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Junk - Melvin Burgess

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The document provides context and discussion questions about the novel "Junk" by Melvin Burgess. It explores themes like homelessness, drug abuse, and teenage relationships. Students are asked to consider characters like Tar and Gemma, analyze the novel's portrayal of drugs, and understand the complex relationships and plotlines between various characters. Key events in the story include Tar leaving home, Gemma running away to join him, and both becoming addicted to heroin over time.

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Junk Melvin Burgess *To be able infer and deduce.
The Blurb JUNK = HEROIN = BLISS = DESPAIR = A LOVE AFFAIR YOU¡¯LL NEVER FORGET ? Tar loves Gemma, but Gemma doesn¡¯t want to be tied down ¨C not to anyone or anything. Gemma wants to fly. But no one can fly forever. One day, somehow, finally, you have to come down. 1. What is your reaction to this blurb? 2. When it was first released this novel caused a lot of controversy. Why do you think this novel caused such controversy? 3. What interests you about the blurb?
The Front Cover Sketch the front cover. What interests you most about the front cover? What do you think the main themes of the novel are? How does the front cover convey these?
The First Chapter Read the first chapter of the novel. Why is Tar leaving home? What suggests he has not had an easy childhood so far? (use a PEE paragraph for this answer) What is your opinion of Tar? (use a PEE paragraph for this answer) Who is Gemma? What is your opinion of Gemma so far? (use a PEE paragraph for this answer) P oint E vidence (quote) E xplanation
Objectives: *To be able to comment on a character using evidence from the text ¡® Junk¡¯ by Melvin Burgess
What does the title tell us? Create a spider diagram of all the associations you have with the word JUNK
Key Themes Homelessness Teen Runaways Parents and Children Teenage pregnancy Drug abuse
Split Narrative ¡® Junk¡¯ is a split narrative novel. This means that a number of different characters tell a section of the story. Some characters narrate larger sections than others. Split narratives allow the author to build relationships between the reader and a number of different characters.
Coursework Essay Question How effective is Burgess in demonstrating the negative effects of drugs through the character of Gemma in ¡®Junk¡¯?
Who is Gemma? Complete a spider diagram (or similar) detailing everything we have learnt about Gemma in the opening chapters.
Who is Gemma? After reading the opening chapters of the novel what is your opinion of Gemma? Write 2-3 paragraphs explaining what your opinion of Gemma is. You must use quotes from the opening chapters to support your points.
Who is Tar? Complete a spider diagram (or similar) detailing everything we have learnt about Tar in the opening three chapters.
¡® Junk¡¯ Objective: *To understand the social context of the novel
Why do you think Burgess used lyrics from this song in one of the opening chapters about Gemma?
Questions What government were in power during the 1980¡¯s? What were the biggest news stories in 1985? How long did the Minor Strike last? Why was Punk, Anarchy and Squatting so common in the 80¡¯s? What were Yuppies? What was the new musical influence from America? What were the biggest selling songs / artists of the 80¡¯s?
Drugs Objective: *To be able comment on the portrayal of drugs in the novel ¡®Junk¡¯ *To be able to comment on the character
Tar¡¯s Experience Read the extracts from ¡®Junk¡¯ on the worksheet you have been given. Complete the 6 tasks.
Lily Chapter 14 ¨C Pages 186 ¨C 191 Why is Lily a negative influence on Gemma? Write two to three PEE paragraphs explaining the negative effect Lily has on Gemma and how this changes Gemma.
Who¡¯s Who & What¡¯s Going On? Objective: *To be able to comment on the plot and structure of the novel ¡®Junk¡¯ *To understand the relationship of the different characters in the novel
Who¡¯s Who? Complete the character web. Negative influence on Gemma Gemma Tar Jerry Richard Lily Rob Skolly Vonny Mr Brogan Tar¡¯s Dad
Who¡¯s Who Introduces them to Tar Negative influence on Gemma Boyfriend Newsagent who helps out Helps Tar find somewhere to live Shares first squat with Gemma /Tries to help Gemma Introduces Richard to Tar Boyfriend Takes advantage of Tar / Negative Influence on Tar / Girlfriend His strict rules push Gemma away Violent towards Tar and forces him to run away Richard invites them to the party where they meet Gemma Shares the first squat with Gemma Shares the first squat with Tar / Tries to look after him
Plot Line Place the following events on the plot line. Gemma and her parents keep arguing. Gemma and Tar become hooked on heroine. Tar spends a week sleeping rough in Bristol. Gemma and Lily turn to prostitution to fund their drug habit. Gemma runs away to join Tar. Gemma gets herself ¡®punkified¡¯ Tar meets Richard, Jerry and Vonny and moves into the Squat. Vonny tells Gemma to go home. At the party Gemma meets Lily and Rob. Gemma moves in with Lily and Rob. Tar moves in with Gemma, Lily and Rob.

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Junk - Melvin Burgess

  • 1. Junk Melvin Burgess *To be able infer and deduce.
  • 2. The Blurb JUNK = HEROIN = BLISS = DESPAIR = A LOVE AFFAIR YOU¡¯LL NEVER FORGET ? Tar loves Gemma, but Gemma doesn¡¯t want to be tied down ¨C not to anyone or anything. Gemma wants to fly. But no one can fly forever. One day, somehow, finally, you have to come down. 1. What is your reaction to this blurb? 2. When it was first released this novel caused a lot of controversy. Why do you think this novel caused such controversy? 3. What interests you about the blurb?
  • 3. The Front Cover Sketch the front cover. What interests you most about the front cover? What do you think the main themes of the novel are? How does the front cover convey these?
  • 4. The First Chapter Read the first chapter of the novel. Why is Tar leaving home? What suggests he has not had an easy childhood so far? (use a PEE paragraph for this answer) What is your opinion of Tar? (use a PEE paragraph for this answer) Who is Gemma? What is your opinion of Gemma so far? (use a PEE paragraph for this answer) P oint E vidence (quote) E xplanation
  • 5. Objectives: *To be able to comment on a character using evidence from the text ¡® Junk¡¯ by Melvin Burgess
  • 6. What does the title tell us? Create a spider diagram of all the associations you have with the word JUNK
  • 7. Key Themes Homelessness Teen Runaways Parents and Children Teenage pregnancy Drug abuse
  • 8. Split Narrative ¡® Junk¡¯ is a split narrative novel. This means that a number of different characters tell a section of the story. Some characters narrate larger sections than others. Split narratives allow the author to build relationships between the reader and a number of different characters.
  • 9. Coursework Essay Question How effective is Burgess in demonstrating the negative effects of drugs through the character of Gemma in ¡®Junk¡¯?
  • 10. Who is Gemma? Complete a spider diagram (or similar) detailing everything we have learnt about Gemma in the opening chapters.
  • 11. Who is Gemma? After reading the opening chapters of the novel what is your opinion of Gemma? Write 2-3 paragraphs explaining what your opinion of Gemma is. You must use quotes from the opening chapters to support your points.
  • 12. Who is Tar? Complete a spider diagram (or similar) detailing everything we have learnt about Tar in the opening three chapters.
  • 13. ¡® Junk¡¯ Objective: *To understand the social context of the novel
  • 14. Why do you think Burgess used lyrics from this song in one of the opening chapters about Gemma?
  • 15. Questions What government were in power during the 1980¡¯s? What were the biggest news stories in 1985? How long did the Minor Strike last? Why was Punk, Anarchy and Squatting so common in the 80¡¯s? What were Yuppies? What was the new musical influence from America? What were the biggest selling songs / artists of the 80¡¯s?
  • 16. Drugs Objective: *To be able comment on the portrayal of drugs in the novel ¡®Junk¡¯ *To be able to comment on the character
  • 17. Tar¡¯s Experience Read the extracts from ¡®Junk¡¯ on the worksheet you have been given. Complete the 6 tasks.
  • 18. Lily Chapter 14 ¨C Pages 186 ¨C 191 Why is Lily a negative influence on Gemma? Write two to three PEE paragraphs explaining the negative effect Lily has on Gemma and how this changes Gemma.
  • 19. Who¡¯s Who & What¡¯s Going On? Objective: *To be able to comment on the plot and structure of the novel ¡®Junk¡¯ *To understand the relationship of the different characters in the novel
  • 20. Who¡¯s Who? Complete the character web. Negative influence on Gemma Gemma Tar Jerry Richard Lily Rob Skolly Vonny Mr Brogan Tar¡¯s Dad
  • 21. Who¡¯s Who Introduces them to Tar Negative influence on Gemma Boyfriend Newsagent who helps out Helps Tar find somewhere to live Shares first squat with Gemma /Tries to help Gemma Introduces Richard to Tar Boyfriend Takes advantage of Tar / Negative Influence on Tar / Girlfriend His strict rules push Gemma away Violent towards Tar and forces him to run away Richard invites them to the party where they meet Gemma Shares the first squat with Gemma Shares the first squat with Tar / Tries to look after him
  • 22. Plot Line Place the following events on the plot line. Gemma and her parents keep arguing. Gemma and Tar become hooked on heroine. Tar spends a week sleeping rough in Bristol. Gemma and Lily turn to prostitution to fund their drug habit. Gemma runs away to join Tar. Gemma gets herself ¡®punkified¡¯ Tar meets Richard, Jerry and Vonny and moves into the Squat. Vonny tells Gemma to go home. At the party Gemma meets Lily and Rob. Gemma moves in with Lily and Rob. Tar moves in with Gemma, Lily and Rob.