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Chapter 21
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Tomorrow, When the War Began, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
War, Law, and Morality
Family, Friendship, and Love
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence
Writing and Storytelling
Summary
Analysis
Ellie and Fiona meet Homer and Lee in a nearby gully. As usual, they all start talking at once, and then they settle down and tell their stories. Homer says their side of things started out good but quickly went south. They could only find one cattle prod, and then no convoy came. Stampeding the cattle anyway was always an option, but they worried a convoy might come up behind them. Plus, the walkie-talkie stopped working, and they had no way to tell Ellie and Fiona that the plan had changed. In the end, Homer and Lee decided just to go for it and see what happened.
The group is overtaken by excitement and all talk at once, which again reflects their young age and immaturity. However, Homer and Lee’s quick thinking and ability to still perform despite their entire plan unraveling proves that the war has forced them to mature beyond their years. Additionally, their confidence that Ellie and Fiona could adapt to a sudden change in plans proves the girls have matured as well.
Themes
It is dark by the time Fiona, Ellie, Homer, and Lee get on the road again. They decide to take to motorbikes to Ellie’s, where the Land Rover is hidden. Plus, Ellie wants to get some more supplies from her dad’s shed. When they pull up to the shed on Ellie’s property, they are surprised to see the others outside. Kevin, Chris, and Robyn are standing around Corrie, who doesn’t move to get up. Ellie turns off the bike, and Kevin tells her that Corrie has been shot in the back, and they have to get her to the hospital in town.
Kevin, Chris, Robyn, and Corrie are obviously supposed to be in Hell, which is why Ellie is so surprised to see them. Ellie, Fiona, Lee, and Homer are enjoying a bit of a natural high after successfully blowing up the bridge, but Corrie’s injury is a stark reminder of the obvious danger they all face on account of the war.
Themes
Ellie can’t believe what she is hearing. If Homer is like Ellie’s brother, Corrie is definitely her sister. There is a small amount of pink, frothy blood coming from Corrie’s mouth, and her eyes are closed. Homer says that he knows it sounds bad, but they will have to drop Corrie at the hospital and run, but Kevin refuses. Corrie is his girlfriend, and he won’t dump her anywhere. They all agree that Kevin should take Corrie to the hospital in the Mercury and leave the Land Rover behind. Ellie tells Kevin and Corrie that she loves them before they leave, and then she watches the car disappear down the road. The others stand behind her. “Let’s go home,” Homer says, “to Hell.”
Ellie’s special connection to Corrie again proves that friends can fill the role of family in one’s life. Ellie doesn’t have a sister either, and Corrie has always filled that void, now Ellie is faced with losing her. The pink, frothy blood around Corrie’s mouth suggests that the bullet has hit her lung, which isn’t a good sign. Homer’s suggestion to leave Corrie at the hospital and run is certainly reasonable given the circumstances, but Kevin’s refusal to abandon Corrie reflects his loyalty and dedication to her, which also suggests Kevin has matured during the war as well.
Themes
