Goodnight Mr Tom Chapter Breakdown
Chapter 2, "Little Weirwold" Summary
This chapter begins with Mr. Tom continuing to explain the dog to Willie. The old man shows the boy how to make friends with the dog and how to help gain its trust. Mr. Tom begins the day by handing Willie a mug of hot, sweet tea, a preview of the many kindnesses that the old man will show to Willie, as a father to son would do. Willie gives up his fear of the dog and allows it to lick his hand, learning that the licking means the dog likes him. On the way out the door to have a "romp in the fields," Willie learns that the attic room will be his own. This first walk proves to be too much for the boy, who is weak and undernourished......
Chapter 3, "Saturday Morning" Summary
The first morning at Mr. Tom's terrifies Willie. He wakes half in a dream, realizing that he has wet the bed. Noticing that he is lying between sheets, he assumes he's dead, because only dead people are put into bed. Although Willie is terrified of severe punishment for having wet the bed, Mr. Tom quietly cleans up after him. For the first time he sees the extensive abuse the boy has suffered since he is covered with bruises and welts. Mr. Tom helps Willie write a postcard to the boy's mother and discovers that Willie can neither read nor write, nor has he had any friends in his life.
Once Willie's clothes are dry, the pair goes for a walk with the dog, Sammy, whom Willie is learning is harmless and even.....
Chapter 4, "Equipped" Summary
After the walk, the pair goes to town in a cart pulled by the horse, Dobbs. Noticing that the boy is pale and exhausted, Mr. Tom has him go to the back of the cart and have a nap under a blanket. The boy is troubled by fierce nightmares. On arriving at the town, the pair begins their errands. Mr. Tom buys tobacco at a newspaper shop, and seeing Willie eye the comics, tells him he can have one comic and one candy, and to choose now. Willie is scared, but the shopkeeper talks him through the choice making, a
This chapter begins with Mr. Tom continuing to explain the dog to Willie. The old man shows the boy how to make friends with the dog and how to help gain its trust. Mr. Tom begins the day by handing Willie a mug of hot, sweet tea, a preview of the many kindnesses that the old man will show to Willie, as a father to son would do. Willie gives up his fear of the dog and allows it to lick his hand, learning that the licking means the dog likes him. On the way out the door to have a "romp in the fields," Willie learns that the attic room will be his own. This first walk proves to be too much for the boy, who is weak and undernourished......
Chapter 3, "Saturday Morning" Summary
The first morning at Mr. Tom's terrifies Willie. He wakes half in a dream, realizing that he has wet the bed. Noticing that he is lying between sheets, he assumes he's dead, because only dead people are put into bed. Although Willie is terrified of severe punishment for having wet the bed, Mr. Tom quietly cleans up after him. For the first time he sees the extensive abuse the boy has suffered since he is covered with bruises and welts. Mr. Tom helps Willie write a postcard to the boy's mother and discovers that Willie can neither read nor write, nor has he had any friends in his life.
Once Willie's clothes are dry, the pair goes for a walk with the dog, Sammy, whom Willie is learning is harmless and even.....
Chapter 4, "Equipped" Summary
After the walk, the pair goes to town in a cart pulled by the horse, Dobbs. Noticing that the boy is pale and exhausted, Mr. Tom has him go to the back of the cart and have a nap under a blanket. The boy is troubled by fierce nightmares. On arriving at the town, the pair begins their errands. Mr. Tom buys tobacco at a newspaper shop, and seeing Willie eye the comics, tells him he can have one comic and one candy, and to choose now. Willie is scared, but the shopkeeper talks him through the choice making, a