CHEAT!

BY ALLAN BAILLIE (NOTES)

We found that a lot of readers are looking for the notes on themes, moral values and characters for
this short story. It is quite difficult to find resources. Here we will share with you the notes.

1. Themes
Themes Explanation and textual evidence

Explanation
The short story is revolved around the
theme of being judgemental. There are a
few characters can be related to this
theme. They might jump into conclusion
too soon and it caused misunderstanding.

Examples

Lynne is one of the characters who is

judgemental. After she read about the
book written by William Bradburie in the
library, she was filled with anger. She
said that Geoff is cheating in the short
story competition even though she has
never read Geoffs story before.

Another person related to the theme is

Marge. She is the classmate for Geoff and
Marge. When Geoff mentioned that he
wanted to be a barrister or lawyer, Marge
labelled him as money minded. It can be
hurtful when we labelled someone.

Being judgemental

Explanation
A creative idea or innovation like is not
always original because we will take idea
and inspiration from different resources
to make improvement. The same goes
with story writing, the originality does
Creative writing is not always not really exist because our storys idea
original will come from the story that we read, our
 experience and our surrounding.

Example

Lynne emphasised the importance of

originality in the writing. When she
realised that Geoff is not cheating, she
was wondering whether she had read any
story related to the sheepdog in flood.

As for Geoff story, although his story

idea is similar to William Bradburies
story, Mr Velos told Lynne that the story
is still consider original and Geoff is not
cheating.

2. Moral Values
Moral Values Explanation Examples

We consider that Geoff is

Honesty and courage are
about being brave to tell
someone the truth. We
must take responsibility
to the mistakes that we
Honesty and courage have done.
an honest person. After
Lynne shouted at Geoff,
Geoff went to Mr Velos
office to confess that he
might be cheating due to
the similarity of his story
and William Bradburies
story.

Lynne used weeks to

If we are perseverance,
we will not give up easily
even the job is
challenging or difficult.
We will keep on trying
Perseverance until we achieve success.
complete the miserable
story. She spent time to
draft and rewrite the
story. Although in the
end, she won the second
place in the competition,
I personally consider that
it is a good result from
her hard work.
 After she read about the
We must not be book written by William
judgemental because the Bradburie in the library,
truth might be different she was filled with anger.
from what we think. If we She said that Geoff is
do not know the detail of cheating in the short
the situation, we should story competition even
Avoid being not make the conclusion though she has never
judgemental too soon. read Geoffs story before.
3. Characters
Lynne Webbings Textual evidence

Lynne had a big dream to win the

Holmes-Watkins medal in the short story
competition. When the result announced,
Ambitious she felt really disappointed.

Lynne was jealous and vengeful when

Geoff won the competition. After she
discovered that William Bradburies
story was similar to Geoffs story, she
wanted to take revenge by reporting to
Mr Velos so that she could win back the
medal.

Jealous and vengeful

Lynne used weeks to complete the

miserable story. She spent time to draft
and rewrite the story. Although in the
end, she won the second place in the
competition, I personally consider that it
Persevering is a good result from her hard work.

Geoff Bolder Textual evidence

Geoff tried to cheer Lynne by telling her

a joke. Geoff joked about how Mr Velos
picked the winner by climbing up to his
lovely special mahagony desk and
dropped both papers, and the papers that
hit the floor first wins.

Humorous

Although Geoff has potential in writing,

he wants to be a barrister because he
Realistic says that there is more money in law.
 Geoff confessed to Mr Velos that he had
read a book by the American Humourist,
Honest William Bradburie three years ago.

Originality is very important when you are doing innovative and creative work. However, every new
idea we produced might be inspired from somewhere. So, the question is that, does originality really
exist in this world? What do you think?

Notes on Cheat! by Allan Baillie

Author: Allan Baillie

Setting: The story took place in various places of an Australian school (e.g. hall, library, classroom,
corridor, principals office). It set in the modern and educated social background where people were
appreciate talent in writing.

(p.102) how do you create a character from a one-eyed, dumb red kelpie

From the word kelpie, which is a type of Australian breed dog, we made a guess that the story took
place in Australia.

Step by step guide in understanding the story

Announcement winner for the Holmes Walkins Medal

Lynne opened her eyes and gripped her seat

1. How was Lynne Webbings feel while she was waiting for the result?
Geoff Bolder and Lynne Webbings both wrote very fine short stories for the medal Lynne felt
her mouth moving Lynnes story about a sheepdog in a flood was both exciting and moving.
Geoffs story of a circus elephant running loose in Albert Park

2. What is Lynnes story about? And what is Geoffs story about?

She made her way to Geoff as he came down from the dais with the medal and congratulated him.
She went home and everything tasted of cardboard that night

3. Who won the medal?

4. How did Lynne feel after the result has announced?
Lynnes discovery

She read it again. And again. The tips of her ears prickled with anger He did not write it at all,
he just copied it down.

1. Why did Lynne feel angry?

Please sir, Geoff beat me in the short story competition and I hate to lose. So I am telling you how he
cheated so you can give the medal to me

2. What was Lynne thinking to do?

Lynnes explosion of anger

or Bradburie. The words exploded from Lynnes mouth in a sudden burst of anger.

1. Why did Lynne suddenly shout Bradburie in the class?

Later Lynne saw that all the Bradburie books had been taken from the school library

2. What happens to the Bradburies book in the library?

3. Who has taken the book?
4. Why was the book taken?
In the principal office
I read the book. Theres a story there about an elephant escaping in a park. It is not much like
Geoffs story, but Geoff feels he took the idea from the book without realising it. He wants me to
disqualify him for cheating

What do you think? A story of similar idea but a different story, is it consider cheating?

your story, Lynne, being entirely original, must be considered a little better

So, is Lynne considered as the winner of the medal now?

She began to wonder where it was that she had read a story about a sheepdog in a flood.

Why is she doing that?