About A Boy
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This reading guide divides students into three groups to analyze different aspects of a book: language, culture, and characters/plot. The language group will define words and phrases from each chapter. The culture group will research cultural references. The characters/plot group will analyze and discuss key passages. Finally, the class will watch the film adaptation of the book.
About A Boy
- 1. Reading guide for 5th-level students Language Culture Characters and plot Film adaptation
- 2. Work organization Three groups , each dealing with a different aspect of the book LANGUAGE CULTURE CHARACTERS AND PLOT
- 3. WORKING WITH LANGUAGE You will be given several words, phrases and sentences for each chapter Try to explain the meaning of each of them and, if necessary, the grammar rules which apply. Example: Chapter 2: “He would have gone round the twist” to be, become or make someone else become angry or unable to behave in a reasonable way: If I'd stayed there any longer, I'd have gone round the twist.
- 4. CULTURE IN THE BOOK The book is an impressive collection of popular culture in the UK nowadays Please find out a little bit about each of the many cultural references in the book. Example: Marcus is frowned upon by his school colleagues because he listens to singers from the 1960s rather than to heros like Kurt Cobain
- 5. CHARACTERS AND PLOT At the beginning, one chapter is devoted to Marcus and the other to Will. Later on, they mix and secondary characters gain importance Try to give your opinion on the following lines from the book: “ Marcus knew he was weird, and he knew that part of the reason he was weird was because his mum was weird. She just didn’t get this, any of it.” (page 13)
- 6. THE FILM We’ll watch it after we’ve had some sessions with just the book It was very successful and featured Hugh Grant, Toni Collette and Rachel Weisz as stars. However, it does not exactly follow the book. It will be nice to assess if you like the book best or not and what the main differences between book and film are.