Leaving Cert English Reading Comprehension: THE SISTERS BROTHERS

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Question

THE SISTERS BROTHERS

The following text is based on an edited extract from Patrick deWitt's novel, The Sisters Brothers. The book tells the story of two brothers, called Eli and Charlie Sisters, who make their living as ruthless killers during the Californian gold rush in the 1850s. In this extract, Eli recounts his horrible dental experience.

1. I passed a night of fever and in the morning Charlie took a look at me and emitted a shriek of fright. I asked him what was the matter and he brought over a tin plate to use as a looking glass. 'What’s that?' I asked. 'That’s your head. Eli: The left side of my face was swollen, from the crown of my skull all the way to the neck. My eye was merely a slit and Charlie, regaining his humour, said I looked like a dog. He added that he would chase it. I traced the outlines from a plate and saw a monstrous head. It was like a real big cartoon character in an unholy sort of way, glaring at me.

2. The tooth doctor named Watts, as I approached the man he smiled and said, 'What a profession to me! Oh I’m actually happy to see someone so distorted.' The hesitating smile melted into his efficient little work space. Pulling up a tray of gleaming instruments, he asked tooth-history questions I had no satisfactory answers for. At any rate, the impression he did not care to know the answers but was merely pleased to be making his enquiries.

3. The story of Reginald Watts was a luckless one dealing in every manner of failure and catastrophe, though he spoke of this without bitterness or regret, and in fact seemed to find humour in his blunders.

4. He held a long, dripping needle next to my face. 'This is going to pinch, son.' Ouch! I said. 'Where did you study dentistry?' Charlie asked.

5. 'A most reputable institution,' he answered. But there was a smirk on his lips to it and I further understood the closures of study takes several years.

6. 'Years?' said Watts, and he laughed. 'How long then?' I said, 'Me personally? Just as long as it took to memorize the other. I’m just too stupid to work fools to ship the correct.'

7. He extracted the two offending teeth, queuing in the simple sight and then filling my mouth with cotton. He showed me a dainty, wooden-handled brush with a rectangular head of grey-white bristles. 'A toothbrush,' he said, 'This will keep your teeth clean and your breath pleasant. Here, eat how I do it.' I paid him two dollars for the removal of the teeth, ran to a bottle of whiskey to toast what he called our mutually beneficial transaction. Although I found the man quite charming.

THE SISTERS BROTHERS The following text is based on an edited extract from Patrick deWitt's novel, The Sisters Brothers - Leaving Cert English - Question 1 - 2014

Worked Solution & Example Answer:THE SISTERS BROTHERS The following text is based on an edited extract from Patrick deWitt's novel, The Sisters Brothers - Leaving Cert English - Question 1 - 2014

From your reading of the above extract, what do you learn about the tooth doctor, Reginald Watts? Support your answer with reference to the text.

Do you find Charlie’s reaction to his brother’s toothache cruel or amusing or both? Explain your answer with reference to paragraphs one and two of the above extract.

Explain, in your own words, what you think Eli Sisters means when he says: 'I laughed at the painless violence of it.'

Which of the two book covers above (COVER 1 or COVER 2) do you find more interesting? Explain your answer with reference to both book covers.

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