memories of being part of a loving family.
When her father was working on boats- Mai often found herself living between worlds, living 'incompletely' - constantly waiting for him to return from sea. Mai's memories of her father are tied up with the empty feeling of waiting.
When her father was working on boats- Mai often found herself living between worlds, living 'incompletely' - constantly waiting for him to return from sea. Mai's memories of her father are tied up with the empty feeling of waiting.
Mai lived between his presence and his absence.
Mai lived between his presence and his absence.
The longest Mai had to wait was two years.
The longest Mai had to wait was two years.
Mai experiences a fever and hallucinates that she sees her father but realises it is Truong.
Mai experiences a fever and hallucinates that she sees her father but realises it is Truong.
Mai then understand that she was drawn to Truong because his expression resembled that of her father's after the re-education camp.
Mai then understand that she was drawn to Truong because his expression resembled that of her father's after the re-education camp.
He has the face of someone who has been traumatised.
He has the face of someone who has been traumatised.
Mai recovers from her illness and is taken to Truong who is now very sick.
Mai recovers from her illness and is taken to Truong who is now very sick.
Chapter 5 - Slow Fire
Chapter 5 - Slow Fire
A young woman suicides by jumping over the side of the boat.
A young woman suicides by jumping over the side of the boat.
People are dying of thirst.
People are dying of thirst.
As Truong's health deteriorates Mai and Quyen become closer.
As Truong's health deteriorates Mai and Quyen become closer.
Quyen tells Mai that Truong is her illegitimate child and her husband does not know.
Quyen tells Mai that Truong is her illegitimate child and her husband does not know.
She asked Mai to look after him until she can tell her husband.
She asked Mai to look after him until she can tell her husband.
Truong becomes very ill and Mai takes him above deck.
Truong becomes very ill and Mai takes him above deck.
Chapter 6 - Land
Chapter 6 - Land
Land is sighted. Quyen come from below deck looking for her son. Truong.
Land is sighted. Quyen come from below deck looking for her son. Truong.
It looks like Truong might die but his fever eventually breaks and he seems to recover.
It looks like Truong might die but his fever eventually breaks and he seems to recover.
Mai is now caught between land and sea. The land symbolises hope and the future.
Mai is now caught between land and sea. The land symbolises hope and the future.
As they get closer to land Mai decides that she will look after Truong as if he is her own son.
As they get closer to land Mai decides that she will look after Truong as if he is her own son.
But when she goes down to the hold she sees that Truong has died.
But when she goes down to the hold she sees that Truong has died.
Mai and Quyen take the body to the deck to be thrown over board.
Mai and Quyen take the body to the deck to be thrown over board.
Critical Analysis
Critical Analysis
Dichotomies
Dichotomies
Mai's world in The Boat is one of dichotomies and contrasts. Mai moves between the past and the present, being part of a family and being alone, being in danger versus being safe, living in a country divided by the Viet Cong Communists and South Vietnamese democracy supporters, during the storm and after the storm, divided between land and sea, caught between tragedy and hope, navigating the divide between childhood and adulthood, the known and the unknown.
Conceptual topic sentence
Conceptual topic sentence
Extreme situations can force children to lose their innocence and rapidly transition to adulthood.
Extreme situations can force children to lose their innocence and rapidly transition to adulthood.
Thematic elaboration
Thematic elaboration
We see this premature taking on of adult responsibilities and understandings in The Boat - when the protagonist Mai is forced to grow up quickly.
We see this premature taking on of adult responsibilities and understandings in The Boat - when the protagonist Mai is forced to grow up quickly.
T - E - A
T - E - A
How does this illustration convey the dichotomy of being caught between childhood and adulthood? Analyse two techniques.
How does this illustration convey the dichotomy of being caught between childhood and adulthood? Analyse two techniques.
Conceptual topic sentence
Conceptual topic sentence
When faced with the unknown a retreat into memories of the past and things that are known allows us to cope with the unforseeable.
When faced with the unknown a retreat into memories of the past and things that are known allows us to cope with the unforseeable.
Thematic elaboration
Thematic elaboration
We see this coping strategy in The Boat when Mai suffers fever hallucinations and recalls memories of her past and her father.
We see this coping strategy in The Boat when Mai suffers fever hallucinations and recalls memories of her past and her father.
T - E - A
T - E - A
How does this scene convey the dichotomy of being caught between the past and the present - the known and the unknown? Analyse two techniques. Go to the interactive novel to find techniques.
How does this scene convey the dichotomy of being caught between the past and the present - the known and the unknown? Analyse two techniques. Go to the interactive novel to find techniques.
Conceptual topic sentence
Conceptual topic sentence
The strength of the human spirit and our capacity for hope is demonstrated profoundly when faced with tragedy.
The strength of the human spirit and our capacity for hope is demonstrated profoundly when faced with tragedy.
Thematic elaboration
Thematic elaboration
This experience of continuing even after experiencing catastrophe is represented in The Boat when Mai and Quyen support each other and focus on the almost impossible thought of land after the tragic death of Truong.
This experience of continuing even after experiencing catastrophe is represented in The Boat when Mai and Quyen support each other and focus on the almost impossible thought of land after the tragic death of Truong.
T - E - A
T - E - A
How does this scene convey the dichotomy of being caught between tragedy and hope? Analyse two techniques.
How does this scene convey the dichotomy of being caught between tragedy and hope? Analyse two techniques.
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