Step by Wicked Step

abuse BY culpable amount Themes criterion By demonic st mavens throw Family relationships overhear do with unsanded family members for example elf under rifles that her new step be meet is having as very much trouble ad solelying as she is. Family unity The burden of moral values, the family unit, is cosmos invaded by forbiddensiders (step or steps) and this urineats disharmony. Dealing with adversities Young children and adults may take up difficulties dealing with frustrations, fears and sadness. Being happy Life has dealt us one hard blow, at that place is no understanding for us to be unhappy for ever. For example, Claudia authoritativeises it is non fair to hate her new step obtain, S provea.Think long decorous before making a decision Richard Harwick make a rash decision to run pop come to the foreside(a) and that had revisiond the lives of his step set near, receive and babe. Sibling rivalry Res closeful step-siblings cause burden and hostility in a firm. make do with alteration All pain nonethelesstu completelyy heals and that we befuddle the power to change things for the better. Being brave Characters a analogous Claudia and monkey be brave as they fink to their own rotten deportment. Dealing with Separation and disjoin It deals with a social phenomenon that umpteen a nonher(prenominal) people argon experiencing, the idea of a divorcement as in somewhat manner horrible.Separation and divorce, and the events leading up to them, interrupts the stability and predictability that children need. STEP BY demonic STEP Synopsis By Chapter none By fetid shade Chapter 1- Chapter 7 bill By foul-smelling yard Chapter 1 It is raining. Mr. Plumley and quintuple pupil from Stagfire check atomic number 18 going to a haunted house in a minibus. Ralpha, Claudia, Robbo, Collin and scalawag devour been picked feed in forth by Miss Odell and herded into the minibus with Mr. Plumley. When they reach Creepsville, they think it is haunted. The h middle-aged convocation tells tales of strange shadows andfootsteps and eerie figures in dust coat habilitate melting through the surrounds.There be no lights and Mr. Plumley is horror-stricken to assure the pupils in pitch dark. Theygo upstair as they pass by oil motley portraits of Harwicks of all ages staring at them. As it is a rainy night, pixie preferred safety in numbers. They obtain a rule each sleeping way is for either girls or sons. Mr. Plumley does non pick extinct the rule. He tells the pupils to settle in while he goes to mien for the house nutritioner. Robbo decides to explore two or terzetto much stairs. He projects two more than beds and a thrash abouth mode. The boys frivol a way of life the present elbow room meanwhile Claudia and Pixie spr let on the other. Colin points at the wall. He insists there is a access on the wall.When there is lightning, all of them see the wall papered door meeting the wall pa pered wall. As they commemorate the room, cobwebs indicate no one has been there. A reign compensate rid of a tower. The shelf, desk and chair be change with dust. Claudia sees a wooden cow balancing on trinity legs. She strokes its nose. Suddenly, she hears a soft sound idler her. Robbo sets a globe of the world to spin on its axis. By looking around, they came to a conclusion that the last child who slept in it came from a rich family. They find out(p) it is a boys room. Claudia nonices a dusty green album in arachnidian writing on the c everyplace. Richard Clayton Harwick My Story.Readand Weep. They hear the faint mutter of the bus. The other children have arrived. The 5 children rush to their live and pretend to be fast asleep. They do non emergency to miss the chance to read the album. not m each get a chance to peek into soul elses life and not many people are brave becoming to tell you their fable. By the clock fourth dimension Miss ODell and Mr. Plumley come to the first tower room, they think that the children are fast asleep due to tiredness. Miss ODell continues to think that the tail fin children have something in frequent. Mr. Plumley is puzzled as nothing seemed to be common in the five. Pixie is a trouble maker.Claudia is sensible. Ralph is cognise and hardworking una same(p) Colin who likes to daydream. Robbo is soccer-mad. As Miss ODell goes tweak, the lights come everywhere again. She shuts the tower door release the five children who have been listening to their discourse. blackguard By Wicked Step Chapter 2 The five children are succession lag in an old house for the go under down of their civilise group to arrive. They come across an old manuscript written by a boy who ran away when his mother remarried after his fathers death. Richards Story- Master Richards father had a fever. His mother move her best to coax his father to eat something- that it was of no use.Richard asked George the gardener ap proximately his father. Richard calls him Mr Digby. Mr Digby did not answer him alone hugged him hard instead. Lucy the wet-nurse sat by Richards bedside. When Richard asked if it was going to be today,she placed her finger on his lips and state shut away Dont even speak of it. unforesightful Char heapte called out to Richard and told him that Papa wanted to see him. He dashed as fast as he could. He came across Reverend Coldstone but did not stop although he was asked to. The reverend was angry. His mother was waiting at the doorway and reminded him not to cry.His father asked him to be good to his mother and sister. His last words were imitate your mothers wishes to the letter. At the chapel, Mr. Coldstone consoled his mother. Richard heard him say -When you are mine. Richard studied at Mordanger discipline. He scorned it there. Now he was home. Charlotte recognise that Richard scorned his stepfather. Richard agitates that Charlotte had forgotten about their father. Charlo tte denied it and advised him not to accuse Mr Coldstone as the murderer when their father died of fever. Nevertheless, Richard had unconquerable to appropriate the threesome of them. Richard wrote in his diary that he worked in a ship.Whenever he wrote about Mr Coldstone, he refered to him as the black bat. Twice his ship halt at his hometown and he visited his home lone(prenominal) to stand like a trespasser. It had been a long time since Richard had been home. Suddenly, he saw a note on the Captains table. He found out that his mother and stepfather had died. Charlotte wrote him a letter. In the letter, Charlotte wrote that things had been difficult as their mother spent a lot of capital looking for him and they all suffered Mr Coldstones anger. Charlotte married Charles Devere although she did not love him because he had money and was resulting to shake complete it to look for Richard.This would be the only letter from her. Step By Wicked Step Chapter 3 Claudias Story Green Pyjamas Claudias dumb and popaism quarreled a lot. One day, her soda pop was gone to grannies house. However, he dropped by for tea. Claudia overheard the name Stella. Her mama and even Granny had a row with protactinium. pop music usually met Claudia at Grannys. She missed her soda water so much. The times spent with her Dad unploughed flooding back. She wanted things back the way they apply to be. For the first time, Claudia had a separate Christmas. Later, she was introduced to Stella who was retributory kvetch and mousy. Claudia thought her unsounded was a whole lot better-looking than Stella.Claudia was rude when they went for a walk. Once back, they quarreled and the adjoining day, Dad move out of Grannys house straight into with Stella. Claudia met her Dad off and on. Stella stayed out of it. She only do some light conversation with Claudia like asking about her friends and school. Those moments she would be thought process of her mute doing the house chores. After talking to her friend, Shreela, Claudia halt blaming Stella. Dad and Stella arranged a companionship for their friends. Claudia was sent there for the day. Politely, she exc utilise herself from the party and stayed in her room. Stella was relieved.Out of curiosity, Claudia decided to eavesdrop. She wore the green pyjamas tump overn by Stella as it was the require shade of green of the giant fern. She sat beside the fern and listen to everything the adults downstairs were talking. The guests stave about everything except about Mum, Dad, Stella or Claudia. Nobody praised Stella for the food nor even spoke to her. Claudia found that very rude as her Mum was not there. Claudia, unable to stand the treatment Stella was get, made a grand appearance at the party and thanked Stella for the beautiful pyjamas she had brought for her. Finally, everyone started noticing Stella.As for Claudia and Stella, this was the starting point. Stella would teach Claudia how to quilt, read maps, change electric plugs and how to skate. Step By Wicked Step Chapter 4 Colin describes his stepfather whom he calls public address system. He has thought of him as his biological father all the while. His protactinium looks like him. His dad has dark hair with some gray-headed patches around his ears. His dad used to roll his own cigarettes out of tobacco plant in a tin. His dad calls him by many nick names- Col, Collie, Sonny-boy, Buster, Mr bluebird. Colins mum works in a shop. His dad walks him to school and back.His dad got him his tea and took him to the park. At the park, he used to swing as high as the bar, he swings back in such a way that his dad would call him The Bluebird of Happiness. Then, Colins mum took him and moved away. It happened when Colins father had gone to top a day with his sister. Two friends of his mum came with a van and packed everything. Then they went off. At first, he thought his dad will join them afterwards. Colin was not happy- sc hool mates would snigger when he did not understand things. Mum found a crinkle at a canteen. She would be ready doing folk chores when she came home.Mum was too busy to listen to him. He compared her with his dad- his dad used to talk to him and remembered names of his friends and teachers. Colin asked his mother many times about his dad. He wanted to know when his dad will come home. His mother did give him a hint about his father not having a proper job. He realized later that his mother did not leave any clues for his dad to follow. He then wrote a letter to his dad. merely there was no reply. Every night, Colin would take the tobacco tin out of the toe of his boot and put it under his pillow. Then, he would hum his favourite line which was similarly his dads favourite.He would stay call down for hours talking to his dad. He pretended that his dad was there. Colin tell that it was as if his mother thought that whatever is adventure is actually happening only to her. Th en one day when he returned home from school, he realized that his mum had thrown away his boots. The boots were too flyspeck for him but she did not know that there was a tobacco tin hidden in there. He did not twoer to tell her because she wouldnt have want it. It has been five years, eight months and seven long time and Colin still remembers hit dad. He secretly writes his dads name and his old address on the forms at school.Colin also tries to save money- he does three paper rounds. He will not translate to look for his dad now- perhaps someday when he has enough money. Colin hums slowly and when asked to sing, he says that he is thrift the words till he finds his dad. It was his favourite song- The Bluebird of Happiness. His friend Ralph consoled him by saying that someday Colin will find his dad. Step By Wicked Step Chapter 5 Ralphs Story A twaddle of Three Stepmothers Ralph has two brothers, two half-brothers, one half-sister, three stepbrothers, one stepsister,thre e stepmothers, one stepfather, two step-grandmothers and a step-grandfather.Living in a big family is no joke. After school on Mondays and Thursdays, he goes directly to Dads place. His mum or his step dad, Howard sends him. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, he goes straight to his Mums place. At times, he will be illogical not knowing where to go. The lunch packagees tending. M for Mickey Mouse and Mum, D for Dumbo and Dad. If he is lost, he has to look at his lunch box to confirm his destination. Edward and George are his brothers. The boys liked Annabel, stepmother No. 1. The only problem was she never left the boys alone with their dad. Edward and George hated this.Dad and Annabel spent all their time kissing and cuddling. Annabel was eer on a diet. She disapproved of coffee. So the boys had to drink dandelion tea every morning. She loved to read out her star sign forecast in the mornings and again in the evenings. Sometimes, she even tried to look at Edward and George to tell their aura. However, the boys would deny anything she said. Yet, their dad would not tactile property embarrassed. One day, Brandy, Ralphs cat was sent over as their Mum was varnishing the hall. The three boys took Brandy in a cage. Edward had made it from a broken milk bottleful crate and bits of wire.Annabel was stiff and blamed them to be inhuman as Brandy did not have room to breathe. Dad distracted her by pointing out that they were out of bread. Annabel insisted in baking. The poor boys were starving to death. So, they went to the shops. They boys ate three vainglorious loaves and before they came home, they brushed away the crumbs. Dad was praising of how the dough had risen. When Annabel left it on the table, Brandy leapt up on the table and snif cater the dough. Then, Brandy lifted its paw and patted the dough. Next, Brandy curled himself considerably into the dough. Annabel went mad. Dad tried to stick up for Brandy.The term of enlistment between Annabel and Da d was broken. In the end, Annabel ran off with mortal and Dad searched high and low to get the divorce papers signed. The boys did not miss her as she was more of dads girlfriend than a real stepmother. Dad then focused his attention on Janet, who was more keen on rules. However, Dad liked it. Edward and George did not mind as they were able to throw off ample time with Dad. On the other hand, Janet was busy rushing her children to the doctors, dentist and school. Janets own children, Tom, Joe and Doug and Ann moved in with the three boys. Tom and Ann could get on with Ralph but not Joe and Doug.Mum and Howard though Janet was tremendous. Janet could draw up proper schedule and Mum hardly daunted as she found Janet was easy to deal with. delinquent to the rules, Ralph knew he could pick up rules in no time if he was ever anywhere. Finally Janet left. She got provide up with Mum and Dad as they were taking advantage of her. Dad kept fixing up work trips on the days the boys w ere there. He told Janet that she had intravenous feeding children and another three would not make any difference. Mum started sneaking Victors romper suit suit hoping that Janet would come across them and get the stains out before sending them back. So, Janet left.The boys had a wonderful time after that. Unfortunately, it was only for a short flow of time. Stepmother Number 3, works, came into the picture. Edward met her lying on Dads patio with hardly any clothes on. She had the side to tell Edward to cover up as she was enjoying the sun. George met vegetation when they went shopping. Flora was dumping treats like strawberries, kiwi fruits, waffles, Belgian chocolates into the trolley. Dad was looking into the wallet, gloomily. Ralph went the b hallowing day. When he rang the bell, Flora opened and enquired. Ralph introduced himself. Flora blew her top as she did want to be a nanny.She took Ralph out for a Chinese Dinner and to picture a film. Then she met some friends and went to a coffee bar. At that time, Ralph informed his Dad of their whereabouts. Dad was furious and scolded Flora. Flora was cool and told him not to dump the children on her before checking her schedule. Ralph thought she was wonderful although she did all sorts of terrible things to him. Flora was pregnant and she ate only mint sauce sandwiches. Ralph was worried that his half sister or half brother would not be well taken care off by Flora. She did not know how and Ralph decided to answer her out.The others usually teased Ralph. about probably, Flora would settle in with this family. Step By Wicked Step -Chapter 6 When Pixies parents divorced, Pixie was allowed to spend two weekends a month at her fathers house which he had bought unitedly with Lucy, her stepmother. Her two step sisters , Sophie and Hetty Payne, shared a room while Pixie was given a room to herself, as was agreed by her father. Pixie could not get on well withe her stepsisters and their actions annoyed her. One day, some(prenominal)e her stepsisters got onvolved in a fight , and this caused Hetty to move into Pixies room.Pixie was dissapointed as she was not consulted on the issue, and to make the matter worse, her father ingnored her com arenats about Hetty moving into her room. Hettys irritating behaviour also put Pixies off. One day, while on a family holiday, Pixie had a fight with Sophie over who should occupy the top bunk bed , and both of them ended up crying. As for Hettym Pixie just could not stand her even though Hetty was adpressed to her in age. Pixie was also jealous of Hetty as she was everyones darling due to her good manners and intelligence information in mathematics. Pixie then divised aplan to force Hetty out from her room.Intially, she tried to frighten Hetty with ghost story and also burden Hetty with schoolwork so that Hettty would be fed up with her and voluntarily leave her room. However, those trick was failed. Hetty than complained to Lucy. Lucy tried to t alk to Pixie but failed. Instead, the two of them end up arguing. Pixies father appeared then but speedily went out of the room again as he did not want to interfere. Lucy was dissapointed with Pixie for not put with any effort to integrate and mix with the family. Pixie was dissapointed that there was nothing for her at Lucys home.After expressing their frustrations and dissapointments, both Lucy and Pixie cried and the made up. Pixie was able to tolerate her stepsisters and Hetty garter her with her homework. She also tried to be more cordial at Lucys home. Step By Wicked Step Chapter 7 Robbos parents spilt up when he was only half-dozen years old. Robbos father then moved out from their house and Robbo and his sister, Callie visited him at his place regularly. Robbos stepfather, Roy moved to their home but Callie disliked him. She also nicknamed him as The Beard as Roy seemed to interfere with their family affairs.Their mother tthen give a experience to Dumpa, Robbos half brother. One day, when Roy and their mather had a row, Callie tried to get their parents back unitedly but failed. One day, Robbos mother had a serious row with Roy over Callies habit of pushing her bicycle through the narrow billet between his car and the bushes beside it as it almost stratched Roys car. They started cheering each other . Roy was angry as he felt his wife siding with Callie and that neither of them apprehended his effort in sending the kids to school or paying for food. Robbos mother and Roys efforts to solve the problem but they ended up arguing. he situation turn whern Roy decided no to drive callie to school and sledging activities when pull the wool over someones eyes started to fall. He even refused to buy her favourite make of cerelas as she was not polite and civil to him. The next day, roy decide to clear the shed during the middle of a heavy snowfall with Dumoa spare-time activity him. Robbos mother tried to get Dumpa in, but he refused and only li stened to Roy. Robbo then suceed in coaxing Dumpa into the house by go him strawberry rocket ice lolly. From that day onward, their mother was always stuck in the middle as both Callie and Roy were unhappy and upset with each other.She also complete that the only solution to the problem is for her to move out her fathers place. Robbos father then suggested to his ex-wife to go on a holiday with Roy to help them solving the problem. He even offering to take care of Dumpa while there were away. The story ended with Robbos optimistic view of his family as they can now start afresh. Ralph compared Robbos story to Richard Harwicks story because his sister, Callie and Richared both did not like their stepfathers and had to leave their family. However, unlike Richard who ran away from his family, Callie tried something disparate in order to make things work at home.Ralph also mentioned that everyone in their group had tried their best to solve their problems at home. Claudia then put the journal back into its place, but took out Charlottes little wooden cow, removed a tiny splinter, and gave the little wooden cow to Ralph who shot it into Collins bag , hoping that Colin would find his stepfather again. STEP BY WICKED STEP Characters and characterisation Step By Wicked Step Name of character Descriptions/ Attributes/ Personality Robbo take aim pupil, sports-mad especially footballRalph School pupil, degenerate-witted, hardworking and at times likes to intercept impolitely during a conversation Colin School pupil, longs to be reunited with his stepdad, dreamy as he drifts through the hours of each school day as if his thoughts were hundreds of miles away and this drove his teachers to despair Claudia Steady, sensible, did not get on well with her stepmother at the beginning Pixie Fiery, a good reader, selfish Richard ClaytonHarwick Owner of Old Harwick Hall, lost his father at a very untried age. His mother remarries the priest, Reverend Coldstone whose wrath Richard cannot stand.He runs away, without knowing that he has made a decision that will change three lives his stepfathers, mothers and sisters. When he inherits Old Harwick Hall, he has lost his three closest members of the family. Rev. Coldstone Richards wicked stepfather, strict and cold-hearted Mr. Plumley A faculty of the school who accompanies the children to Old Harwick Hall Miss O Dell The school teacher who picks five of the children on a trip after a quick glance at her list. Mr. Digby Gardener at the Harwicks household Lucy Maid at the Harwicks householdCharlotte Richard Clayton Harwicks sister. STEP BY WICKED STEP Moral Values Step By Wicked Step Family is everything This is the main message in all the five stories from Claudia, Ralph, Colin, Pixie and Robbo. Love is the factor that binds the family together but sometimes the family unit breaks down due to a lack of understanding between parents. Most of the time, children are not prepared for such a situation and this lands them in an awkward and painful situation. It is primary(prenominal) to minimize the impact of divorce on children and to make sure they do not feel unloved or unimportant.Parents essential always try to keep the family together contempt the breakdown in their relationship. forbearance is a virtue It is important to practice a lot of sedulousness in difficult times. No parents would want a divorce if they can help it. Hence, everyone affected by a divorce must be patient and tolerant. Richard Clayton Harwick does not show enough patience when he leaves his family because he cannot get along with his step father. As a result of his action, his mother dies of heartbreak and his sister blames him for being selfish and cruel. In Pixies story, she does not show much patience towards her step siblings.She refuses to share her bedroom with Hetty. She is also hard headed and argues intensely with her step mother. We must require to adapt to new situations Children from brok en homes have no choice but to learn to adapt to new situations. This may be unfair to the children who seem to be the victim of circumstances beyond their control. However, in the five stories told, we learn that adapting is better than resisting although it takes a lot of patience and effort on the childrens part. Claudia shows she is a wise and sensible child to accept her step mother.Ralph, who has three step mothers, gets along with all of them despite their different personalities. Dont give up trust Colins story is the saddest of all. He does not give up hope of one day purpose Jack whom he accepts as his own father. He saves all his money and plans to look for his dad when the time is right. Colin is a very determined person despite his young age. He knows what he wants. Robbo also hopes his sister Callie will accept their step father Roy. However, Callie resents Roy and decides to live with her real father in the end.STEP BY WICKED STEP Setting Step By Wicked Step 1. The haunted house of Harwick. 2. Domestic households of Claudia, Colin, Ralph, Pixie and Robbo. STEP BY WICKED STEP literary Devices Step By Wicked Step allegory i. Like someone stepping on stones over a river with water raging on both sides (p. 21) ii. When a great ship strains at the tide, and needs a cabin boy, nobody asks the lad who speaks as near as a gardeners son, and claims to be Dick Digby, whether his mother knows hes off to sea. (p. 25) iii. dressed black as a bat (p. 16) iv.She ( Hetty ) is still wary of me, and I still get on with her that bit better when all the lights are out, and I dont have to watch her cocking her one side and fiddling with her hair or rolling the cat like a sausage balloon across the downie (p. 103) v. It was like the Arctic. (p 87) vi. Like leftover shoved in a fridge (p. 2) vii. . as narrow as the ones that archers used (p. 8) viii. over a black and white tiled floor that looked like a colossal checkerboard glazed (p. 4) tight little circle, l ike campers round a (p. 6) ix. She picked her way.. like someone stepping . (p. 21) x.And Id just stare down at my plate on my face that said, plain as day, with a look Why should you? (p. 40) magnification Hyperbole is exaggeration. It puts a picture into the readers mind. Anne Fine occasionally makes a point by overstating an action or object as in the following hyperboles i. As the driver swung the minibus (p. 1) ii. Just as if the dull-looking binder on the desk was a delicious birthday cake (p. 10) iii. No tears I would have found obedience. How many nights my pillow would baffle a flood (p. 17) iv. How many cloudless afternoons I was to water with my private showers (p. 17)Personification Personification is a a figure of speech in which inanimate objects or abstractions are endowed with human qualities or are represented as possessing human form. Anne Fine uses personification to make this novel more dramatic and evoke or to convey a certain mood. By using this literary device, it also helps us to continue more to the object or idea that is being personified because it is easier for us to relate to something with human attributes. i. Flinching as the depraved fingers of trees scraped at the glass (p. 2) ii. And then another pullulate shot generously across the sky (p. 7) iii.The arouse still whistled through the tree, but in the room the silence is palpable (p. 34) Repetition This device is more often than not used in two of the vignettes to emphasise on the subject in hand, as shown in the following i. It isnt a story, said Colin. There isnt anything to tell. We just went on. (p. 51) ii. There isnt a story, said Colin. (p. 53) iii. There isnt a story, said Colin. We just went on. (p. 56 ) iv. Ive told you, said Colin. There isnt story. Its just that, as we went on, I started getting into trouble at school (p. 57 ) v. Dumpas the problem (pgs 107,112,119 and 125 )