My Name Is Leon Flashcards
Leon gets annoyed when Tina makes him call her “Auntie Tina” and call his Mum “Mum” not “Carol”
- Reader can infer that Carol has no conventional rules for Leon at home.
- Leon is growing up not showing proper respect to the adults around him because Carol isn’t responsible enough to correct him.
- Tina is teaching Leon to have respect rather than his own mother Carol.
‘ Tina’s boyfriend comes around, but when he sees Leon he always says “Again” and Tina says “I know” ‘
- Readers realise that Leon is around at Tina’s often and Tina and her boyfriend are getting fed up of it.
“ No more […] just me, you and him. Always. “
- Poignant quote (emotional and distressing).
- Only in Chapter 5 that Leon and Jake get taken away from Carol by social services and they are put in Foster care.
Carol goes to the smoking room rather than feeding Jake in the hospital leaving Leon to take care of the new baby.
- Readers can infer that Carol prioritises her own wishes before her children’s needs.
- It shows that Carol is a very irresponsible mother leaving her 8 year old child to care for a new born baby.
What theme is established in chapter one ?
The theme of brotherly love and the bond between Jake and Leon
“ like a nest or den “
- Leon’s blanket and pile of coat bed at Tina’s house.
- Readers know this is not a suitable bed for a child.
- Shows Leon’s naivety as he sees this bed as a comfy fun way to sleep.
Leon is often told by adults that he looks more mature than his age.
- Adults often give Leon responsibilities that would be given to children older than him because of him looking older than he is.
- This means that Leon had to grow up a but quicker so that he could meet these responsibilities.
What narrative is my name is Leon written in ?
3rd person narrative
“ The baby is like the TV. Leon can’t stop watching him “
- Simile show Leon’s love for his brother continuing the theme of Brotherly love.
- Readers realise the infatuation (deep love) Leon has for Jake.
“ The baby has a got a really small willy but big balls “
- Humour is introduced.
- Tonal hilft from serious topics to humour
what is a Bildungsroman?
- A book that follows a character coming of age.
“ I’m the one in charge of the baby when mum’s not there. “
- for a modern reader this is concerning but the teacher doesn’t seem to pick up on this issue.
- May be a comment on the lack of safeguarding in the 1980s
“ Carol starts crying, she is always crying these days. ”
- Reader can infer that she is suffering from a mental health illness.
- Readers may make the assumption of postpartum depression.
“ They wanted me to go to some bloody centre twice a week. “
- Shows the readers that she has suffered with mental illness before and is reluctant to go back to the doctors because of the pills they put her on last time.
“ Went inside “
- colloquial term used to to describe going to prison.
- This information about Byron ( Leon’s dad ) make the reader wonder who Jake’s dad is.
