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I’m the King of the Castle by Susan Hill – Worksheet One
1.
Read Chapter 1 and pick out elements which help us to understand Edmund Hooper’s character. Put them in the table below.
Hooper’s character
Comment
His attitude towards his dead grandfather
Evidence / Quotation
“All he looks like is one of his dead old moths.” Page 7.
This suggests that Hooper is an unfeeling child who is unable to show any
His attitude towards his father compassion for others.
His attitude towards Warings
2.
Read pages 9 and 10 and the description of Warings. Pick out elements to describe the inside and outside of the house. a.
……………………………………………………………………………………… b.
……………………………………………………………………………………… c.
……………………………………………………………………………………… d.
………………………………………………………………………………………. e.
……………………………………………………………………………………….
What impression do you get of the house and the surroundings?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
3.
Look at the quotations below to describe Mr Hooper.
“This collection is worth a great deal of money.” Page 13
This quotation shows that Mr Hooper is not interested in the collection for sentimental

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“He had been forced to watch as the insects were removed from their poison-fume bottles with tweezers … he had hated it.” Page 13 reasons but purely for its monetary worth.
His relationship with his father seems to have been ….
It suggests that he feels ….. “Joseph Hooper had known that he would never do so.” (make a name for himself). d. e. f. g.
4.
Read Chapters 2 and 3 and make a list of the different things that Hooper does to make
Kingshaw feel unwelcome. Then give them a score out of ten. 1 = not very cruel ; 10 = very cruel. c.
Example a. Hooper refuses to come down and meet him when he arrives. b.
Rank
4 / 10
5.
Re-read chapters 1-4 and then fill in the grid below. Try and find a quotation which substantiates each statement. Draw out the grid on a separate piece of paper.
Statement Quotation Comment
Hooper and his father do not have a close relationship.
Hooper uses people’s weaknesses. a.
Kingshaw seems to be a very sensitive boy. b.
Kingshaw has a vivid imagination.
Kingshaw is also isolated from his mother.
Both of the parents are aware of the difficulties between the two boys.
Writing Task (half a page): Character analysis
Now use the above to write a paragraph about either Kingshaw or Hooper. Describe personality first and then comment on your understanding of your chosen character. Be ready to read out your character analysis.

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Techniques:
Symbolism in the novel – one technique to look out for as you read through the novel is the way in which Susan Hill makes use of symbols to represent key themes or ideas in the novel.
Look at the following below and try to comment on them.
Symbol
Yew Tree
Quotes
“Up the drive, and at the back of the house, bunched between the yew trees, were the great bushes of rhododendron.” Page 10
“He had planted the rhododendrons too, not at all for their brief, dramatic show of colour in May and June, but for their dark green, leathery leaves and toughness of stem, their substantial look.” Page 10
Comment
The yew tree is often associated with death so it suggests that ……
Rhododendron
Death’s Head Hawk Moth
Death Head’s Hawk Moth
Page 15 – “He stretched out his hand, put his finger under the head of the pin and slid it up, out of the thick, striped body. At once the whole moth, already years dead, disintegrated, collapsing into a soft, formless heap of dark dust.”
Page 40 – “Kingshaw did not know which were worse, moths alive with their whirring, pattering wings, or these moths, flattened and pinned and dead.”
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