MAIN CHARACTERS
Match the characters with their descriptions:
Silvie, Silvie’s mother, Silvie’s father, the Professor, Molly
1. He is physically and emotionally abusive toward his wife and daughter.
2. She is intelligent and observant but has learned to stay quiet and hide her emotions.
3. Symbolizes the way women can become trapped by fear and social expectations.
4. Represents modern values such as equality, independence, and moral awareness.
UNDERSTANDING THE STORY
● What is the book about, in your own words?
● How would you describe Silvie and her family?
● What is the “ghost wall,” and why is it important to the story?
● What kind of “experiment” are the characters taking part in?
● How does the setting (Northumberland, the countryside, the “Iron Age camp”) influence the mood?
THEMES
Choose three of the words that connect most strongly to the story:
1. Reenactment
● Meaning: The acting out of a past event or historical period.
● Example: “They took part in an Iron Age reenactment, living without modern technology.”
2. Ritual
● Meaning: A formal ceremony or series of actions, often with symbolic meaning.
● Example: “The group performs a ritual that becomes dangerously real.”
3. Obedience
● Meaning: Doing what you are told to do by someone in authority.
● Example: “Silvie’s father demands total obedience from his family.”
4. Patriarchy
● Meaning: A social system where men hold power and women are expected to obey.
● Example: “The novel criticizes patriarchy through the father’s domination of his wife and daughter.”
5. Nationalism
● Meaning: Strong identification with one’s own nation, sometimes believing it is superior to others.
● Example: “The father’s nationalism makes him idealize an ancient, ‘pure’ Britain.”
6. Authenticity
● Meaning: The quality of being real, true, or genuine.
● Example: “The father wants an authentic experience of the Iron Age — but his idea of ‘authentic’ is violent.”
7. Control
● Meaning: The power to make people do what you want; the ability to dominate.
● Example: “Control becomes a key theme — especially in Silvie’s family.”
8. Silence
● Meaning: The absence of speech; often symbolic of fear or repression.
● Example: “Silvie’s silence represents how victims lose their voices.”
9. Sacrifice
● Meaning: Giving up something valuable, often for a belief or higher purpose.
● Example: “The ghost wall ritual involves human sacrifice.”
10. Shame
● Meaning: A painful feeling of guilt or humiliation.
● Example: “Silvie often feels shame about her body, her family, and her silence.”
11. Primitive
● Meaning: Relating to an early stage of human development; simple or wild.
● Example: “The group’s primitive lifestyle reveals how modern people still carry old instincts.”
12. Belonging
● Meaning: Feeling accepted and part of a group.
● Example: “Silvie longs for belonging — but on her own terms.”
13. Oppression
● Meaning: Cruel or unfair treatment by someone in power.
● Example: “The book links family oppression to wider social and political control.”
14. Resistance
● Meaning: Refusing to accept control or injustice.
● Example: “Silvie’s final act is one of quiet resistance.”
15. Ambiguity
● Meaning: Uncertainty or more than one possible meaning.
● Example: “The ending is full of ambiguity — we’re not sure exactly what happens.”
DISCUSSION TIPS:
● “Would you ever join a historical reenactment? Why or why not?”
● “What modern rituals do we still have today — and why are they important?”
● “Is obedience always a good thing? When should people resist?”
● “Where do you see examples of patriarchy in everyday life?”
● “When does nationalism become dangerous?”
● “What does it mean to live authentically today?”
● “What happens when someone tries to control others in the name of love or tradition?”
● “When can silence be powerful, and when can it be harmful?”
● “Is there ever such a thing as a ‘necessary’ sacrifice?”
● “How does society use shame to control people?”
● “Do you think humans are still ‘primitive’ in some ways?”
● “What helps people feel they truly belong somewhere?”
● “What are subtle forms of oppression in modern life?”
● “Do you enjoy ambiguous endings, or do you prefer clear ones?”
● “What forms of resistance are most effective — loud protest or silent strength?”
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