AS Level Eng L+L - CC on Themes + Characters

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Pages 21, 119 and 230

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 227, 230, 298 and 300

Similarities:

Both Stuart and Andrea are forced to move to another school

Both Stuart's and Andrea's education is affected by the abuse that they receive

Differences:

Andrea's education is her escape whereas Stuart is trying to escape school

Stuart has a wider education about the world e.g. lots of details about drugs + crime

I HAVE TAKEN SOME OF THIS INFORMATION FROM YellowYeti TO HELP ME WITH MY REVISION

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Pages within chapter 24 (Grandma Ellen and Grandad Bert)

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 82-83

Similarities:

Both Stuart and Andrea had mothers who cared for them and fathers that didn't

Differences:

In Stuart, his grandparents imply that they knew about Stuart's abuse he received 'That boy has suffered' but they didn't do anything about it. However in Andrea, her aunties gave advice and tried to help when the stepfathers were being horrible and abusive towards Lorraine and the children.

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Chapter 23 (About Gavvy)

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 8 and 80

Similarities:

Stuart and his sister kept quiet about the abuse they received when they were younger just like Andrea and her sister Laurie about their stepfather. Also Andrea was the 'glue' of the family which links to Stuart as he was protective over his older sisters.

Differences:

Gavvy, Stuart's older brother actually abused him whereas Andrea herself never abused Sarah or Laurie and they didn't abuse her either

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Page 254 - 266 (Whole of chapter 23), especially pages 261 and 266

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 282 - 285, 268

Similarities:

Stuart was bribed after being abused just like Andrea was with chocolate

Differences:

There may be more graphic details which Andrea decided not to include in her piece whereas Masters includes gives lots of graphic details (May be because Andrea wrote it herself whereas Stuart didn't - Had to think twice)

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

13,

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 33, 75

Similarities:

The stepfather doesn't care about the influence he is having on the children, treating Lorraine (Andrea) horribly through the use of expletives such as 'b****' (implies he doesn't intend to have a close relationship with the children - Links with Stuart as he doesn't trust people and therefore doesn't intend to have close relationships as well

Differences:

Stuart was looked after by his mother whereas it was the opposite with Andrea as she had to look after her mother

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Pages 6, 126 and 156

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 1, 2, and 62

Similarities:

Both Stuart and Andrea have people who die in their family

They both think about committing suicide and they both experience suicide

Differences:

The main focus in Stuart is the death of Stuart himself whereas in 'Once in a House on Fire' the focus is on Andrea's escape from her life at home and her success

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Pages 119 and 260-261

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 15-17

Similarities:

Both in Stuart and 'Once in a House on Fire' there are characters which have a short temper and can go from calm to very angry (Stuart and stepfathers in 'Once in a House on Fire')

Differences:

Stuart doesn't always hurt someone whereas the stepfathers cause harm to Lorraine and the children almost every time

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Pages 13,

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Page 324

Similarities:

Both like their mothers and care about them

Differences:

Stuart's mother looked after him as a child but it is rather the opposite with Andrea due to the fact that she had to look after her mother instead

Recommended Pages in Stuart:

Pages 125 and 202

Recommended Pages in 'Once in a House on Fire':

Pages 3 and 26

Similarities:

Stuart and Andrea don't have very good relationships with their Dads

Differences:

Stuart's relationship with his son is very much like the one he had with his father whereas Andrea takes more responsibility as a mother figure