Museletter 6 — J23 Education

Part 6: The Response

Read the passage carefully before answering the questions. Click any word to collect it. Click an underlined word to reveal its definition below.

"So then, sir, what shall we do?"

Larry asked the question with passion. He was overcome by an overwhelming desire to do something, to fight back against Mesmer. He felt a strong sense of empathy for Globesmith, a man who until very recently was his sworn enemy.

"There's nothing to be done," Globesmith sighed, "Mesmer has stolen my ideas, my channel and whittled them down into nothing."

Larry sat silently. Globesmith stood motionless. Neither spoke, neither moved.

After a moment, Globesmith turned and walked out of the room. The slamming door echoed through the computer gallery. Larry noticed that it was 1:32 — he was late for physics.

Larry was feeling so glum that he didn't even really notice his scolding from Dr Lightspeed. He nodded his apology and trudged over to his desk, where he sat, not taking in the experiment being demonstrated.

He was similarly unmoved in history. He usually loved to hear about the Civil War and the overthrow of the monarchy, but today Mr Erstwhile's words may as well have been whale sounds.

There must be something we can do, he thought. Some way of stopping Mesmer. But everyone is watching him. Even as he trudged through the hall, he saw three children huddled around an iPad, as Mesmer's voice rang out from the tinny speakers. They reminded Larry of the three witches in Macbeth. Everyone is watching him.

He thought back to his conversation with Sebastian, about how Sebastian thought that the content was interesting, but couldn't explain how or why, just that it was. How could he stop people watching this?

Suddenly, Larry stopped and turned on his heel. He began running to the Geography department. He burst through the door of Globesmith's classroom like a bulldozer. It was half past three and Globesmith was putting some pumice stones into his briefcase.

"Sir!" Larry said. Globesmith looked up in surprise.

"I was just leaving," said Globesmith, wearily.

"Sir, we can't stop people watching Mesmer, but we can distract them with something else."

"Like what?" said Globesmith.

"Better content!" cried Larry.

"How can we compete with him?" Globesmith said, "He controls the channel." He looked forlorn and resigned, like a chessplayer who knew checkmate was on the board.

"We'll just have to start again!"

"Start again? We?"

It had all become very clear to Larry. He would help Globesmith write and present his content. Seeing Globesmith's passion had made him realise that surely Globesmith could be engaging, as long as he let his passion shine through. As he explained his ideas to Globesmith, he began to smile, his face breaking like two tectonic plates pulling apart.

Larry hesitated, slightly unnerved by Globesmith's smile.

Word Collector

Click any word in the passage to collect it

Vocabulary

Click an underlined word in the passage above to reveal its definition here.

Section 1: What Happened?

Answer using evidence from the passage. Use full sentences where possible.

1

At the start of the extract, what does Larry want to do, and how has his attitude to Globesmith changed?

(2 marks)
2

What does Globesmith say Mesmer has done to him?

(2 marks)
3

What lesson does Larry miss, and how does he react to being told off?

(2 marks)
4

What does the image of the three children huddled around an iPad remind Larry of?

(1 mark)
5

What does Larry remember about Sebastian's attitude to Mesmer's content?

(2 marks)
6

What time does Larry return to Globesmith's classroom, and what is Globesmith doing?

(2 marks)
7

What is Larry's plan to fight back against Mesmer?

(2 marks)
8

Why does Globesmith think they can't compete with Mesmer?

(1 mark)
9

How does Globesmith's expression change at the end of the passage?

(1 mark)

Section Total: _____ / 15

Section 2: Character Analysis

Explore the characters' feelings, values and motivations using the text as evidence.

10

Larry describes Globesmith as "a man who until very recently was his sworn enemy." What does this tell us about how their relationship has developed? Use evidence from the passage.

(3 marks)
11

How does Globesmith respond when Larry suggests they "start again"? What does his reaction reveal about his character?

(3 marks)
12

Larry compares Globesmith to "a chessplayer who knew checkmate was on the board." What does this tell us about Globesmith's state of mind at that moment?

(2 marks)
13

Why do you think Larry hesitates at the very end of the passage? What might he be feeling?

(3 marks)
14

Do you think Larry is right that Globesmith "could be engaging, as long as he let his passion shine through"? Use what you know of Globesmith across the story so far.

(4 marks)

Section Total: _____ / 15

Section 3: Writer's Corner

Analyse the writer's craft, techniques and the effects they create.

15

The writer describes Globesmith's smile as "his face breaking like two tectonic plates pulling apart." What technique is this, and why is it a particularly fitting comparison for this character?

(3 marks)
16

Choose two verbs from the passage that you find effective. What do they tell us about the character or moment they describe?

(4 marks)
17

The passage uses short, punchy sentences at key moments — for example, "Start again? We?" What effect does this create?

(3 marks)
18

The three children watching Mesmer are compared to the three witches in Macbeth. Why is this an effective and unsettling image?

(3 marks)
19

Explain how the structure of this extract — moving from Larry's gloom to his sudden idea — builds excitement for the reader.

(3 marks)

Section Total: _____ / 16

Section 4: Over to You

Writing Task

Write a scene in which two unlikely allies come up with a plan together.

Think carefully about how each character speaks and reacts — and try to use at least one strong simile or metaphor to bring the moment to life.