SETTING

A.PHYSICAL SETTING
1.

London, the capital city of England.

In this country the three children live with their parents in a warm house in
the city before their father is being taken away by two men mysteriously.
2.

The house in the country

They live in a white house near a railway line. The children always sit on
the wooden fence and wave to the passengers in the trains that pass by.
3.

The railway station

It has platform. The children make friend with Perks who works as a porter
at the railway station.
4.

The tunnel

Some boys from Maidbridges school run through this long tunnel in the
paper-chase. The children, then, help a boy in a red T-shirt named Jim who
suffered a broken leg while participating in the activity.

B.

SOCIAL SETTING

The story tells about a middle-class family living in England in the 20th
century. The period is between 1900 and 1920 in England. They lead a
happy life until their father is taken away mysteriously one night. They
move to the country side and live in a white house near the railway line.
They children wander around and meet kind and friendly workers at the
railway station and make new friends with the villagers. The children save
a train and are given a gold watch each.
Their mother is not pleased at her children acts at first but realizes they
are doing great living and making friends in the country side.

They received the medicine, delicious food and twelve red roses
from their new friend the old gentleman.
They receive a present of gold watch each from their friend the old
gentleman
The children collected presents for Perks' for his birthday

CHARACTERS
1.

The three children have some common character traits.

Loving,obedient,thoughtful,kind,helpful,hardworking,brave,clever,imaginat
ive,loyal,polite, well-mannered, independent, adventurous and unsure of
what is wrong and right.
i.

Roberta @ Bobbie

She is the eldest child in the family and she is twelve years old. She is
portrait as responsible, brave, determined, devoted, loving,
understanding and sensitive.
ii.

Peter

He is the only boy in the family and the second child. He is 10 years old.
His ambition is to become an engineer. Peter is a proud boy, brave, clever,
resourceful and generous.
iii.

Phyliss

Being the youngest in the family she always tries to be good. She is a
loving daughter and get upset easily.
2.

Mother

No name is mention in the story. She has to take care of the family after
her husband was taken away. She loves reading books to her children and
she writes stories to provide for her family. She is a loving and devoted
mother. She is also a protective, brave, patience and strong lady. She is
describe as comforting, positive, kind, proud and dignified too.
3.

The Old Gentleman

This gentleman rides on the 9.15 train every morning. He has white hair
and looks kind. He knows the government people. He is Jims grandfather.
He has the character of a friendly, kind, polite, helpful and generous old
man.

MINOR CHARACTERS
1.

Father

He is a tall man and white-faced. He works with the government. He is a

wonderful father that never gets angry and are always ready to play with
his children. Sadly, he was accused of being a spy and was arrested and
jailed.
2.

Perks

Perks works as a porter at the railway station. He is a nice and friendly

man. He is kind and polite but he dislikes being pitied by others. He is
good at doing his job.

3.

The Station Master

He is a kind and friendly man too. He agrees to let Peter go after he

arrested him for stealing the coal.
4.

Jim

He is the boy with the red t-shirt that broke his leg during the paper-chase.
Jim is the old gentlemans grandson. The children mother nurses him to
health after the incident.
5.

The train driver and Jim, The fireman

They help Bobbie when she gets stuck on their train and help her mend
Peters broken toy engine.
6.

The villagers and other people

Dr Forest : the village doctor, Mrs Viney: the family helper, Mrs Perks:
Perks wife and Ruth the family maid in London.

THEMES
1.

The importance of family love and loyalty

2.

Taking challenges with courage

3.

Facing challenges in life

4.

Growing up to be a well-mannered child

5.

The importance of friends

6.

The importance of community

MORAL VALUES
1.

Family love and loyalty

2.

Kindness and compassion

3.

Bravery

4.

Selfless acts