A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove -Comprehension Questions

Prelude - pg 1

1. Make some predictions about the snapshot of events we are given in the prelude.

A mysterious woman is seen getting on a bus. She does not have a ticket and does not want to be found.

Kerry-pg 3

1. What impression do we get of Kerry, Carl's mother, from this first chapter? Use evidence from the text to
support your opinions.

Kerry seem unstable and irresponsible she leave her kids for days and weeks at a time she doesn’t seem
able to hold down a relationship – each of the kids have a different dad.

2. James Maloney, the author of 'A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove', used some beautiful literary devices
throughout the novel. Comment on what devices are used in the following excerpts:

a. Fat, fleshy, like an overripe pear, the skin pitted and the mouth a bulging split. (Pg 3)

Simile, comparing his appearance to a fruit to give the reader an more descriptive idea of the
charaters presence.

b. He pictured himself, a bloated pincushion on sturdy legs. (Pg 5)

3. What do we learn about Carl from the last line of the chapter when Maloney states:

a. Carl listened to them both and couldn't give his fears a name. (Pg 7)

Sarah- pg 8

1. On page 8, Maloney includes the story of Kerry and Carl starting a vege patch at one of their rental
houses. What is significant about the line that Sarah speaks when she says: "You started a vege patch
at the last place Didn't stay long enough to pick a single tomato."

She is showcasing the fact that the move around every few months and displqaying her attitude of not
attaching herself to anything, reflected of her mothers behaviour of leaving them.

Kerry could be hope full and kind when her mental health was going good. Carl still believes his mum
is good whereas sarah has lost all hope and faith inb support that she will be a good role modle.

2. In contrast, how did Carl feel about the vege patch?

It states that carl and his mother were hopeful of the possibilities the veggie patch could bring, and
was excited for the veggie patch him and his mother had started.

3. On page 12 one of Carl's biggest fears is confirmed. What does he realize is happening.

Carls biggest fear was that his older sister sarah was going to leave them forever just as his mother
had, and they are going to live with aunt breyl, and sarah giving him the money and all of their clothes
was the proof to back up his theory.
 4. On page 13, Sarah's reaction to the boys leaving on the bus seems overly dramatic if they are just
leaving to go on holidays for a few weeks. How are we positioned as readers to interpret Sarah's
behavior?

We are positioned as audience member to see sarah start the behave like her mother and are shown
sarah showing the same habbits of her mother before she left for so called “holidays”.

And confirms carls supisions that sarah is going for only a few weeks.

Aunt Beryl - pg 15

1. What literary device does Maloney use when he writes, on page 16: "It stalked him after that, a
cheeky tongue poking out its teasing flash of blue as the bus descended slowly into sandy country."

He is using the literary device personification to describe the sporadic views of the ocean on their bus
ride.

It is personification. The author uses human characteristics like ‘cheeky tongue’ and teasing to
describe the ocean peeking through the trees

2. Re read the description of Aunt Beryl on page 15 and comment on the invited reading of Carl's aunty.
In other words, how is Moloney inviting us to see, interpret and feel about Aunt Beryl?

Maloney describes her as quite rough or the typical ‘bogan’. She has a cigarette hanging out of her
mouth when she talks, she drinks her beer and is wearig skimpy clothes – a halter neck top showing
her stomache and short shorts, despite having put on a few kilos.
Wattle Beach - pg 22

1. On page 23, Moloney writes: "Carl floated in a sea of families where everyone, it seemed, walked
spoke or laughed with at least one other- a daughter, a father, a mate." What does this line tell us
about how Carl sees the world around him?

Carl is an outsider, he is always on the fringes. He doesn’t feel like he belongs. He does not have a
family or a group of friends, or anyone to rel on or spend time him. Her is lonely and he also thinks he
is the only person feeling this way.

2. Re read the descriptions of the two girls on page 23 - 24 and comment on the differences that Carl
notices between the two of them.

They are almost polar opposites. One is very body positive and knows her physique is admired and
the other one wears a tshirt and is more self concisou a larger girl fhjjwejfbef.

Harley - pg 26

1. Re read this chapter that focuses on Harley. Do you believe that Harley is an evil child or that he is the
product of poor parenting? Be able to justify your opinions with evidence from the text.

Harley seems as though he has always had a lot of freedom and never

2. The final line of the chapter sees Carl inwardly chastising himself and calling himself a fool. For what
reasons does Carl believe he is foolish?

The Cafe - pg 32

1. Re-read this chapter and comment on how the teenagers have been constructed for us. In
other words, what sort of picture has Maloney painted of the teenagers who hang out at the
Cafe? Support your ideas with evidence from the text.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year- pg 36

1. Part of being a teenager, and one of the most prominent themes within the novel, is the idea of belonging
to a group/sand being accepted. On page 32, Aunt Beryl hurts Carl deeply when she suggests that Carl
does not belong and is not 'normal'. Find this quote.

“ you’re a sorry case, you know, calr. You haven’t made any friends here. You didn’t even say hello to
bruce’s brother on Christmad Day and he’s about your age. You don’t go swimming like the other kids.
There is something wrong with you. You’re getting on my nerves.”

2. The relationship between Maddie and Nathan Trelfo is a dangerous one. For what reasons is it
dangerous? Re read pages 38 to help you answer this question.

He puts her in dangerous situations e.g. drinking and leaving her drunk, pressures her to do more than
she is comftorble with sexuality.
Birds of Prey- pg 44

1. Another major theme in the novel is the theme of body image. Find the quote on pg 44 that gives us a
very clear indication of what Carl thinks of his body.

Carl thinks that hes fat and that people will call him a whale if he goes swimming. So instead he wears
oversized t-shirts and refuses to swim.

2. Again, Aunt Beryl's comments cut deeply when she insults Carl about his body on pg 46. What does
she say?

“girls aren’t interested in a guy whos built like a brick shit house.”

3. This chapter is entitled 'Birds of Prey' and yet it does not feature the osprey or any birds of prey in the
chapter at all. Why then has Moloney titled this chapter thus? Who or what are the 'birds of prey'
that are featured in this chapter?

Bruce preys on the tourists of wattle beach. Beryl preys on carl and Harley. Nathan preys on Maddie.
Holiday's End - pg 51

1. When Aunt Beryl realizes that the boys do not have a home to return to, she is furious and throws
them out of her house for a night. However, she accepts them back the next morning. What is it, that
Carl realizes is her motivation for agreeing to have them back under her roof?

She only accepts them back into her house because of the social security checks that she gets for
looking after him, and her being unemployed she would be loosing a great amount of money that she
cant afford.

2. What does this tell us about the kind of person Aunt Beryl is?

She is very selfish and doesn’t really care about them. The only reason she acceoted them back is
because it benefits her, if the money wasn’t an issue, she would have kicked them out completely.

Birthday- pg 59

1. Kerry's inability to be a mother to her children weighs heavily on Carl. Re read pages 60 and comment on how
Moloney informs his readers that Kerry's absence is causing Carl some major grief and confusion.

Joy- pg 62

1. "Shame followed him like a can tied to a dog's tail." On page 67 Carl is again made to feel as though
he is not 'normal' when browsing the magazine stands in the news agency. How is Carl made to feel
ashamed? Why was he attracted to the magazine in the first place?

He was looking at the girly magazines because they were the exact kind that Sarah would purchase
and he was missing her

2. On page 67, Carl meets Joy Duncan for the first time. How does Maloney position us to feel about Joy
from this initial meeting? Support your opinions with evidence from the text.

Wiseman's Cove - pg 70

1. On page 71 - 73 we meet Skip Duncan for the first time. How does Maloney construct this character
for us, as his readers? In other words, what impression does Maloney want us to have of Skip? Use
evidence from the text to support your answer.

Skip is a hard wrker. A bit ruff around he edges but he takes pride in his work and loves his family.

2. In this chapter we are introduced to the osprey that Joy is nursing back to health at her home.
Consider the following descriptions of the bird and comment on how the creature is symbolic in the
story.

a. "It was a large bird, brown and grey, its head covered by a canvas hood.” Pg 74

Like the bird carl is alone and isolated from the other teenagers in wattle beach. He shys away
from making new connections with other people.
 b. "Damaged wing. Shot gun, it looks like he'll have to stay with me a while. Give his wing time
to recover properly.” Pg 75

Like the bird carl has been hurt by the actions of others – his abandonment form his family
members.

c. "What will you do with the bird when it can fly again? Set it free. Greatest thing you've ever
seen, watching one of these take off.”

"I'd like to see that."

"Well then, you'll have to come with me when it's time." Pg 76

There is some foreshadowing here – maybe carl will learn and overcome his challenges and
set off in the world confident and free from unreasonable responsibility and happy.

Skip Duncan - pg 78

1. In this chapter (and at the very end of the previous one) we are made aware of the fact that Carl's surname,
Matt, draws a strange reaction from Joy and an outrageous response from Skip. What is it about Carl's
surname that makes 'everyone around here hate' he and Harley? How might the surname itself be
symbolic?

The matts have a bad reputation because of the accident between skip and dessie matt, cralsz grand father.
Skip Duncan and dessie matt worked at the timber mill skip fired dessie. In order to get back at him dessie
did burnouts in his car at the beach, around skip to scare him but lost control of the vehicle andshattered
skips leg. This is why skip works the aarge and has a limp.

The Barge - pg 85

1. In the early stages of this chapter, we get an insight into how Skip Duncan operates his barge. Do
you get the impression that he enjoys his work? Explain.

2. Despite the fact that Carl is hit with one blow after another during this chapter, he seems to be able
to turn a bad situation into a good one. How does he do this? What does this tell us about Carl's
character?

3. On page 91, how is the cap that Carl buys and wears to work on the barge symbolically significant?

A Pump and a Long Black Hose - pg 94

1. In this chapter Carl shows initiative in starting to wash the cars off as part of the barge's service to its paying
passengers. What opinion does Skip seem to be forming of Carl? How does this differ from his earlier encounter
with Carl?

The Curse of the Matts - pg 101

1. Everyone in the Wattle Beach seems to be aware of the bad name that the Matt family has established for itself
over the years. While waiting for Harley in the Principal's office, Carl overhears a woman discussing his family's
reputation.
"It's the Matt family. They're a curse on Wattle Beach. It goes right back, you know. Trash, the lot of them. I went to
school with that little monster's mother. Oh I remember her. Typical Matt she was. Scratch your eyes out if you
looked sideways at her. I'm telling you, there's a bad streak in that family. It's in the blood. Always has been and the
brat you've got here now is proof."

Whilst Harley may be displaying typical Matt family characteristics, James Moloney has constructed Carl's character
is a very different way. What traits have we seen in Carl so far in the story that contradict the above definition of
what a Matt family member is supposed to be like? Make a list of between 5-10 characteristics.

A Piece of Cake - pg 106

1. How is the cake that Harley bakes symbolically significant?

Dreams of Escape and Chains - pg 110 and pg 117

In both of these chapters Carl is extremely angry about Aunt Beryl's treatment of Harley. Read the following
abridged version of the Human Rights Bill and comment of which of these rights Aunt Beryl has violated due to her
inhumane treatment of Harley.

 The right to life, freedom and safety.

 The right to equal treatment without sexual, racial, social, ethnic or other discrimination.
 Freedom from slavery and unfair detention.
 Equal treatment under law, freedom from torture and inhumane punishment. The right to be presumed
innocent until proven guilty and a fair trial.
 The right to privacy and a family protected by society.
 The right to basic needs, food, shelter, clothing and medical care. The right to own property.
 Freedom of thought, conscience, expression of opinion and religion. Freedom of assembly and the right not
to belong.

Good Friday - pg 124

1. In this chapter the osprey makes another appearance.

"Suddenly one wing stretched wide, startling Carl with its power, then as quickly folded back into place against the
body. The damaged wing had moved only slightly, inhibited by pain. It was enough to let him glimpse the bird's
strength which would remain caged for a while yet.” Pg130

We have commented on the symbolic significance of the osprey earlier in the novel, how then is this description of
the osprey mirrored in Carl's actions in the previous two chapters?

Justine- pg 131
 1. What is Justine able to bring out in Carl in this first short encounter that they have together since the
incident on New Year's Eve?

In the Kitchen- pg 137

1. How do the events that take place in the kitchen, give Joy an insight into how these boys have lived in the
past? Comment on the way Harley over reacts to the spilling of the cake, how Carl reacts to Harley's
outburst and how Carl doesn't know what to do with the beaters.

2. How does Carl react to Joy's kind words on page 141?

Rest Day - pg 143

1. On page 148 Maloney writes: "Carl didn't know what to make of this girl, laughing at the same time as she cried.
How was it done? How did she let her feeling come so quickly to the surface."

This comment tells us as much about Carl, as it does about Justine. What do we learn about Carl from this quote?

Near Pelican Reach and Turn of the Tide and Harley Redeemed - pg 151, pg 156 and pg 164

1. These three chapters focus on the incident where Harley was lost in the bay near Pelican Reach. Initially, Skip
refuses to help Carl search for Harley because of the history that exists between the Duncans and the Matts.
However, later on, he reconsiders and helps Carl search for his brother. One of the chapters has been named 'Turn
of the Tide'. From a literal perspective, the tide was actually turning and we know this because Skip says: 'The tide's
been going out all this time. Now it's on the turn.' What other 'tide is turning' in the lives of the Duncan’s and the
Matts? Explain.

Win Win - pg 168

1. After Carl has convinced Aunt Beryl that Harley should take Joy and Skip up on their offer and go and live
with them in Wiseman's Cove, Aunt Beryl makes a comment that again has Carl questioning his sense of
belonging. What does she say and what effect do her words have on Carl?

Arrivals and Departures - pg 175

 1. Initially Carl was reluctant to join Joy and the others for a day touring around the island. Why was this?

2. What was it that Joy said that made Carl change his mind?

The Champagne Pools and The Osprey-pg 179, pg 187

1. Justine makes a number of comments in this chapter that focus on the theme of body image.

'Just as well I've got lots of padding' (she says as she falls out of her seat in the back of the troupe carrier)

'I think Carl's losing his padding. He's slimmer than the first day on the bus, eh? Might go and work with him on the
barge, then. lt's either that or a diet and I hate diets, don't I Maddie, You think it'd work?'

Later, on page 195, she encourages Carl to remove his shirt so that he can enjoy swimming, she rubs sunscreen on
his back and insists that he return the favour.

What impact do Justine's words and actions have on Carl?

In this chapter, Carl sets the osprey free, under the watchful eye of Joy. At the end of the chapter Carl remembers
how Maddie commented that: "He's free. I almost know how he feels." And Carl also murmers: "Yes. Free." Pg197

What new found freedom are the pair referring to?

The Pizza Queen of Wattle Beach and The Last Wedge - pg 198 and pg 215

1. In these two chapters, Carl's move towards freedom sees him taking some huge risks - risks that he would never
have been able to foresee himself taking. Comment on the risk he takes involving each of the following people and
comment on whether this risk taking paid off for him or not.

a. Bruce Trelfo

b. Nathan Trelfo

c. Justine

Flashes - pg 223

1. In this chapter, Justine 'pushes Carl's buttons' and gets him to start talking about how he is feeling. What
does he mean when he says:
"I'm always the one who gets short changed" (pg 224)

"I'm starting to see it now. Just in little flashes, like something is trying to break through." (pg 224)

"I'm so sick of it (playing dead) I want to be alive." (pg 226)

The Curse of the Matts (part II) - pg 228

1. Two very important pieces of information are revealed in this chapter, allowing Carl to piece the puzzle that
surrounded his life in Wattle Beach, together. What did Aunt Beryl reveal about:

a) The events on the beach involving Skip Duncan and his son Graeme.

b) Bruce Trelfo's anger at Carl not wanting to resign from his job with Skip on the red barge and come and
work for him in the tow truck business.

The Rinsing Machine - pg 241

1. What does the introduction of the rinsing machine at the Wattle Lady barge entrance mean for Skip's barge?

Drifting with the Tide - pg 248

1. At the end of this chapter on page 2Carl refuses to talk to Justine because he now knows the whole story
regarding the death of Skip and Joy's son, Graeme. Justine says to Carl:

"You don't have to be like that. I like you. Really. I do. But you know what you remind me of. You're like a tick sucking
the blood out of people. Only instead of blood, you suck up all the misery. Out of that useless aunt of yours and your
mother and Maddie and Skip, everyone. You're all bloated with it. You better watch out, Carl, or one time you're
going to explode." (pg 253)

Has Justine got a point or is she too just trying to hurt Carl? Explain.

A Shooting War - pg 254

 1. In this chapter Carl experiences yet more disappointment. Not only is Skip accused of shooting holes at the
Wattle Lady barge but Joy and Skip make a decision that Carl just cannot understand. Explain what their
decision is and how Carl reacts to it.

A Bridge at Last - pg 262

1. This chapter is entitled 'A Bridge at Last'. Given the discussion we have had about how Maloney has used
symbols in this novel, describe what the literal and metaphoric interpretations of the chapter of this title
might be.

Missing Persons and The Pine Forest - pg 272 and pg 278

1. The events of these chapters see Carl having to deal with some of his biggest fears. What does he have to
face in these chapters?

2. Explain what Carl means when he likens himself to the osprey, on page 279.

3. How are the weather conditions significant in the final parts of The Pine Forest chapter?

Carl Matt - pg 284

Comment on the importance of the following lines that appear in this final chapter.

I’m not as angry as I was. I don't know where it's all gone but it has. I know all the worst things about being Carl
Matt now and it's not so bad."

“Let's go aboard (the red barge). There's only one way for the Duncan’s to travel.”

“And the Matts too," Skip added. "Especially when they're crossing to Wiseman's Cove."

Overhead, a bird drifted in from the ocean, its plumage impossible to discern in the failing light.

Was it a sea eagle or perhaps an osprey. Carl couldn't look at her. Kept his eyes on the bird as it soared higher on
the breeze."

"The red barge ploughed on across the strait, the land slipping away at either side as though the whole world was
opening up before them. And there on the deck of the red barge, Carl Matt opened up too, letting go and feeling a
freedom flood into him. The tears he craved welled in his eyes. With them came the longed-for ache of his mother's
death, and he knew at last that he was alive to feel it.