Outline for Journal Report after reading Geoffrey Trease Cue for Treason (1940) Puffin 1965.
Does it "offer a significant picture of life that has meaning for us, helps satisfy our curiosity about ourselves and others"?
2. Is the PLOT fresh and interesting?
Natural and credible?
3. Is the CHARACTERISATION
a re-creation of life? with real life people?
Are the characters memorable? See Peter,
Kit
1, Kit
2, Kit
3.
How well does Peter observe and understand his fellow human beings? Is he convincing? See 'How to write a character profile' page.
Is it "in character"? Appropriate?
Does it advance or bog down the story?
Is it fresh and natural? Is it successful?
Does the novel describe just a physical
environment?
Is it a lifelike and likely setting?
Does it heighten the emotional value of events?
Is the novel easy to read?
Is it distinctive with particular instincts, feelings, and
experience?
Is style successfully matched with the story?
Is it a participant narrator: a hero or
onlooker?
Is it a removed narrator: God-like/unsympathetic/emotionally
distanced?
Is it insistently put?
Is it dramatised/told/embodied?
Is it valuable/interesting to you?
Does the novel add to your experience?
Is it to your taste?
Is it relevant/topical/constructive?
Is it lasting/global?
© G. Smith 1997
A character profile of Peter Brownrigg.
Peter Brownrigg is the stereotypical curious, adventurous and independent thirteen-year-old. To the reader of Cue for Treason, Peter appears as a fit, well-built, somewhat shaggy young teenager. His dark hazel eyes complement his scruffy brown hair and a solid jaw line presents a tough young kid. These physical characteristics are a direct picture of his mind, his feelings and his background.
Peter being self-confident, powerful and determined is always going to stand out amongst the crowd. For Peter it was in his marvellous acting on stage at The Globe or throwing a rock at Sir Philip Morton as a sign of rebellion. His quick wit, excellent memory and choice to act on his instincts, were all talents, which enabled him to achieve, while at the same time fighting off Sir Philip's men and saving the Queen from certain death. This proves that he is a very capable and courageous young man and this is visible to the people around him and the reader.
Peter is seen as a respected actor with a mysterious background. Closer friends envy his strong will power and personally I find him to be an outstanding young hero.
by Simon D. 1999
A Character Profile of Kit Kirkstone
"Half man, half woman" are four short words to describe Kit Kirkstone's appearance and personality in the novel 'Cue for Treason'. As a run-away young girl, Kirkstone chooses to dress, talk and even fight like a boy to fool those around her to think she is a male. This is so she can become an actor in some of Shakespeare's plays. Her short cut blonde hair and deep blue eyes are all trademarks of a wealthy, well looked after young girl, but her strong build and scruffy appearance hide these feminine features. Kit is often described as a natural female performer and that she has a real knack for it and is able to understand and portray the female so well. In fact, this is because she has the personality of a female, which complements her physical characteristics.
Similar to Peter Brownrigg, Kit is a self confident and competitive young teenager. She is most determined which could be a result of always wanting to be able 'keep up' with the boys. Her marvellous sense of awareness is featured when she follows the Yellow Gentleman back to his home, and her quick wit is heard when she phrases puns with no sense of difficulty. Kit is able to fool the reader and her friends and even fellow actors of her own sex, and her being seen as a male definitely changes the way they treat her.
As an actor in the Elizabethan period life was tough. Sure enough you were fed and had a roof to sleep under but the roles were demanding and required a great memory to learn the lines in little time at all. She was able to do this along with being able to speak so fluently and hence was known as an excellent young actor, even to the extent that Sir Philip Morton made special mention that he wished to see the brilliant little actor, referring to Kit. When Peter Brownrigg realised that she was female, his view of her changed dramatically to an extent that he immediately stopped teasing her. For the reader Kit was presented as the stealthy, slippery side-kick of Peter who was always at his side.
Simon D. 1999
Another Character Profile of Kit Kirkstone
Dubbed 'Kit the Wit" very early on in 'Cue for Treason', this central character embodies the air of intrigue common in Elizabethan times. She is intelligent and shadowy, yet courageous and loyal to Peter throughout. All we lack at the novel's happy ending is their final marriage scene. But that would make it a romance not an adventure-thriller!
This novel could also be entitled "All's Well that Ends Well" like one of Shakespeare's plays, for the pranks, escapades, lucky escapes and real danger that Kit encounters with Peter are just grist to the mill to her in this adventure. For it does all ends well: Peter returns home safe, the Brownriggs have their lands rightfully returned, and Kit's future is assured now that Sir Philip Morton is arrested as a conspirator. Like a punch line couplet in an Elizabethan sonnet, the two companions finally find adulation, security and sure hope for the future at novel's end. Despite the sinister clouds of a treasonous plot for a royal assassination, the story tells us that underneath it all England is hale and hearty. Peter the homely son of the soil and Kit the much maltreated aristocrat find that all is well with England Geoffrey Trease's war-torn readers would have found great consolation in being shown that deep down their country is not riddled with spies and that their land is peopled with good honest Englishmen and women like Peter and Kit. These two teenagers represented the unstinting loyalty and solidity that Britain needed in its hour of need.
Kit is alert to danger, clever at disguises, endowed with an excellent memory for learning lines at short notice, and always supportive of Peter. With a real name, a known name and a nickname, she embodies the contemporary air of intrigue. In the deception about her gender, she disguises herself enough to fool even Peter. She excels as an actor in female parts to the amazement of all the troupe yet she is no tomboy. Her own noble birth and bearing, her many natural gifts and abilities, her poise in the face of danger and her wariness before Sir Philip at The Globe are all admirable traits. Kit is a heroine in her own right, while being embroiled in a personal intrigue of escape from a cruel suitor.
Kit is caught between the generations; she is from noble stock yet modern in outlook. She is betrothed yet finally freed of it. She is a liberated woman very much in a man's world. She demonstrates feminine loyalty, wit and courage yet defers the limelight to Peter. It could be said that Kit enjoyed more freedom than the Queen, as she journeyed through country, town and city unchallenged and secure in the company of friends. Her marvellous courageous is shown when she follows the Yellow Gentleman back to his home, and her quick wit is heard when she phrases puns with no difficulty.
Kit's heroism, her femininity and intelligence make her a twentieth century role-model no less than an Elizabethan hero-patriot.
G. Smith 4/3/99
Character profile of Kit Kirkstone
Kit is a young lady who disguised as a boy joins Mr & Mrs Desmond's theatre troupe. At first, there is an intense rivalry between Kit and Peter; however, after he discovers her true identity, they form a strong friendship that eventually blossoms into romance.
Both Mr Burbage and Mr Desmond believed that Kit has incredible natural talent for playing women's parts (not realising that she actually is a girl.). They cast her in lead roles and she contributes greatly to the success of many plays. Although Shakespeare discovers Kit's gender secret, he still admires her for her courage and allows her to continue performing. In general, Kit is a well-liked character whose talents and qualities earn her respect from a wide range of people.
The fact that Kit was able to disguise herself as a boy for a large part of the novel suggests that her femininity was not very obvious. Even though she had her hair cut short and wore boy's clothing, it would have still been very difficult to pass as a boy in such everyday surroundings. Therefore, instead of having the very fine features of most women, she was probably flat chested and fairly solidly built. Furthermore Kit was fit and strong, and did not shy away from any physical activity.
There is not doubting that Kit was a tomboy. Despite her aristocratic background, she preferred the outdoors to make-up and first class meals. She was very alert and responsive to the environment around her, and was quick to react in any crisis. Even through she had an intuitive fear of certain things, Kit was courageous, a quality demonstrated throughout the novel. She was mentally very strong and able to cope with virtually any situation.
Overall, Kit Kirkstone is a character that shows many exceptional qualities. She and Peter make a formidable team together which is credit to both characters' integrity.
by Mark S. 1999
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Revised 9 July 2005