The Power Of Imagination

1. The Power Of Imagination By Victoria, Sarah, Emilie, Natalie and Helena

2. Introduction

3. Elizabeth • “In Russia they were building a big bomb and planes would fly over and drop it and all the world would disintegrate in seconds, all the cities and roads and farms and people, all gone like a dream” • Realistic Imagination, as she is using something which is real and justified with facts to escape the fact that her father is not there • Also she imagined the boat in the water, and she created the image that she didn’t want to be cold anymore, resulting in her overcoming her breakdown.

4. Frances

5. France paid no attention to Matilda. She was thinking about waves, how they sounded like people shouting, wanting her attention- page 50 • For Frances the power of imagination is a form of escape. • This can be seen as a direct result as to what happened to her parents relationship at the day of the basin “When I am twenty-one, Mark and I will have been married for five years….we will have our own babies… I will wear an apron and every Friday Mark will bring me a box of old gold chocolates” on page 151 • Her image of what a perfect family should be like. • Way to escape the fact that once her family was happy- incident makes the family no longer perfect

6. Frances places a lot of detail into her imagination- real/authentic to her e.g. . “He would raise his head and smile at her, his slow, gentle smile, as though he had just woken up from a deep sleep” (page 156). • These constant realistic images allow her to deal with life- she then knows what to expect in life • We have to remember though that life doesn’t turn out the way we expect it to- this happens to Frances with Mark

7. Matilda

8. Matilda is the youngest of the three sisters and her use of imagination is stronger, this can be seen though Floreal. “He shouldn’t be here whenyour father is away” (Page 26 ) quoted by Floreal. • Quote shows that imagination is used to ‘escape’ from what has happened as she doesn't ‘believe’ her own thoughts. • Floreal is part of imagination and coping mechanism- magnifies her subconscious thoughts • Way that she can trigger her anger she feels for Uncle Paul “We are going to the Show" said Matilda defiantly. "My dad will take us. He's coming home at Easter" (on page 64) • Unlike her sisters imagination is not used as protection. • Shows her longing for her father to come home- replaces reality with what Matilda wants.

9. “It was like opening the door and walking into fairyland” (page 115) • Another example of how Matilda ignores reality • Her age and understanding of the world- one big fairy tale (everything has a happy ending, everything is magical etc. )- shows where her unrealistic imagination comes form. Matilda sometimes does accept reality but exaggerates it instead. “She could pretend she was the Queen on a boring picnic, who decided she would climb a tall tree to get away from all the bother of being a queen and having to shake people's hands and wave at the crowds” (page 134). • Matilda is imagining how the Queen lives- shaking hands and waving all day • To ‘escape’ her life Matilda imagines herself as someone else (can also be read on page 101 “After all, she was a spy.”)

10. Images Created to the Reader • Imagination has been portrayed by the author creating images in the readers head about what has and/or will happened. • Seen with the images created about the father and how you think he isn’t coming home, as the mother was constantly calling him and he was late getting back. • Image that Uncle Paul wanted the mother was another way that Imagination used to make the reader believe something. Also makes you believe this is why he did nothing at the Basin.

11. Conclusion

12. Activity • Match up quotes and explanations from the text. • There are more people to choose from than there are quotes. • In order to do the activity, you need to understand why and how each character used their imagination in the story.

13. Summary of Characters • Floreal – A figment of Matilda’s imagination. Matilda’s subconcious. • Uncle Paul – Imagines life with the girl’s mother. • Father – Imagines that if he hangs himself while the family are having a nice time, the impact of his suicide will be lessened.

14. Summary of Characters • Elizabeth – Realist. Doesn’t like things to be made up or imaginary. • Frances – Realists imagination. Imagines a perfect future and life she is certain she is going to have. Romanticises things. • Matilda – Uses her imagination as a coping mechanism. Based on fairytales and unrealistic views. Wants a happy ending. For example, she imagines that the mirror is talking to her.

15. Summary of Characters • Elizabeth – Realist. Doesn’t like things to be made up or imaginary. • Frances – Realists imagination. Imagines a perfect future and life she is certain she is going to have. Romanticises things. • Matilda – Uses her imagination as a coping mechanism. Based on fairytales and unrealistic views. Wants a happy ending. For example, she imagines that the mirror is talking to her.

16. Activity Match the quote or explanation with the person “...Like Alice in Wonderland. Only I will never be small again. She could feel something sad underneath her somewhere, shifting like a little crab.” Imagines that Russia is beautiful and comes up with an image of it in her head. “But we are getting married...” “You’re all cowards.” “She would fly around the world. She held her arms straight out on either side, like an aeroplane.” Scared of the spies, Red Indians and the Japs. “He’s coming home at Easter.”