Section 2: Characters

ARMITRANO FAMILY
The Armitrano family were a close-knit family who eked out a living in whatever way that they could. They were in difficult economic circumstances. Complete character summaries, including a brief description of whom they are, their role in the text, and their personality. Michele

Marie

Pino

Teresa

o What are some of the tensions and difficulties evident in the Armitrano family?

SCARDACCIONE FAMILY
Complete character summaries. Salvatore

Accocato

Letizia

o Contrast the living conditions of the Scardacciones and the Armitranos

MICHELE
Since Michele is the novels narrator, the society he lives in and the people around him are apprehended through his consciousness. They are coloured by his own assessments of things; by his appreciation of the natural world and his lively imagination; and also by his lack of knowledge of the adult world. Most importantly, Micheles imagination, sensitivity and courage give the narrative its secure moral reference point and its unflinching representation of adult weaknesses and desires. Complete the following table, detailing the important events Michele is involved in, analysing the impact on his relationships, personality and understanding of the adult world.

Page

Event involving Michele Choosing to support Maria and Barbara

Analysis

Key Quotes

Fearing supernatural threats (witches, ogres, monsters)

Revealing Filippos existence to Salvatore

154

Feeling safe at home and not wanting to face human threats

I wasnt worried. I felt safe. I wanted to stay in their bed forever.

Choosing to rescue Filippo

Round Robin Questions o Michele first stumbles into Filippo because of a sacrifice he makes to save his friend Barbara. Where else does Michele demonstrate this generosity and willingness to sacrifice himself? o Michele identifies strongly with Filippo. He thinks at first that Filippo is his brother. Why does he feel that Filippo was mine and that they had taken him away from me pg 169?

o Ammanitis novel can be described as a coming-of-age story. In what sense does Michele grow up during the course of the story?

THE GANG MEMBERS

When studying the group dynamics of the gang, several questions and principles are raised. We needed to consider; how the hierarchy is developed within the group and the criteria for the allocation of status, the reasons for the groups existence, Whether Micheles behaviour difference when he is part of the group, and the parallels between the childrens gang and the adult circle of conspirators. o Collect the following information on each of the members of the childrens gang Character Words or phrases to describe the character How would they respond to Micheles secret Where do they stand in the gangs pecking order and why? What would they remember most about the summer of 1978?

Barbara

Skull

Salvatore

Remo

o Using this information, write a 200 word character profile for one of the members.