2. Chapter 1
• ‘ I will not live here until it belongs to me’-Mr. Hooper talking about his father. This shows the
strained relationship between him and his father.
• Warings was a symbol for the Hooper Dynasty.
• Again we see that Mr. Hooper’s relationship was strained when he tells Hooper to respect
him his grandfather because he failed to do it as a child
• Mr. Hooper blames his inability to connect with his son because his late wife isn’t there.
• We also see that he does not really know his son. But tries to understand him by finding
similarities between him and his mother
• Mr. Hooper found support and importance in Warings because he found himself to be dull
and unnoticed but Warings filled that gap.
• The collected Moths represent the Hooper dynasty Room). Mr. Hooper then compares
Edmunds love for catching butterflies to his fathers love for collecting moths.
• It bothers Mr. Hooper that he is more regretful about he failed his son than his father was
about him .
• The disintegration of the Moth that Edmund picked up symbolizes the decaying dynasty of
the Hooper’s.
3. Chapter 2
• Here we see Mr. Hooper's loneliness. And he tries to encourage Hooper to be more open
with him.
• Hooper wanted to be alone. Remember the note “ I didn’t want you to come.”
• Hooper appears to be a bully.
• Hooper and Kingshaw differ in the sense that Hooper has accepted his mother’s death
whereas Kingshaw has not really dealt with it.
4. Chapter 3
• Kingshaw he is clearly not used to the great outdoors and has difficulties walking
on the uneven terrain, frequently stumbling and losing his balance.
• When he is attacked by a crow he is terrified and blindly runs back towards
Warings. Hooper has witnessed the attack from a window in the house and taunts
Kingshaw about it on his return. He dares him to return to Hang Woods and
Kingshaw is resigned to doing this, despite his fear.
• That night, Kingshaw wakes to find that Hooper has put a stuffed crow on his bed.
He is senseless with fear but manages to lie there quietly until the morning so as
not to give Hooper the satisfaction of knowing his trick worked. The crow is gone
when he comes back from the bathroom in the morning. Nothing is ever said
about the incident.
• Kingshaw finds the moths and smell of preservatives oppressive and is reluctant to
enter. When he finally does go in, Hooper runs out and locks the door. Kingshaw
tries to escape via the windows but they are locked so he can't get out; he is on
the edge of panic. He finally escapes when the adults find him. He makes excuses
and runs away quickly without telling on Hooper. He is violently sick in the
bathroom. Despite the signs, the adults don't notice that anything is wrong and
think the boys are becoming friends. At this stage Kingshaw is finding life at
Warings intolerable. He longs for his school, where he is happy and comfortable.
5. Chapter 4
• Kingshaw starts to avoid Hooper. Instead of getting locked in by Hooper he locks Hooper out
• Kingshaw plans to runaway.
• Mrs. Kingshaw appears selfish- she didn’t allow Kingshaw to go to Italy with the Broughton-
Smiths simply because she didn’t like the idea of sailing and she wanted him all to herself
• Mr. Hooper finds similarities between him and his son. They were both pale which ultimately
suggests that they both liked being indoors
• Kingshaw makes an attempt to gain control when he decided to let Hooper into the room
• Kingshaw lets Hooper into the room and Hooper finds out that Kingshaw planned to runaway
• Hooper thought that Kingshaw wanted to runaway away because he was afraid of yet in
reality Kingshaw feared what he could do to Hooper if he kept pushing. And he also doesn’t
like how his mother is doing everything for Mr. Hooper just so she could have a place to stay
because she lost respect for herself whilst she was at it
• We also see how a women’s presence significantly changes Mr. Hooper as he feels a new
man.
• We also see that Mr. Hoper and Mrs. Kingshaw fail to see what’s really happening between
their sons because their blinded by their own selfishness.
6. Chapter 5
• Kingshaw is presented with an oppurtunity to
escape when Helena and Joseph announce their
trip to London.
• Irony in “ it will be an adventure for both of
them”
• Kingshaw makes his way to the edge of Hang
Wood and unlike ever before he felt
accomplished as he is used to do things neither
vey well or badly.
• Him packing his anorak symbolizes him becoming
more confident in himself.
7. Chapter 6
• Kingshaw’s character is unveiled
– He enjoyed being hidden
• Kingshaw’s worst fear comes to life as Hooper
finds him in Hang Wood and starts to tag along
• Kingshaw does not like how has accepted
Hooper’s leadership and presence( when he tells
him about the sweater)
• Kingshaw knows something about something
afterall ( about the deers)
8. Chapter 7
• Hooper’s vulnerable side is exposed as he gets terribly frightened of the thunderstorm
• His mask of utmost pride and arrogance has crumbled into pieces
• Kingshaw instead felt an embarrassed sympathy, for the fear-overwhelmed Hooper, and tries to
comfort him. Although Kingshaw had naively thought his relationship with Hooper would change
after the thunderstorm, his false belief shattered as Hooper continues on his throne of power
• Later, they discover a stream in the forest. When they reach the stream, Hooper goes off into
the water and after a bit of contemplation, Kingshaw does the same. Hooper whines about the
coldness after the swim, so Kingshaw decided to light a fire for warmth as he takes on the
responsibility of ensuring their survival, and the leadership out of the 2 of them.
• While they were discussing the way out, realization dawned on them that they might not be in
Hang Wood anymore, that they might’ve went further into the deep forest, where it would be
hard to get out.
• Despite this, Kingshaw still believes they can get out, and sets out to explore the surrounding
area, leaving Hooper by the stream. While he sets out alone, Kingshaw is then tempted to leave
Hooper and walk away, but due to feeling responsible for the wellbeing of Hooper, he ends up
not doing so.
• When Kingshaw returns, he finds Hooper lying face down on the stream, head bleeding.
Kingshaw struggles hard to get Hooper to dry ground, and saves him in the end with much
effort. Still, at the end of the chapter, Hooper does not seem to have shown any hints of
appreciation for everything Kingshaw had gone through to make him well.
9. Chapter 8
• It is getting dark and they are still hungry. Kingshaw takes the initiative, and catches a fish. He can't bring himself
to kill it and has to wait for it to die. Hooper, of course, mocks him for this sensitivity. When the fish is cooked it
tastes disgusting and they are forced to eat most of the food they have brought with them. Once again Hooper
blames Kingshaw and calls him useless, even though Kingshaw is proving himself to be the more resourceful of the
boys.
• Hooper begins to talk about Kingshaw's mother. He mocks her status as a woman, and argues that fathers are far
more important. Then he gets more personal, saying that that she has only come to Warings to try to get his
father to marry her so she will have money and a house. He argues that all women have to do this if they haven't
got a husband. Although Kingshaw defends his mother, he is inwardly shocked and feels that he has been stupid
not to notice this going on before. He feels a wave of hatred towards her which he superstitiously thinks will cause
something bad to happen to her.
• These revelations about his mother leave Kingshaw feeling troubled and unable to sleep, while Hooper rests
peacefully. Kingshaw wants to hide himself safely away from the world and feels an overwhelming sense of
isolation. Eventually he falls asleep, but is woken by Hooper, who is having a bad dream and repeatedly calling for
his mother. At this point Kingshaw feels angry with Hooper and he wakes him quite violently. Hooper is feeling
scared and unwell and begins to whine and nag. Kingshaw is matter of fact in his responses but is beginning to
find the responsibility of looking after his oppressor onerous. When Hooper continues to pressure him, he snaps
and shouts at Hooper, shocking him into silence. He walks off into the woods.
• After a few minutes, Kingshaw calms down. He is shocked at the violence of his own feelings, and notes that this is
the first time he has ever understood how it feels to hate someone. He feels guilty and is compelled to go back to
Hooper and apologise, even though he knows this means he will lose any respect he might have just earned from
Hooper. This shows that Kingshaw acts according to moral principles, whereas, Hooper only recognises strength
and power.
10. Chapter 9
• Dawn comes and the two boys lie in the sunlit tranquillity of morning. The
birds are singing and the woods are benign once more. Kingshaw still
assumes responsibility for the practical matters, collecting sticks to keep
the fire going.
• He decides to go for a swim but tells Hooper he should not risk it, having
been so ill. Hooper insists he didn't want to anyway and that he had made
his own plans, but he is unable to muster any authority into his voice.
• Both boys are content in their activities. Hooper is watching a thrush while
Kingshaw relaxes luxuriously in the pool. Kingshaw is at peace for the first
time in the novel. He finds the certainty of life in the woods reassuring and
is transfixed by the beauty of his surroundings.
• When they hear the sounds of dogs and people approaching he is
disappointed. He doesn't want to go back to the situation he was running
away from. However, he reflects that things have definitely changed in the
woods and he supposes that life at Warings will be different now.
11. Chapter 10
• The boys are back at Warings. However it appears that nothing has changed because Hooper
continues to get Kingshaw in trouble- saying Kingshaw pushed him into the stream.
• By sensationalizing his lie Hooper is trying to get Kingshaw in as much trouble as possible.
• Another example of Mrs. Kingshaw’s selfishness sending Hooper in to the room because she chose
to believe Edmund over her own son. Effectively she is tying to impress Mr. Hooper.
• By saying that he wanted Hooper to die he justified Hooper’s lie and cause of more frustration.
• Kingshaw found it difficult to control himself_ him taking a lunge at Hooper shows that he was
losing all hope and also losing control of himself.
• Kingshaw was disappointed how his own mother failed to see through Hooper’s lies and he just
thought that all Hooper’s blatant lies were the most unlikely things Kingshaw was ever to do
• “ Kingshaw felt himself more than ever removed from them, locked up in himself”
• Mrs. Kingshaw fails to se Charles’ suffering and blames all his actions on him being an only child but
not herself.
• Kingshaw is ashamed of how his mother keeps appeasing Mr. Hooper.
• Signs of suicide- he felt more afraid than ever walking towards his room… he had known then.
• Kingshaw feels unwanted.
• Again we see how Mrs. Kingshaw didn’t know her own son. We see this when he explain how it felt
great to be out of Warings yet she’s objective with saying that he was “ little bit afraid.
• She expects him to be happy because she is .
12. Chapter 11
• Kingshaw anticipated an engagement proposal.
• He heard something just as bad. He would be going to the same school as Hooper.
• Kingshaw runs off into the shed and again Hooper follows him and locks him in.
• The crow haunts him in his dreams as well
• Again Hooper makes it clear that all that hate that came from him was solely because he doesn’t want him here.
• Hooper only tells lies when he fails to inflict fear on Kingshaw.
• Kingshaw refuses to give Hooper satisfaction when Hooper torments him by not voicing his irritation.
• Kingshaw doesn’t like the person he has become. Again he has lost himself.
• Crying was Kingshaw’s only comfort.
13. Chapter 12
• They go on a trip to Leydell castle and travel in one car which makes Helena feel as though they are one big family.
• Mr. Hooper has gotten so used to them being around and wants to start acting like a family maybe that’s why they travelled
in one car, maybe that’s why he wanted to go on this trip.
• The appearance of the lake suggests that Kingshaw might just like it here and also because its away from Warings
• Kingshaw proves Hooper wrong by climbing up stone by stone and at the end he waves to Hooper challenging him to go up.
This can lead to a shift in power if Hooper doesn’t show up
• Being so up high Kingshaw feels confident and strong. Also he found that being able to climb so high is what makes him
different from anyone
• A power shift Kingshaw is looking down on Hooper. The roles have switched.
• Hooper tries to change the subject to mask his fear. He has done this before by telling lies about Kingshaw when they were
in Hang Wood.
• We see Hooper’s vulnerabilty in Kingshaw’s comfort zone.
• Kingshaw feels in control. He had the power to do anything. Hooper’s life depended on Kingshaw.
• Even though Kingshaw was in power his position in power lasts just as long as a thunderstorm. Its only temporary.
• Hooper gets hurt in Kingshaw’s care again and like a thunderstorm, his power has faded.
14. Chapter 13
• Hooper’s fall is compared to Hooper’s struggle before the fall. Hooper is only noticed when he wants to be
noticed or in this case when he is being dramatic
• Hooper’s fall conveys a very strong message. Be careful with what you wish for.
• “ Whereupon the soul flew from the body” – this depicts how Kingshaw would probably feel free if that
were him who fell
• Kingshaw and his mother continues to deteriorate.
• Kingshaw was so sure that Hooper had died and starting imagining his life without Hooper.
• Kingshaw becomes aware of how he has felt trapped for so long and now that Hooper is “dead” he feels
like things would go back to normal.
He wouldn’t have to go to Hooper’s school
The pressure of having to be Hooper’s friend is gone
All fears of the unknown traps are all gone
• Kingshaw felt like he has won. He’s the King of the Castle.
• The misfortune of Edmund brings Joseph and Helena much closer.
• Again Kingshaw is disappointed as Hooper isn’t dead.
• “silly boy” suggests that he feels like he is hoping for too much when he thinks he can be happy.
15. Chapter 14
• Kingshaw talks aout his friendship with Fenwick. How he had to be as strong as
him and he failed dismally. Just like how he failed to befriend Hooper.
• Again Mrs. Kingshaw is selfish. She wants Charles to buy Edmund a gift because
she thinks that they are the best of friends and hopes that they’ll grow to be
• Ironic how Joseph appears to be an expert on children relationships yet he
struggled with his own.
• Even though Hooper didn’t like Mrs. Kingshaw very much he liked how she spent
more time with him than she did with her own son.
• Kingshaw meets Fielding at the church when he was aking the Lord to not change
things.
• Fielding appears to understand Kingshaw. Think about the cow was calving and the
reassurance about the Turkeys
• Kingshaw feels comfortable with Fielding as he admits that he fears Hooper
• Fielding is Kingshaws assurance
• Fielding appears to be optimistic.
• Kingshaw wants to be as fearless as Fielding.
16. Chapter 15
• Hooper comes home and he hasn’t changed one bit
• When Helena ignores the persistent talk of Kingshaw not being
friends with Hooper she is neglecting him. She’s allowed it to
register in her mind as the normal way that boys behave.
• Kingshaw compares Hooper to another bully, Crawford. Hooper’s
reign was one of terror whereas Crawford’s reign was one of
brutality.
• Kingshaw seeing himself dress in his new school uniform means the
end of him because that meant that things were final.
• Hooper playing with Kingshaw’s model upset him because he felt
that Hooper was taking away everything… his mother, his sanity and
his model
• Mr. Hooper striking Kingshaw across the face contributes to the
unwanted feeling.
17. Chapter 16
• Helena speaks to Enid and says that she’s unsure about the future
• Mr. Hooper overhears this and begins to realize that he cannot let her go as he made her a more
confident man who knew how to deal with his son.
• Joseph takes her and the boys on a rise where he plans to propose
• The boys are told to stay in the car for a bit
• Hooper tells Kingshaw that his father is to propose. This contributes to his suicide because things
would be permanent
• However it revealed that Hooper was just as upset by this union. Hooper didn’t want them there in
the first place and it scares him that he and Kingshaw
• Mr Hooper wanting to get rid of the moths suggests that he is ready to let go of the past and start a
future with Helena
• Hooper trying to embarrass Kingshaw in front of Fielding by trying to play on his fears… going up to
the attic and going to the red room
• Fielding eventually listens to Hooper expecting Kingshaw to follow eventually
• Kingshaw then goes up to Hooper’s room and takes his battle charts and the papers full of his
regiments and goes to burn them in Hang wood where he had lit that fire by the stream
• Prior to this he walked through the yew trees suggests that something bad was to happen
• The beginning of the storm suggests that Kingshaw is about to do something that makes him happy
18. Chapter 17
• Hooper doesn’t mention anything about the missing papers
• Irony in “ something bad will happen to you, Kingshaw”
• Just like the first time he ran away Kingshaw leaves Warings
at dawn and escapes to Hang Wood.
• Again like the first time he took off his clothes by the
stream but this time he lies face down and drowned
himself
• Hooper found him because he had been there before
• Hooper felt triumphant when he saw Kingshaw lying face
down
• Mrs. Kingshaw is unaware that Hooper was major factor
contributing to the suicide and comforts Hooper. This is
irony.
