Spies Chapter Summaries/Quotes/Characters Flashcards
Chapter 1
. the narrator is reminiscing about his past
. this is sparked by smell in the air which ignites memories
. he remembers Mrs Hayward and his old friend Keith
. we learn that the narrator has a daughter, a son and a daughter in law
. something remains unresolved
. he decides to back to London, to where it all began
Words to help memorise chapter events.
- reminiscing 7. thermos
- spy 8. police
- diary 9. basket
- disappear 10. bayonet
- tunnel 11. flip
- box
Chapter 2
. Stephen arrives in the street he lived on as a child
. he remembers each family that lived in each house
. he sees it as dull and ordinary but pleasant
. we see Stephen talking about difference between Keith and him
. Keith says “My mother is a German Spy.”
. adventure begins
Chapter 3
. the boys are excited about this idea of spies (currently live in a boring town)
. the boys make a log book and start following Mrs Hayward
. the boys look through her diary and find markings such as x’s
. there is tension whilst they spy on her
. they are getting ready for the dark of the moon
Chapter 4
. the boys continue to watch her as she writes several letters and disappears whilst going to the postbox
. an intruder was seen leaving Aunty Dee’s home
. Mrs Hayward always disappears but exits out of Aunty Dee’s home without been seen to enter
. Stephen feels uncomfortable about this
. Barbara Berrill starts annoying the boys
Chapter 5
. Older Stephen reflects on the close by saying “everything is as it is; and everything has changed.”
. the boys see that Mrs Hayward isn’t walking towards the letterbox but instead to the tunnel
. the boys follow her and Keith says she is spying on the trains
. they find a box in the grass
. Stephen allows Barbara Berrill into the hideout and feels bad after woods
Chapter 6
. the full picture of this reality is still un clear
. keith and Stephen arent talking at this point
. Its a full moon and Stephen decides to go to the tunnel
. he finds the box but hears someone coming
. Stephen halts his breathing and is petrified
. a man is also making his way toward the box
. the man realises another person is there and he scurries away
. Stephen brings back a sock which he retrieved from the box
. Mrs Hayward goes to the tunnel and again and the boys follow however she goes back and decides to go towards the lanes
. the boys then find the old man living under the corrugated iron
Chapter 7
. this Spy game is no longer a game, its more complex than the boys ever could’ve imagined
. the boys agree, without actually voicing it, to stop their investigating
. the thermos is missing and Keith is getting blamed even though he didn’t take it
. we see Mr Hayward’s frightening behaviour
. Stephen tries to retrieve the thermos because he has an idea of where ot may be
Chapter 8
. Stephen and Keith aren’t on speaking terms
. Stephen starts talking to Barbara Berrill more
. Stephen has a stronger relationship with Mrs Hayward than with Keith at this point
. Mrs Hayward doesn’t seem to be visiting Aunty Dee anymore
. Mrs Hayward is in the house more and is even escorted go the letter box by Mr Hayward now
. a policeman arrived at Aunty Dee’s house
. Stephen shows Barbara the contents of the boys secret box
Chapter 9
. Mrs Hayward asks for Stephens help
. he has to give a basket to the man living under the corrugated iron
. Mrs Hayward doesn’t seem so perfect anymore
. Stephen finally meets the man and the man recognises him
Chapter 10
. the man didn’t sound like a foreign German spy
. the man asks why he came instead of Mrs Hayward
. Stephen explains that she can no longer come (due to Mr Hayward)
. the man asks Stephen to tell Mrs Hayward “I’m sorry”
. Stephen starts to realise that his actions lead to Mrs Hayward having to travel further and create further complications
. the man hands him something silk to give to Mrs Hayward
. Keith threatens Stephen with the ‘bayonet’
. the man commits suicide by jumping on the train tracks
Chapter 11
. it seemed to be understood that somehow the problem has been solved
. he realises that Keith has been wrong about many things
. he was the “German Spy”
. brings everything together
What quotes describe Stephen and Keith’s relationship?
“We’re socially colour-coded for ease of reference.”
“He was the leader and I was the led.”
What quotes describe Keith?
“He’s obviously as good as his parents are at concealing his true nature from everyone around him.”
“Everyone except you really hates him.”
“He smiles his father’s thin smile.”
What quotes describe Stephen?
“This old man, treading slowly and warily in the footsteps of his former self.”
“Everything is as it was; and everything has changed.”
“There’s something sad about our life, and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.”
“so how much did Stephen understand at this point about what was going on?”
