Page 2: Extract from "A Secret Garden"

This page contains the first part of the extract from "A Secret Garden," introducing the character Philly and her flower-arranging activities.

Key points:

• Philly creates flower arrangements using repurposed containers
• She prepares for a market stall, aiming to make extra money
• The text introduces Philly's mother, Marion Doyle, through a phone conversation

Vocabulary: Oasis - A foam-like material used in flower arranging to hold stems in place and provide water to the flowers.

Example: Philly's creative use of everyday items like jam jars and tin cans as flower containers demonstrates her resourcefulness and artistic flair.

The narrative perspective is third-person limited, focusing primarily on Philly's thoughts and actions. The language used is descriptive and colloquial, giving readers a clear sense of Philly's character and her relationship with her mother.

Highlight: The contrast between Philly's enthusiasm for her work and her mother's anxiety about her lifestyle is a central theme in this extract.

Page 4: Conclusion of the Extract

This page concludes the extract, focusing on Philly's potential job prospects and her mother's reactions.

Key points:

• Philly considers asking for bar staff work at a local pub to meet young people
• Marion disapproves of this idea, though her reaction is not explicitly stated
• The extract ends with a hint at Marion's disapproval of Philly's current waitressing job

Definition: Tsked - A verb describing the sound made to express disapproval or impatience, often by clicking the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

The narrative continues to provide insight into Philly's thoughts, particularly her desire to meet people her own age and her reluctance to share certain feelings with her mother. The language used maintains its conversational tone, effectively conveying the underlying tension in the mother-daughter relationship.

Highlight: The extract concludes by emphasizing the conflict between Philly's desire for independence and her mother's traditional expectations, a common theme in coming-of-age stories.

This extract from "A Secret Garden" offers a nuanced portrayal of family dynamics, rural life, and the challenges of finding one's place in the world, themes that resonate with the classic Mary The secret garden story while presenting a more contemporary setting.