Text Response: Ransom

Text Response:Ransom Interactive Revision

You will need to have a pen and paper to take part in this interactive revision on the text ransom, by David Malouf.……

Characters: • Write down as many of the characters in Ransom that you can think of. Then make as many connections between these characters as you can. • For example: Priam – father of Hector – husband of Hecuba.

Characters: Now – let’s see how you went: • Priam: father of Hector – husband of Hecuba - an elderly king of Troy

Achilles: the greatest warrior of the Greeks – father of Neoptolemus – best friend of Patroclus • Somax:representative of the ‘common man’ in Ransom.

Beauty: Somax’sfavouritemule • Shock: Somax’s other mule • Hecuba: Priam’sbeloved wife and mother of Hector • Hector: Priam& Hecuba’s son and also the leader of the Trojan army • Neoptolemus: Achilles’ son

Characters • Now – write down as many details about each of the characters (as they are presented) that you can think of. • First of all - Priam

Priam • an elderly king of Troy. • had his named changed from Podarces to Priam, the name meaning ‘the ransomed one’ or ‘the price paid.’ • insists that he needs to try his best to confront Achilles as a father, rather than as king. • Wants to be remembered as a king who performed an extraordinary act of heroism in order to save his beloved son.

Achilles • known as the greatest warrior of the Greeks • driven to insanity over the death of Patroclus, his closest companion • takes revenge by killing Hector • drags Hector’s dead body along the walls of Troy for the next 11 days • loses his sense of humanity, as he is possessed by his rage, hatred and grief

Somax • representative of the ‘common man’ in Ransom • chosen to escort Priam to Achilles • often engages in useless chatter and performs daily activities in a way that is foreign to the king • his great deal of affection for his daughter-in-law and granddaughter teaches Priam about love, family and life

Beauty • Somax’sfavouritemule • accompanies Priam and Somax on their journey to the Greek camp where Achilles’ resides

Shock • Somax’s other mule who carries the cart to Achilles’ camp

Hecuba • Priam’s beloved wife and mother of Hector • initially uncertain of Priam’s vision to save Hector • urges Priam to first share his plan with their family and the kingdom’s council before he departs

Hector • Priam’s son and also the leader of the Trojan army • He is kind, brave and noble without any cruel intentions • kills Patroclus

Neoptolemus • is Achilles’ son • makes his first appearance at the end of the novel where he savagely slaughters an old and defenseless Priam in an effort to avenge his father’s death

Themes • Write down some of the themes represented in Ransom.

Suggested Themes: • Identity Ransom explores who we are and what it means to have an identity. Priam has always viewed himself as a king. However, the death of Hector is a catalyst for Priam for he realises that he needs to become a ‘father’.

Themes (continued) • Somax is designated as the king’s herald, with the name Idaeus. He notes his unhappiness with this, since he is ‘Somax, not Idaeus.’ The new name strips him of his identity. Somax’sconfidence and pride in his identity is starkly contrasted with Priam’s pursuit for an identity transformation.

Themes (continued) • Change Malouf demonstrates that it is never too late to change one’s ways. Priamis determined to change how he is remembered - from just another king to a hero who went to extraordinary lengths to regain his child.

Themes (continued) • Although Achilles is driven by hatred and anger after Patroclus’ death, as with Priam, he manages to change his ways. He is touched by Priam’spleas and accepts the ransom and returns Hector’s body.

Themes (continued) • Revenge After Patroclus’ death, Achilles hunts down Hector in order to avenge his best friend’s early death. Achilles feels the need to mutilate the body day after day without any sense of remorse or regret.

Themes (continued) • Chance and fate The role of the gods is heavily woven into the events that unfold in Ransom.Priam only begins his transition and journey after envisioning the goddess Iris, who suggests that he take a ‘chance’ and try to save Hector from Achilles’ camp.

Text Response Prompts: • Ransom suggests that revenge is not the answer to grief. • Ransom demonstrates that though it may be difficult, anyone can change their ways. Discuss. • In Ransom, the characters confront their battles with love or revenge.

Text Response Prompts: • Maloufsuggests that peace triumphs over war. Discuss. • Love drives the characters to act unimaginably. • The characters’ sense of humanity disappears when they lose a loved one.

Text Response Prompts: • Both Achilles and Priam journey through pain and loss to ultimately find peace. • David Malouf suggests that revenge and guilt are connected. • Redemption helps the characters in Ransom find peace.

Text Response Prompts: • Ransom demonstrates that even the common man can teach royalty many things. • Ransom shows that royal members are not superior to commoners. • Priamis depicted ‘like an obedient toddler’ at the beginning of his journey. How does this journey change him into a man?

Text Response Prompts: • The true hero of Ransom is Somax. Discuss. • Ransom shows that the gods have a significant role in the fate of the characters. • In David Malouf’s Ransom, it is the commoner who is shown to be privileged, not royalty. Discuss.

Text Response Prompts: • The characters’ identity is not defined by their names, but who they are. • ‘…[S]mall waves kick up, gather, then collapse, and new ones replace them; and this, even as he watches, repeats itself, and will do endlessly.’ Ransom illustrates that the cycle of life is repeated. To what extent do you agree?

Choose one of the above text responses as a practice for the exam.

Happy Studying

Text Response: Ransom