The Running Man Chapter 5 Questions

Chapter Five:

1. How has this chapter been written and structured to build the tension and suspense leading up to Tom Leyton's appearance?
This chapter has been written and structured to build the tension and suspense leading up to Tom Leyton's appearance by an unexpected turn in the storyline and the amount of detail the author includes. Michael Gerard Bauer describes Joseph's feelings during every event that happens which gives the reader a clear understanding of how he is feeling. The unexpected turn that is included in this chapter is that Tom Leyton is not going to come out and meet Joseph. He seems to be not up to it that day. "A bit off-colour" as Caroline explains. However, in the end, Tom still comes out to see Joseph and they meet for the first time. This comes as a surprise because the author suggests that Tom is not going to meet anyone this close in person.

2. What impressions does Joseph gain from his first meeting with Tom Leyton? What does he notice about his appearance, his eyes and his voice?
At Joseph's first meeting with Tom Leyton, he is quite shocked to see that Tom's face is strong and engaging, although it invites no communication. It was very different from the wild rumours about disfigurement and deformity that Joseph had heard about from the neighbours. Joseph decides that Tom's face might have been handsome once. Perhaps it still is, but it looks as if it has seen too much and does not care to see anymore. Tom has long hair which falls in sandy waves over his ears. A full beard fans out in streaks of grey below his mouth but elsewhere shows patches of reddy-brown. Slight bags are noticible and a tinge of red can be seen in his complexion. Tom's eyes show the emotion of fear because he is not used to having visitors around in his home. When Tom finally speaks he replies in a brief and monotone voice which lingers in the room like the deep rumble of shifting rock.

3. Why do you think Joseph offers to return to the Leytons'? Why do you think he seems to be "drawn towards the shadowy figure of Tom Leyton"?

I think that Joseph offers to return to the Leytons' because he is intrigued by Tom and wants to find out more information about him. Joseph seems to be "drawn towards the shadowy figure of Tom Leyton" because he wants to find out how his past has affected him to become who he is today.

4. Why does Joseph find his sketches of Tom Leyton unsatisfactory? Why is his memory of his art teacher Mr De Groot significant?

Joseph finds his sketches of Tom Leyton unsatisfactory because he considers them to be shapes without a substance. He knows that there is more to Tom Leyton because he has seen glimpses of Tom's deep emotions through a flash of fear in his eyes, when his strong hands were cradling the silkworm box and the full rich voice that still came through in spite of his coldness. Joseph's memory of his art teacher Mr De Groot is significant because he believed that in order for someone to paint or carve the outside shape of a human being one would need to know what lies beneath them.So, in other words, to give artwork life and humanity one would need to know what the subject was thinking and feeling.