Literary Devices

I noticed the way that the author used elements like irony, and suspense to add both humour and tension to the story. For example, it is ironic that Peter learns of Kit's true identity, because he naturally assumes that because she was acting, that she was actually a boy. Another example of irony that relieves a lot of tension in the story is when Sir Phillip hands a box of candies after the show, completely unaware that it is  actually the "Criminal" that he is looking for. A tense moment in the story is near the end when Peter and Kit are on the final stretch, galloping away from Penrith, and they are continually stopped for many different reasons, which adds a sense of tension, since you don't know if they will be caught or not.

I also like the way that the author used onomatopoeia, specifically the way he made the galloping of the horses hooves seem to jump off the page near the end of the story; the "tlot-tlot, tlot-tlot" coupled with the way the chase scene was written made it seem as though you were actually witnessing the story from the point of view of one of the characters.

Text-to-world connections -

Well, right of the bat, I compared the uprising of England in the book, to one of the major uprisings going on in the world right now, specifically the uprising in Syria. The people are ruled by an authoritarian government, meaning they have to bow to those in power. This can be compared to people in the shakespearean time period who decided that they no longer wanted to be ruled by a monarchy that they felt were not suitable to rule.

Also comparable to this time period are assassinations. Many are planned, such as the assassination of Osama Bin-Laden. Both the assassination in Cue for Treason and in reality were planned and rehearsed, to the point of perfection, the point of nothing going wrong. So, Cue for Treason is easily comparable to real life, whether the author meant for it to be like that, or not.

A Text to Self connection:

I can't really honestly compare myself to Peter, as I have never stopped an uprising against a Monarch, however, I can compare to going on a journey that I never wanted to go on, and even scared me at some times, as well as doing what was right even in the face of danger, much like Peter did when he made the choice to tell someone about the plot. I was once faced with a decision that was similar, when I had to make the decision to tell the truth, and risk a friendship, or lie, and risk even more trouble to come, and in the end, I made the decision to do what was truly right, and in the end, I ended by being respected, rather than feared, for making that decision. I think that is comparable to Peter's story, in the way that we were both faced with decisions that we both would rather not have to make, and in the end, we both wound up making the right decision, and were surprised to see that we had, in fact, made the right decision.

Some Narrative Elements.

This story seems to be based around the conflict between Phillip Morton, (Antagonist) and Peter Brownrigg (Protagonist), as well as a vague impending conflict between Britain and the Spanish Armada.

In my opinion, the climax of this story is the point where Peter learns of the plot to assassinate the Queen, because I think at this point, he realizes just how important he is, as opposed to how important he thought he was. 

I think the way the setting wove back and forth over an entire country added to the sense of confusion that Peter is facing throughout the story, and makes it seem that much more chaotic. 

A little about the plot: I think the whole thing started when Peter threw the rock, because it seems like that is what threw Sir Phillip's hunt into full swing. If he hadn't thrown the rock, he would never have had to leave to town, and he would've carried on with a normal life. After that, I think everything up to the point where he learns of the plot to kill the Queen could be considered the rising action, and everything after that, including the capture and escape of Peter and the confrontation with Sir Phillip can be seen as the falling action.

A text to text connection -

Cue for Treason, at least in my opinion, can be compared quite easily to The Lord of The Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the sense that in both books, the main characters are whisked away on a journey that they have incredibly underestimated. In Lord of The Rings, the main character, Frodo, believes that his journey will be over once he reaches Rivendell, but is proved wrong when he learns of the true peril that his world faces.

In Cue for Treason, the main character, Peter, is also tasked with a journey, going to Scotland to escape a criminal, Sir Phillip, who is looking to capture him for vandalism. Little does Peter know, however, that his journey will be much longer and more important than he believed it to be, when he learns of the plot to assassinate the Queen.

They are also similar in the way that both main characters feel that they are a small part of the bigger picture, and do not truly realize how important they are until later in the story, when events finally come to a climax.

Chapter 3 and 4

In chapter 3, once peter leaves the town and stays in the old fortress, I think it gives not only a sense of hopelessness and fear for the reader, but I think it also creates a feeling of nostalgia that you can feel through Peter’s character. I think it further accents this feeling by showing that Peter is homesick, and it shows some of peters character traits, which I think could be described as Spontaneous and almost… Regretful that he had to leave in the first place. I also really liked how he was shown to be quick thinking when he hid in the coffin, which I think will prove to be important later on.  


I like the suspense that is shown in chapter 4, and the way that you can’t tell what the company of actors is going to do when they find him. I think the suspense and the way the author can seem to make the fear seem greater, all by using the coffin to personify death, and foreshadow that at least one death is most likely to come in the rest of the story.

Chapter 1 and 2

Chapter 1 and 2:
My opinion on chapter 1 and 2 of cue for treason, is that I thought that the way they introduced the characters while there was action going on was really effective in the way that the characters really stuck in your head, and it felt, for me at least, like I had known the characters forever, just through the use of action in that scene. It was also making me feel like I was immersed in the action, almost like I was one of the men attacking the wall. I think it also foreshadowed what is to come, in this story, which is going to be a lot of action. There isn’t much more to say about this chapter, since it seems that it was only really meant as an introduction, but it did a very good job. 


In chapter 2, I liked the way that the suspense of Sir Phillip finding Peter’s hat, created a tense environment both in the story, and for the reader. I think it is comparable to the rest of the story, and by that I mean, that the hat plays a small, but important, role, seeing that if it hadn’t been found, the following events would most likely result in the Queen’s death, since Peter would not learn of the plot. So as a chapter, I think it does an excellent job, of both introducing several more characters, and not only that, but foreshadowing what is to come and revealing some more of he plot.