Essential Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle English Notes

Chapter 10 Summary: “War” 1. The Siege and the Great Escape The chapter opens with Ricky and Hec surrounded at Psycho Sam’s. In a nod to the film Home Alone, the music builds tension as they realize they are trapped. After a moment of panic—and Ricky briefly pretending to be dead—they find an old Jeep. Read More …

Chapter 9 Summary: “The Turning of the Tide” 1. Spring and “The Lord of the Rings” Spring has finally arrived, signifying a fresh start. The duo almost get caught by the authorities in a sequence that references The Lord of the Rings—a film series famously shot in New Zealand. Throughout the movie, Ricky compares their Read More …

Chapter 8 Summary: “The Knack” 1. The Confrontation with Paula The chapter begins with Paula and the police finally tracking Ricky down. Paula tries to coax Ricky back with a “bribe” of his favourite foods, but Ricky refuses to budge. He famously declares that he is not going back to “Juvee” (juvenile hall). He tells Read More …

Chapter 7 Summary: “A Normal Life” 1. The Meeting with Kahu and TK After trekking through the bush to find help for the sick ranger, Ricky meets a girl named Kahu. She is cool, confident, and rides a horse, making Ricky’s “gangsta” act look a bit silly. She takes him back to her home, where Read More …

Chapter 6 Summary: “Close to the Sky” 1. Bella’s True Motivation While resting high in the mountains, Hec reveals a poignant secret: Bella had no family of her own. Like Ricky and Hec, she was an “outsider” who grew up without a proper home. This is why she was so determined to foster children; she Read More …

Comparative Study: General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV) & Cultural Context This segment represents a massive “false dawn” for the characters and the audience. Just as a genuine chance for justice appears, it is brutally extinguished. For your Leaving Cert essay, this is the perfect example of how Cultural Context (the corrupt power of the Warden) Read More …