Francesca Spinelli
Symbolism of name
- Does the name symbolise anything about the character or novel?
Francesca is an Italian name and feminine for Francesco. The name means freedom and so is well suited to the character in the novel. Francesca is Italian, and tries to find out who she is and who are friends are. The author may have picked this name for the certain reasoning of the name matching the character.
Different people refer to Francesca by different names. Some of these being ‘Frankie’ and ’Fran’. This is because they are a shortened version of Francesca and also because, being friends of Francesca, they are like nicknames which friends and family make up.
Speech
- Colloquial expressions, formal vs informal language, use of swearing (blasphemy), other.
Francesca seems to be well spoken in the novel, as it may be because of the ways she has been brought up. She seems to have been brought up well by her mother and father. Francesca talks to her self quite a bit, and you can decipher her thoughts and feelings. She likes to keep to herself mainly and deal with her problems on her own, even though she does talk to her ‘mummy’ about anything and everything.
Francesca uses slang and ‘normal’ teenage language. Her speech is common and casual, also with words to describe people such as ‘slut’ and ‘bitch.’ There is no overuse of swear words, but sometimes they have been used. This is nothing abnormal to the teenagers of today and so there are a lot of people out there who could relate to her speech and language used.
Appearance
- Clothing, mannerisms, disfigurations, age, sex.
Coming from an Italian family, Francesca would most likely have brown hair and brown eyes. She seems to have a smallish sort of build but is actually quite tall (page 182). Frankie is 16 and in her second last year of school. The novel doesn’t really give a description of Francesca, but some how you manage to create a picture of herself in your own mind. I believe that she would most probably be a well dressed, yet a casual female because of the way that she has been well brought up.
Actions
- How do the characters react to each other?
- What impact does this have on the narrative (story)?
- How do the characters actions relate to the themes of the text ?(you need to list the page numbers where you have found your examples)
During the first few terms at school, Francesca doesn’t seem to enjoy herself that much as she doesn’t have her ‘own’ group of friends and has to learn to mingle with new and different people. She comes across shy and not very talkative. This may just be because Frankie’s starting at an all boys school which has just started to accept girls, compared to her old school, an all girls school. Only four girls from her old school moved over to St Sebastians, none of them being in her previous friendship group. Francesca has to learn to get along with these girls, as she has no other choice.
Getting along with the male students is hard. None of them, nor the teachers wanted to girls to be accepted into the school, they didn’t want change. ” Girls just don’t belong at St Sebastian’s” (page 2). The girls at the school aren’t allowed to get involved in Physical Education, they have to watch a certain sport. Tara Finke, is a leader. She pushes the three other girls to get involved and protest for equality, even though none of the others could care less. Francesca grows up quite a lot during this year as she has to overcome issues that she’s never faced. Dealing with her mother having depression, and trying to fit into a new school and make friends is hard. Francesca gets through each day, some easier then others. From being separated from her family, and not knowing what’s happened to her old life, Francesca tends to make herself a stronger person and create her own special personality.
The four main girls in this novel – Francesca Spinelli, Tara Finke, Siobhan Sullivan and Justine Kalinsky, are all very different. Tara is a true leader and arranges little meetings to help the female students have equality while at St Sebastian’s (page 9). Siobhan likes getting involved with males. In year 9 she had a reputation for herself as she was known as the “slut of St Stella’s” (page 9). Justine likes to keep to herself mainly and is highly interested in music, and is involved in the local choir. It seems to be their differences and individuality that lets them get along so well and then turn into friends.
Other
- Describe the stereotypical nature of the characters and how they relate to their peers or society.
- What do you think about the characters and do you know anyone like them?
The most obvious stereotype used in this novel, would be the female teenage stereotype. Interested in boys, friends, family and the social are the main things involved in the teenage life and these are covered through out. The four main girls all show this stereo type with Justine Kalinsky having a ‘thing’ for ‘the tuba guy’ and yet too shy to talk to him as she’s scared of what he’d thing of her.The other stereotype is the one involving Francesca. The ‘new girl’ one. When you start at a new school not knowing anyone and feeling like you don’t fit in. Where people look at you and you don’t get along with other people and cant understand you they are the way they are.
The Italian family involved in the book is also stereotyped, large and at each others throats when issues arise. The family used in the novel is quite large and doesn’t mind sticking their noses in other peoples business.
I believe that there are a mix of characters in the novel, which makes it interesting. They all some how can relate to one another through something in common. I can’t say that off the top of my head I know anyone alike to these characters, but I’m sure there would have to be someone out there who could relate to the characters.
