The following essay was written by a Year 11 student in response to the topic “Describe an
important setting in a text you have studied. Explain how the setting helps us to understand
characters in the text.” It was awarded an Excellence. It is 541 words long.
In the novel “Tomorrow, When the War Began” by John Marsden, an
important setting is Hell. This is important because of its characteristics, it
becomes a sanctuary for the friends and because it is ironic. These things
helped us to understand the characters in the novel.
Hell has important characteristics. Hell is described as a ‘cauldron of
boulders and trees and blackberries and feral dogs and wombats and
undergrowth.’ These characteristics are important because they show that
Hell is hidden from the outside world. This setting of Hell was first
introduced as a camping ground which helps us to understand the
characters. It shows that the group of friends wanted to explore this place
because not many people had ever been to Hell before. Hell was difficult to
get to because the friends had to climb down Satan’s Steps which were
huge granite blocks. This shows that the friends were very ambitious and
their goal was to find a way in to Hell. It also shows the support they gave
each other to be motivated to get to Hell without giving up.
Hell is an important setting because it becomes a sanctuary for the friends.
This is because when the friends find themselves in a war, the safest place
they can think of is Hell. Hell has ‘impenetrable bush’ which provides a
cover for them from the destruction of war. This helps to understand the
characters because it shows how the friends thought cunningly. The friends
know that soldiers would probably never find them in Hell because they
would not think anyone would be living in there. The friends show they
have a good understanding of the soldiers because if the soldiers did look
down on Hell they would see no obvious way and so would not continue
with their search.
Hell is an ironic setting which makes it important. Ellie comes to the
conclusion “No, Hell wasn’t anything to do with places, Hell was all to do
with people.” This shows that Ellie has a full understanding of Hell. Hell is
seen as a mysterious place which represents risk, but Ellie thinks that this is
just because people just stick any name on a place, and it is actually people
who make their own Hell. Hell is ironic because it is scary but it is the only
safe paces for them to be in. It is also scary because it is where the
supposed murderer the Hermit lived, but as Ellie finds out, it is undecided
“whether he had committed an act of great love or an act of great evil.”
The friends do not know if the hermit killed his wife and child because they
were so badly burned or out of pure malice. This shows that the friends do
not just believe in what people say as just like Hell, the hermit could be
good but perceived to be evil.
In “Tomorrow, When the War Began”, John Marsden uses the setting of
Hell to help us understand the characters. The realisation the characters
come to about the ironic nature of Hell also helps us understand the idea of
good and evil, and shows us that we should not just unthinkingly believe
what people say about people or places.
Title, author and clear
reference to topic in
introduction. Three main
points listed.
Clearly structured. Begins with
description of Hell; paragraphs
follow statement-explanationexample format.
Focused on topic: links back to
“helps us to understand
characters”
Essay set out clearly and
logically; follows the plan set
down in the introduction.
Second point also thoroughly
explained and supported with
a brief quote.
Perceptive conclusions about
the nature of good and evil,
and the significance of “Hell”.
Links to author’s purpose/
message.