1. When you are going through a tough time, do you prefer to be left alone or to have people around you supporting you?
2. What do you think are the most appropriate things for people to do when trying to sympathise with someone suffering from grief?
Understand
1. How many children did Theresa Newton have? 2. (a) Who was the only person at St Joan’s to talk to Mary about what had happened? (b) What did this person say to Mary to comfort her?
3. What did others do to help comfort Mary and her family? 4. Why did Mary wish at times that other people would not call? 5. What features of a typical memoir to you recognise in this piece?
Explore 3
1. What age do you imagine Mary to have been when her mother died? Use evidence from the extract to support your answer.
2. What do you think the author means when she says that death is ‘often met with either too much talking or painful silence’?
3. Why do you think Mary’s classmates didn’t say much when she came to back to school?
Create
Imagine you are Mary’s friend. Write the text of what you would say to Mary to offer her the hope she needs during this time.
