Novel, Catch Us If You Can – Plot of
The Story
From the novel you have studied, write about the plot of
the story and state what you think of the plot.
Support your answer with close reference to the text.
Support your answer with close reference to the text.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Catherine MacPhail‟s novel „Catch Us If You Can‟ revolves around a teenager, Rory, and his grandfather whom he calls Granda. Rory and Granda are on an escape adventure from their hometown to Liverpool because they do not want to be separated from each other. They have cared for and looked after each other for a long time and with Granda getting on in years and becoming forgetful, Rory takes over the responsibility of looking after Granda on his own initiatives.
One day, when their flat caught fire due to Granda‟s carelessness, both Rory and Granda are placed in a children‟s home and an old folks‟ home respectively. Granda is badly affected as he becomes withdrawn and lost. Rory knows that Granda is slowly dying in Rachnadar, so he decides to run away with Granda. Rory and Granda make the great escape but with no destination in mind. They only want to be free and to be together. They spend a few happy carefree days at the caravan site. When the police catch up with them, Rory and Granda are helped by Sammy who gives them shelter.
Their journey is a struggle to stay free. Strangers help them all the way, giving them shelter and making safe plans for them. Rory has doubts about whether he is doing the right thing. All doubts are dispelled as Granda looks happy even when he is exhausted.
Eventually, Rory
decides they would travel south to Liverpool and look for his father, Jeff
McIntosh. Granda objects and rages about this when he realizes what Rory‟s
plans are. The climax of the story is when Granda almost loses his life in the
cold bus shelter. After that, they end up in Liverpool. It is a happy ending as
they meet up with Jeff and become a family again. The plot runs in chronological
order. The reader can follow Rory and Granda‟s interesting and sometimes
heartbreaking journey from their hometown to their final destination. Rory as
the narrator projects a solid account of their thoughts, feelings and gives
good descriptions of the setting. The approach makes it easy for the reader to
understand and appreciate the story. I think the plot is simple and relevant to
our society where young people tend to forget their obligations to the old.
