TOBERMORY

Alicia Rodrguez Villanueva

Carmen Rois Donsin
ngela Rojo
Laura Serna Olmedo
Alba Simn Ferrero
Pablo Simonetti
Alicia Vega Ferreras
Mercedes de Vena
Eva Villa Castro

2 Grado en Educacin Primaria

G1.S4

INDEX

Credits of the story: author, characters, plot,

Activities.

Information about the topic.

Play script.

CREDITS OF THE STORY

AUTHOR: Hector Hugh Munro called Saki.
CHARACTERS:
Tobermory: hes the main character who is Lady Blemleys pet.
Hes a brown striped cat and he believes himself more
intelligent than humans. His most important ability its that he
is able to speak English perfectly.

Cornelius Appin: it is said that he is very clever. He is a

scientific and he thinks that his discovery is the most important
in the history of the world. He believes cats are the most
interesting animals in order to work because they live with
humans and, at the same time, they are wild animals.

Lady Blemley: Shes hostess. Shes hospitable but she only

wants

to

achieve

more

popularity.

However,

shes

very

hypocritical with her guests because she says something

different that she thinks.

Sir Wilfrid: he is a guest and he is curioius and unbelieving

because

he

always

asking

Cornelius

Appin

about

his

investigation.

Mavis Pellington: Lady Blemley said she is stupid. She is

brave because she was the first person who dares to ask the
cat.

Major Barfield: he is a guest who is very daring because he

asks the cat about personal questions.

Mrs.Cornett: she is another guest who is very interested.

Odo Finsberry: he is a guest who is studying to be a minister

of Church

Agnes Resker: she is a guest and she is interested in the

discovery.

Bertie Van Tahnn

Tobermorys enemy: he is a big, yellow tomcat.

PLOT:
The story is about a cat, called Tobermory, who is Lady Blemeleys
pet. His owner is an aristocratic woman that likes organise parties
with important people. In one of these meetings, Cornelius Appin
shows his most important discovery: a speaking cat, Tobermory.
Nobody believes hum until Tobermory starts to speak. That is a big
surprise for all the guests who start to ask him. At first the
conversation is about intelligence, but in the end Tobermory reveals
people secrets. That is the reason why the guests plan to murder the
cat but his enemy kill him before.
MAJOR THEMES
The hypocrisy of aristocratic people, the revenge...

SETTING
The story takes place in Lady Blemleys house during a few days.

THEME: the murder of a cat who speak more than he should.

ACTIVITIES
BEFORE YOU READ
1. Which of the adjectives below best describe cats and which best
describe dogs? Write them in the appropriate column. Can you
think of any others?
Cats: independent, wild, selfish, elegant.
Dogs: servile, tame, loyal, intelligent, faithful.
2. Look at the picture on page 88.
a. How would you describe the expression on the cats face?
He is bored but he seems happy. Some members think that he is
annoyed.
b. The title of Part One is A great Discovery. What role do you think
this cat has in the great discovery?
c. We think that Tobermory is one of the most important characters.
3. Listen to the beginning of Part One and chose the best answer A, B
or C.
1. Lady Blemley always invited people to her parties who had
certain talents.
2. People said that Cornelius Appin was clever
3. Cornelius said that Tobermory was very intelligent

4. Cornelius began experimenting with cats seven months ago

5. The other guests thought Cornelius was crazy or a liar.
GO BACK TO THE TEXT
1. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Correct the false
ones.
a. The house party was going to continue for several hours. False,
The house party was going to continue for several days.
b. Mrs Blemley never tried to invite people to her parties who
where entertaining. False, Mrs Blemley always tried to invite
people to her parties who where entertaining.
c. Mrs Blemley thought that Cornelius was a very clever man. True
d. Cornelius tol the other guests that he have made a fantastic
scientific discovery. True
e. Cornelius has taught Americans how to speak English. False,
Cornelius has taught wild animals how to speak English.
f. Cornelius said that Tobermory was an exceptionally intelligent
animal. True
g. Tobermory was Mrs Blemleys dog. False, Tobermory was Mrs
Blemleys cat.
h. At first, nobody believed that Cornelius has taught Tobermory
how to speak. True
i. The guests thought that Cornelius was a good ventriloquist.
True
j. Sir Wilfrid was very calm after he heard Tobermory speak. False,
Sir Wilfrid was very excited after he heard Tobermory speak.
IT WOULD BE GREAR IF CATS COULD SPEAK
2. What do you think of the above statement? Write a short
composition in 120-180 words. Include the following.
-

Some of the advantages

Some of the disadvantages

Why, in the end, the advantages (or disadvantages) are more

important.

In we opinion, it would be fantastic if animals could talk, because we

love animals, especially cats. In the one hand, they would tell us
about what they do, what thinks about us and where go to. It would
be interesting to know it. Also, if they were ill, they would tell us the
paint they had, which would be very useful. On the one hand, they
would know all our secrets and they would tell them. They even might
organise and go against us. And a lot of animals mistreating people
might go to jail.
THEY ASKED HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED
3. Change the following direct questions into reported speech.
a. What did they do yesterday? we asked our teacher.
We asked our teacher what they had done the previous day.
b. Will you help us with our homework? we asked our father.
We asked our father if he would help us with our homework.
c. Can you really teach cats to speak English? I asked
Cornelius.
I asked Cornelius if he really could teach cats to speak
English.
d. How many times have I told you not to use my computer?
she asked her brother.
She asked her brother not to use her computer.
e. Is it going to rain? she asked her friend.
She asked her friend if it was going to rain.
4. Now change the following into direct questions.
a. I asked ger if she had gone to the circus yesterday.
Did you gone to the circus yesterday? I asked her.
b. They asked me why I never wore a suit and tie to work.
Why do you never wear a suit and tie to work? They asked
me.

c. Sylvia asked Harry if he liked his school

Do you like your school? She asked him.
d. Robert asked Emily what she was doing in his bedroom.
What are you doing in my bedroom? Robert asked Emily.
e. Ahmed asked Sandra if she would ever love him.
Will you ever love me? Ahmed asked Sandra.
BEFORE YOU GO ON
1. Look at the picture on pages 96-97.
a. Do you think the people in this picture are happy with what
Tobermory is saying?
No, they seemed angry, surprised, confused, they are afraid
b. What do you think he is saying?
He is saying something that humans dont know.
2. How do you think the story will end?
a. Tobermory will become rich and famous.
3. Listen to the beginning of Part Two and complete the sentences.
Now everybody believed Cornelius. They began to ask him lots of
questions. Cornelius smiled. He was very happy with his last success.
At the moment, when everybody was asking Cornelius question,
Tobermory walked into the room. None of the guest said a word. The
felt embarrassed in front of a talking cat.
Finally, the hostess Lady Blemley- said nervously, Would you like
some mill, Tobermory?
Yes, Im little thirsty said the cat indifferently.
Everyone in the room was shocked. And Lady Blemleys hand shook
as she poured Tobermory some milk.
GO BACK TO THE TEXT

1. Part Two has been divided into eight sections. Choose the most
suitable heading from the list (a-I) for each section. There is one extra
heading which you do not need to use.
A. He has seen and heard all! 5
B. Boring but at least you eat well. 6
C. A grave mistake. 3
D. The long, long wait. 8
E. I knew he was right. (extra)
F. Better dead that talking. 7
G. And humans think theyre more intelligent than us. 2
H. What do you say to a talking cat? 1
I. Even cats are worried about their health. 4.
2. For questions 1-8, complete the second sentence so that is has a
similar meaning to the first sentences, using the word given. Do not
change the word given. You must use between two and five words.
1. I have been working whit cats for seven months.
2. There are no better animals than cats for my work.
3. He said that he would come when he wanted to.
4. Tobermory, is it difficult to learn to speak?Asked Miss
Resker.
5. Lady Blemley apologized for spilling most of the milk on the
carpet.
6. He might have taught his girlfriend.
7. He was killed by his enemy, the big tomcat.
8.

After tobermory, Cornelius Appin has not had any more

successful students.

3. Whats your opinion?

1. In this story, who is Saki making fun of?
The upper classes and their stupid and petty secrets.
2. How would you describe Tobermory?
He is ironic, cruel, intelligent and self-confident.

3. Do you like Tobermory? Why or why not?

One of the members of group say yes, because he is a very
intelligent cat and he is able to make a big mistake.
However, the rest of the group said no because Tobermory is
very cruel with the guests of the party and tells theirs
secrets.
4. Is there any other character (a cat or a human) in some TV
show, comic strip, film or book that reminds you of
Tobermory?
Yes, Silvestre, Tommy and Jerry, Garfield, Doraimon
4. Read the text about talking animals and decide which answer A, B,
C or D best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning.
1. Last
2. Create
3. About
4. Expect
5. Revealed
6. Words.
7. Founders
8. Reports

5.

Theme Expressing possibility and uncertainty Tobermory is a

very intelligent animal. I taught him to speak English perfectly and

completely. Discuss this statement using these questions to help
you.
a. How would you feel if you had a pet that could talk?
We feel good because we always have company and we never
feel alone. Furthermore, we have always somebody to talk.
b. What do you think it would say to you?
We think that he would say me to go away, better food, more
attention

c. How would the relationship between animals and people

change?
We think that the relationships would not be as good as now.
d. Do you agree with the idea that animals have their own
personalities How do they demonstrate this?
Yes, because not all cat behave the same way.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOPIC

In this work we look for information about the author of the story,
curiosities about the title and also we collect material of some famous

cats that appear in the literature, in the cinema or in the TV, we write
about: Garfield, Salem, Sylvester, Tom (Tom and Jerry), Don Gato,
Puss in boots, Rasca, Felix the cat, and Isidoro.

PLAY SCRIPT
H. H. Munro was born in Akyab, Birmania 1870. He was Charles
Augustus Munro son and his mother was Mary Frances Mercer who
died in 1872 gored for a cow, an event which had very influence in his
stories. Then he went to live with puritan family with strict
personality, something that changed his character forever, and this
also reflects it for example in one of his stories called Sredni Vashtar
He studied at Pencarwick School in the town of Exmouth, and in
the Bedford Grammar School. Then he went to the First World War
where he died in 1916 in a fight in Beaumont Hamel.
After he died, his sister Ethel, destroyed all his literary work and
she wrote again the family history with her particular way.
Saki is well-known with his short stories in which the characters
are described with many details and interesting plots. The main
themes are the Victorian middle social class and their strict way of
life. For that he received good opinions about them. He wrote many
tales, The Open Window was the most famous. Also his dramas are
very important, for example "The Unbearable Bassington", and finally
he wrote satiric novels like The Westminster Alice or When William
Came".
The title of the story is also a city in England. The Isle of Mull
and the neighbouring Island of Iona lie just off the west coast of
Scotland, in the United Kingdom. Tobermory was built as a fishing port
in the late 18th century and is now the main village on Mull. The
village has a good variety of shops, hotels, and other accommodation
as well as being the administrative centre for the island. The Isle of
Mull and Iona are ideal places to base yourself for viewing the wildlife

of Scotland.

Species include whales and dolphins, eagles, otters,

birds of prey and many other mammals.

We

have

found

some

characters

that

have

the

same

characteristics than Tobermory. One of them is Garfield; he is a fat

and striped orange cat. His main characteristic is that he is very lazy,
also he is selfish and his favorite food is lasagna. He sleeps all the
time and he disturbs his partner the dog called Odi. His owner Jonh
gets very nervous with the Garfields occurrences.
The second famous speaking cat, whose voice in Sapanish is
Jess Rodrguez. Salem is the talking cat in Sabrina, the Teenage
Witch. He had been a human wizard, but he has make a big mistake
(he wants to control de world) and he becames in a cat during the
eternity. He is lazy, he is ambitious, but he is the best friend of
Sanbrina. He is a black cat.
The third cat is Sylvester (Looney toons), also known as Puddy
Tat. He is a black and white cat, with a red nose (to imit a clowns
nose). In most of his stories his target is to catch Tweety Bird or Pioln
in Spain. He never get to catch Pioln and he only achieve his
Grannys punish. The most famous sentence of Piolin about Sylvester
is "I tawt I taw a puddy tat" . Sometimes, he try to catch Speedy
Gonzles, the fastest mouse in Mexico.
Other famous cat is Tom, who appears in the series Tom and
Jerry. He is a domestic shorthai cat. He is the main charater of the
story and he wants to capture Jerry, who is a small brown house
mouse that always lives proximity to him. He is energic and sensitive
an he is a good person that sometimes thinks Jerry is injured or dead.
n unusual times, he wins Jerry.
Don gato is a yellow cat with a purpure hat and vest. He is the
mean character of the serial and the leader of his group. Don Gato is
persuasive but he can be a good friend too. Sometimes, his group

ignores him or they dont understand his intentions and this is the
cause of a bad relationship between them.
Master Cat, or Puss in Boots is a French literary story written, at
the close of the seventeenth century, by Charles Perrault. The story is
about a miller of a kingdom, whose son inherit only a cat. The others
two brothers are better lucky but, the small brother keeps the cat and
listen him. The cat says that if he rely on him and he achieve a pair of
boots and a sack, they will get a lot of money. The cat will meet the
King, because he is very brave and clever and, his owner will become
in rich. Finally, the miller fall in love a princess and marry her. In the
film Shreck, this character appears in a different and current version.
He goes along with Shreck and the donkey in theirs adventures. He
seems the character of Antonio Banderas in the film The fox.
Rasca is a chatarcter of a serie Rasca y Pica in the programm of
Krusty the Clown, in The Simpson. He is a black cat, whit bulging
eyes. Rasca is always killled by Itchy and, in every chapter, he
revives. That is the reason why we can say he have got more than
nine lifes, typical in United Satates.
Felix the cat is a character of silent film. He is a black, with
white eyes and a wide smile. There is a dispute between several
people because everybody assert they are their makers. He was one
of the most popular characters of the cartoons until the appearance
of Mickey Mouse.
Isidoro is a character of a story created by George Gately in
1973. Isidoro the previous character of Garfield. They are similar in
the physical aspect (both are tripped and orange) but they have
different personality: Isidoro is more active and silent. He have a....
daino.
Doraemon is Japanese cartoon, who is one of the most popular
manga in the History. He is created in 1969 by two japaneses
painters. He is a cosmic robot cat who come through the future to

help Nobita Nobi with his magics invents. He have a pocket in the
belly where are all the objects. He tries to take Nobitas family out of
poverty.