1. Read the introduction. What do you think Pod’s bad news might be? 2. Read the first sentence of the extract. How has the author managed to introduce a sense of scale to this story?
The Borrowers MaryNorton
Pod, Homily and Arrietty are a family of tiny people who live under the floor of an old house. Everything that they have is borrowed from the ‘human beans’ who don’t even know they exist. One day Homily sent her husband to get a cup from the children’s toy set in the schoolroom of the house. When Pod returned, he had some bad news to tell.
Chapter four
Pod came in slowly, his sack on his back; he leaned his hat-pin, with its dangling name- tape, against the wall and, on the middle of the kitchen table, he placed a doll’s tea-cup; it seemed the size of a mixing-bowl. ‘Why, Pod –’ began Homily. ‘Got the saucer too,’ he said. He swung down the sack and untied the neck. ‘Here you are,’ he said, drawing out the saucer. ‘Matches it.’ He had a round, currant-bunny sort of face; tonight it looked flabby. ‘Oh, Pod,’ said Homily, ‘you do look queer. Are you all right?’