Critical evaluation of stone cold by robert swindells essay 1104 words 5 pages. He served in the royal air force, before becoming a primary school teacher. Robert swindells novel stone cold was published in 1993. Link left home early in his childhood, and so he became homeless. Chapter one link, the novels protagonist introduces himself to the reader as one of the invisible people. Both are nicknames, and the reader never learns the given names of these characters. Set on the streets of london, the firstperson narrative switches between link, a newlyhomeless sixteenyearold adjusting to his situation, and shelter, an exarmy officer scorned after being dismissed from his job, supposedly on medical grounds worldcatparticipating libraries report holding. But what deb doesnt tell him is that shes an ambitious young journalist. Robert swindells is a popular english novelist for children and young adults, perhaps best known for brother in the land, the story of a boys struggle for survival. Hints double narrative robert swindells builds tension by having a character one step ahead of another.
Stone cold is one of his most popular novels and has won the prestigious carnegie medal. Invisiblity link opens the novel by describing himself as one of the invisible people, and this is a theme that. Link is generally a kind and sensitive character, although he is not. Critical evaluation of stone cold by robert swindells. He bounces around a few places before the little money he has runs out and hes forced to live on the streets. In your english lessons, you are studying for two gcses. X, the younger brother of carol and the main protagonist of the 1993 novel stone cold and its 1997 bbc tv adaptation. Who are the characters in robert swindellss stone cold. Vince, a rather unappealing character, eventually locks link out of the house and the. The plot has two main characters, link and shelter, who are very different people.
Stone cold focus but can be easily adapted to suit another ks3 novel. He got his name from a sign which read thameslink upon arriving in london from bradford. The reader is introduced to gail in chapter twelve when she enters link s life after gingers disappearance. Shelter is the main antagonist from the 1993 novel stone cold by robert swindells which about homelessness. Stone cold by robert swindells, essential revision notes. I intend to consider the ways in which the author has. Stone cold is a hardhitting and moving novel suitable for study at gcse.
The novel stone cold of robert swindells deals with homeless kids. A young boy, tired of his mothers abusive boyfriend, sets out on an adventure to london meeting a friendly man. Chapterby chapter summary alongside key quotations. Shortly after this, link meets gail, commenting that she is the bestlooking dosser homeless person he has ever seen. Characters telling the story include link and an exarmy officer determined to get rid of the street people. Set on the streets of london, the firstperson narrative switches between link, a newlyhomeless sixteenyearold adjusting to his situation, and shelter, an exarmy officer scorned after being dismissed from his job, supposedly on medical grounds contents. He is a military veteran, and is angry at being discharged after years of service. Samantha verayo the novel stone cold is a very suspenseful and thrilling book that was written by robert swindells. Swindells used characterisation and setting to modify the plot of the story and develop several themes, such as. X, the younger brother of carol and the main protagonist of the 1993 novel stone cold and its 1997 bbc tv adaptation he is portrayed by paul gibbon in the tv adaptation. He vividly recounts the day to day experiences of life on the streets. Moreover link thinks that it is unfair that shelter gets a roof over his head and three hot meals a day in prison and link gets nothing living on the streets of london, cold and hungry. The play stone cold is written by joe standerline and is based on the novel by robert swindells. Choose two main characters from the novel and show how the author creates different personalities for each one.
The study of swindells stone cold allows students to explore and respond imaginatively and critically to the ways meaning is shaped within. After a while he ended up in london, where he found some other people, and where he also met some people that he will never forget. Stone cold by robert swindells is a young adult novel centred around the horrors of living on the streets. You get to know two different points of view and two different opinions. Stone cold is an exciting and disturbing thriller by robert swindells a tense, exciting thriller combined with a perceptive and harrowing portrait of life on the streets as a serial killer preys on the young and vulnerable homeless. Stone cold link character analysis teaching resources. Mar 30, 1993 well stone cold written by robert swindells is a novel about exactly that. Swindells born 20 march 1939 is an english author of childrens and young kid fiction for the youngkif novel stone cold heinemann, 2016, which dealt with homelessness, he won the annual carnegie medal from the library association, recognizing. Stone cold by robert swindells argumentative essay free. Robert swindells robert swindells is an english writer who was born in bradford on march 20th 1939. This article consists almost entirely of a plot summary. Delivered to year 8 class with ability of around 4a. Link s real name is not specified at any point throughout the course of the book. Homeless, frightened and alone, link finds himself down and out in london.
Stone cold written by robert swindells 380 words 123. The evil warden claims that it is character building, but this is a lie, and stanley must dig up the truth. It was awarded the carnegie medal and sheffield childrens book award in 1994 and it was adapted for the screen by the bbc in 1997. With paul gibbon, james gaddas, elizabeth rider, susan vidler. Stone cold by robert swindells, essential revision notes irevise. Stone cold is a novel aimed at young adults, and was written by robert swindells. Stone cold by robert swindells argumentative essay stone cold is a novel aimed at young adults, and was written by robert swindells. Link is not his real name, but it is what he says when anyone asks. Stone cold written by robert swindells 380 words 123 help me. In stone cold, shelter is the antagonist and is presented as an evil person in the book. Plot summary when his mums boyfriend kicks him out of the house, this teenager, under the age of 18, takes the name link and begins a life of homelessness on the streets of london. Set on the streets of london, the firstperson narrative switches between link, a newlyhomeless sixteenyearold adjusting to his situation, and shelter, an exarmy officer scorned after being dismissed from his job, supposedly on medical grounds. Link the mom the stepdadvince the big sistercarole captain hook gail shelter toya ginger asked in books and literature.
Well stone cold written by robert swindells is a novel about exactly that. Page 56 so i am going to watch my laughing boys, and when they separate well see. Stone cold is a book written by robert swindells, the plot of the story is set on two people, one who is homeless link and one who kills because he believes that the homeless cuter the place. I feel like an invisible person because no one looks at me. One the one hand there is link a homeless boy who tries to survive in london on the other. It is not my name but its what i say when someone asks. Many of swindells books have chilling elements, and he demonstrates how his. These characters have very different personalities.
Link real name unknown is the sixteenyearold son and youngest child of mr. The book tells in detail about the dangers and livingconditions of homeless people. Set on the streets of london, the firstperson narrative switches between link. His character changed a bit in the tv show adaption of the story.
Thanks rohan roberts, you have been a great help to me. The book stone cold was written by robert swindells and published in 1983. Resources to help develop your understanding of the novel stone cold by robert swindells. As the author alternates link s tale with that of an unknown serial killer preying on the homeless, you see how closely their lives brush a. I have read stone cold written by robert swindells. The novel tells you about his life over the past two years, how he leaves his violent home and lives on the street, first in bradford and then in london, where the story starts to take shape. After some time, link believes ginger has gone off with his real friends and that he is on his own again. But there is fear on the streets and people are missing.
The purpose of my essay is to show how the author creates different personalities for the two main characters in the book. For example well i spotted em this morning at camden lock, talking to some other scruffs. The book follows link who runs away from his broken, abusive home as a teenager. English 60% exam 2 2hour papers, paper one and paper two 20% speaking and listening coursework 20% written coursework four essays. The book stone cold by robert swindells is about link, a young man living on the street and learning how street life is. How does robert swindells create sympathy for link, and. In this novel there are two main characters called link and. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. Swindells developed both link as the main protagonist and shelter as the main. Apr 17, 20 stone cold by robert swindells stone cold is an absorbing novel by robert swindells which follows link, a sixteen year old boy from bradford, england. Stay connected to your students with prezi video, now in microsoft teams. When he meets ginger streetlife seems not so bad until shelter, an exmilitary kills ginger and finally tries to kill him, too.
Context stone cold was written by robert swindells and was published in 1993. It tells the story of link, the protagonist, and shelter. Critical evaluation of stone cold by robert swindells essay. His other popular books include room, brother in the land and nightmare stairs. Stone cold by robert swindells characters flashcards. Written by robert swindells, narrated by christian rodska. Mar 24, 20 stone cold by robert swindells and adapted by joe standerline.
He is portrayed by paul gibbon in the tv adaptation. It is pretty sad because link lost his father and then his stepfather was also an idiot. Jul 10, 2010 this resource contains lesson plans and a wide range of worksheets and powerpoint presentations which focus on character, key themes and literary devices found within the novel stone cold by robert swindells. Shelter has grandiose plans of cleaning up the streets of london by getting rid of the homeless. In link s eyes, she is a fantasticlooking young woman, so link could not tear his eyes away, and falls in love with her at first sight. He was a 14yearold boy living with his mother and because of home difficulties with his mother meeting a man he leaves and becomes. The book s basic plot revolves around the life of 16 yearold link, born in bradford in 1977. There are two narrators what make the book more interesting than others. In the novel stone cold written by robert swindell and first published by hamish hamilton in 1993, the character gail plays an important role. Robert swindells is known for writing thoughtprovoking novels about contemporary society and stone cold, published in 1993, is certainly one of them.
In this novel there are two main characters called link and shelter. Critical evaluation of stone cold by robert swindells a novel that i have read recently is stone cold by robert swindells. The author switches from character to character, but still uses the first person narrative. He survives only because he is befriended by the streetwise ginger but then ginger disappears. In conclusion robert swindells uses many successful ways and techniques to create sympathy for link and the other homeless people in his novel, stone cold this builds up to create a sympathetic atmosphere throughout the whole of the book. Biography link was born on march 20th 1977 in bradford in yorkshire in england to mr. He hates homeless people seeing them as scum and wishes to remove them from the world and does so by luring them into his house and killing them. This resource contains lesson plans and a wide range of worksheets and powerpoint presentations which focus on character, key themes and literary devices found within the novel stone cold by robert swindells. Stone cold swindells novel wikimili, the best wikipedia. Revising key characters from stone cold learn with flashcards, games, and more for free.
Link is a sixteen year old boy who now lives on the streets because he felt neglected at home. He served in the royal air force, before becoming a. The book follows link who runs away from his broken. What characters are in the book stone cold by robert swindells. Stone cold robert swindells referat, hausaufgabe, hausarbeit. Stone cold by robert swindells essay example graduateway. Worksheet containing questions to create a character profile for link, the protagonist of the novel.
This is a very good summary of the main characters, it has helped me make my presentation about the book stone cold itself. Link refers to his origin as up north to avoid revealing his birth place. It contains realistic scenes which reflect the difficulty and vulnerable position of life on the streets. Link was born on march 20th 1977 in bradford in yorkshire in england to mr. Essay about stone cold by robert swindells 620 words. Stone cold is a realistic youngadult novel by robert swindells, published by heinemann in 1993. Korrektur einer charakterisierung englisch forum englisch. In the novel stone cold, swindells tries to create a sympathetic atmosphere for, one of the main characters, link and other homeless people in general.