Special Sub-Topic: 'Skellig' by David Almond Click Here To Play: 'Skellig' by David Almond

What did Skellig ask Michael to fetch him to eat?

27 and 53. 27 and 53 were the numbers of Skellig's favourite items from the local Chinese Take Away: spring rolls and pork char sui.

What was the name of the road on which Michael's family lived?

Falconer Road. At the beginning of the story, the family had just moved in to their new home on Falconer Road.

What was the name of the old man who used to own Michael's family's house?

Ernie Myers. Ernie Myers had been very ill and disabled before he died at the house. It needed a lot of re-furbishment.

What nickname did Michael give to the family's doctor?

Doctor Death. Michael did not like the family doctor. We think he reminded him of his baby sister's ill health.

With what kind of animals was Mina, Michael's new neighbour, obsessed?

Birds. Mina, the girl who lived next door to Michael, was a keen ornithologist. When Michael first had a proper conversation with her, she was sitting in a tree sketching a bird.

What illness did Skellig suffer from?

Arthritis. Skellig nicknamed his condition 'Arthur', as in 'arthur-itis'.

What did Skellig like to drink?

Brown ale. Michael managed to take some of his father's brown ale from the family refrigerator for his secret friend.

What was the name of Mina's cat?

Whisper. Mina's cat was quite an unusual feline, almost doglike in its behaviour. "You'll see him everywhere," said Mina to Michael.

'Rasputin' was the nickname of one of Michael's best friends at school.

f. 'Rasputin' was the nickname that Michael and his classmates gave to their science teacher!

How did Michael get to school from his new house?

He went by bus. Michael's new house is on the other side of town. He wanted to carry on going to his old school, even though he had to catch a bus, because that's where his friends were.

What was the name of the estate agent mentioned at the beginning of the novel?

Mr Stone. Michael did not like the estate agent very much. He did not want to move house at all.

What was Skellig wearing when Michael finds him in his garage?

A black suit. "I shone the torch on his white face and black suit." (Ch.3)

Skellig ate insects.

t. At first Michael is amazed and revolted by this feature of Skellig's character. He was covered in dead bluebottles that he picked off his clothes and ate. It was one of the first clues given to us that Skellig was not an ordinary person.

What was Michael's big secret that he tried to conceal from his family and schoolfriends?

His friendship with Skellig. At first, Michael tried to keep Skellig a secret from everyone. Later on, he confided in Mina after she shared her secret with him about an owl's nest in an deserted house.

What painkillers did Skellig ask for?

aspirin. Aspirin gave Skellig some much-needed relief from his arthritic pain.