At the start of Part One, we are introduced to Liam and Tomás. What do you think of the way Liam observes the world in comparison to Tomás?
Do you think Tomás was harsh towards Liam when Liam asked if they were done for the day?
Do you think Tomás would be a different father if he weren’t doing this cartography project for the Redcoats?
What do you think of the scene between Liam and the widow?
Tomás comes to realise that the copse can either live on the map or live on the land. Do you think entering the copse and drinking from the spring changed him, or do you think he just came to realise he didn’t want to map his land for the Redcoats? What do you think of this dilemma, and what do you think it says about people?
Why do you think Tomás refused to remember his childhood?
Do you think the priest’s diagnosis of Tomás was fair, or do you think he made the diagnosis just to be able to perform the exorcism?
Tomás believes that moving to the same place where Liam and he discovered the copse is the answer. Do you believe this?
5 responses to “Land Day One”
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1. Liam views the world with childish wonder; and rightfully so because he is still very much a child; but he projects an appearance of someone trying to be more mature and responsible because that’s what he knows his father expects from him. Thomás views the world critically and seriously and doesn’t leave much room for error. He takes his role of being a provider very seriously.
2. Yes, he was harsh.
3. Yes, he would have been a very different father, he would have been more relaxed and lovable. His work for the redcoats impacted his mood and behavior negatively and in turn his relationship with his children.
4. I think it was bittersweet but something they both needed. Liam needed warmth, safety and nourishment and the widow provided that and I think it might have healed a little part of her too, because she choose to part with the clothes she had made and knitted and had been boarding for years. She felt needed and useful. It gave her purpose.
5. I think drinking from the spring in the copse changed him. I think it’s a really pivotal moment in the story and his decision will alter their lives. It’s a moment where you have to choose between your own beliefs and your obligations.
6. Because it was traumatic. No one that has experienced childhood trauma ever wants to remember it.
7. The priests assessment was not fair. He just wanted to have the upper hand and demonstrate power by claiming to be able to perform an exorcism.
8. I believe that it’s where he will find peace and purpose. It’s almost as though the land beckons to him.
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1. Tomas is more world-wary, but Liam is young and excited to do something more with his life than staying at home and working as a map maker.
2. Not really. He sees the bigger picture.
3. He would be able to spend more time with his children, but he wouldn’t feel as though he were giving them a better life.
4. The interaction between Liam and the widow is familiar – similar to that of a grandmother and grandson.
5. I don’t think the water at the copse changed him. I think he had an epiphany and changed his mind. Perhaps it says that people are easily swayed by superstition.
6. Perhaps because something traumatic happened when he was a child.
7. No, I don’t think it was fair, and it was definitely because he wanted to prove a point and do an exorcism.
8. For some reason I did believe this. The copse sounds magical, and beyond logic. -
1. Liam is a child, untouched by the hardships of life, he is not as tough as his father. The world seems scarier and harsher to him. Probably even more so because his father is a hard man and Liam seems like a sensitive child.
2. Yes, he was.
3. Tomás still would have had the same childhood and workhouse experience and likely gone on to do a different type of labouring job, so I think there’s a good chance he would still have been the same type of father.
4. It was heartwarming.
5. I’m not sure if drinking the water is what actually changed him or the realization about the copse but I know that he didn’t want to map his land for the Redcoats.I think it says that he wanted to protect his land.
6. I think it was because it was too painful to remember.
7. It was not fair. He absolutely made the diagnosis so that he could perform an exorcism.
8. All I know is that if I had been in his shoes, I would have done the same thing.
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1. Liam sees the world through a child’s eye, but with that he also don’t have the patience to take in what’s around him like his father does.
2. I do think he was harsh for two reasons: 1. Liam might not have the patience yet to stand on one spot for long as he is still a child and 2. Liam might not have the same passion for map making as his father does, so it might seem boring to him.
3. I don’t think so. I think that whatever he was doing he would have tried to include Liam in it and not his daughters.
4. I found it sweet. She clearly gave up something that meant a lot to her.
5. I think it was a bit of both. The copse clearly did something to both Liam and his father when they were there, but I think the father realised how special the land was and him putting it on the map would’ve made the Redcoats destroy something beautiful. I think this shows that there are two types of people: ones who want to protect the beauty of nature and ones who want to take over and destroy it.
6. It usually means that something bad happened that they wouldn’t want to remember it.
7. I don’t think so. There were probably other “humane” ways of diagnosing Thomás. I think the priest was just trying to prove that he could make his father well.
8. I think that Thomás found peace and certainty (not wanting to map for the Redcoats) in the copse and it was a place that the Redcoats didn’t discover yet. -
1. He definitely seems a bit naive about the world, but is trying his best to come across as mature and grown-up to impress his dad.
2. Yes and no. He has more perspective, but from his wife’s voice in his head, I could tell that he knows he could have been gentler with Liam.
3. From his personality switch after he went into the copse, I would have to say yes. He probably would have been a bit softer towards Liam and his family.
4. It was very sweet, almost like she took on the role of his grandmother or mother while Liam and his dad were away from home.
5. It’s giving magical realism vibes, to be honest. In this case, perhaps he had some sort of epiphany when he was there and realised how his work could have so much power if he was able to use his skills in the way he wanted.
6. Something traumatic happened to him that he hasn’t gotten over yet.
7. The priest gives me the creeps! From the way he speaks, I definitely think he made the diagnosis just so that he could perform the exorcism and be praised by higher authorities.
8. No, Thomas acted out of his mind when he came out of the copse, so this seems like an impulsive move.
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