Quote Bank (Junior Cert English): Revision Notes

Quote Bank

Quote	Speaker	Context / Explanation	Theme / Technique
"My name is Raphael Fernandez and I am a dumpsite boy."	Raphael	The novel's opening line; immediately links Raphael's identity with his poverty.	Identity, Inequality, Character
"I was a trash boy since I was old enough to move without help and pick things up."	Raphael	Highlights how long he has lived in poverty and how normalised this life is to him.	Inequality, Poverty
"You are a piece of garbage."	Policeman	Said to Raphael during his interrogation; shows how the poor are dehumanised.	Inequality, Corruption, Dehumanisation
"They beat me and they banged me. They did everything but kill me."	Raphael	Describes the brutality of his interrogation by the police.	Injustice, Corruption, Resilience
"That was the day my whole life changed."	Raphael	Referring to the day he found the wallet; marks the start of his journey.	Turning Point, Narrative Shift
"My unlucky-lucky day, the day the world turned upside down? That was a Thursday."	Raphael	Metaphor showing how drastically his life changes after finding the wallet.	Figurative Language, Metaphor
"I'm going to kill you, you liar!"	Policeman	Said during Raphael's interrogation; shows the violence used against innocent children.	Corruption, Violence
"I did not feel brave, but I had to go through with it."	Gardo	Gardo reflects on his fear before visiting Gabriel in prison.	Loyalty, Bravery, Character
"I'm the one who looks after Raphael."	Gardo	Shows Gardo's protective, brother-like relationship with Raphael.	Loyalty, Friendship, Character
"Rat could follow a trail better than a bloodhound."	Raphael (about Rat)	Emphasises Rat's street-smart skills and importance to the group.	Character, Imagery
"If we take it all, we're as bad as Zapanta."	Rat	Rat justifies why they must share the money with the poor.	Loyalty, Justice, Morality
"The notes spilled out and whirled, and it was a storm of money."	Raphael	Describes the moment they scatter the money over Behala.	Imagery, Loyalty, Justice
"I am a trash boy with style."	Raphael	Raphael asserts his pride and individuality despite living in poverty.	Voice, Tone, Resilience
"Money … is more important, and it is dripping all the time, like precious water."	Olivia Weston	Simile comparing money to water, showing its life-or-death importance in a corrupt society.	Simile, Inequality, Survival
"In this country you pay for being stupid, just as you pay for being poor."	Gabriel Olondriz	Highlights how justice is corrupted and the poor are always punished.	Corruption, Injustice
"Long dark hair and beautiful eyes. Serious face, like Gardo's — as if no one had told her to smile."	Raphael (about Pia)	A moment of visual imagery describing Pia Dante in a photo.	Imagery, Character
"I had no sense of direction any more... a smell of old food, sweat and urine."	Olivia Weston	Describes the horrific conditions in the prison through olfactory imagery.	Imagery, Injustice, Dehumanisation
"I was laughing and crying at the same time. It was like we'd done it for José Angelico."	Raphael	Reflects on the justice of giving the money back to the people José cared about.	Justice, Emotional Impact
"I'm not going back. This is our new home now."	Raphael	At the end of the novel, the boys find peace and freedom in Sampalo.	Hope, Freedom, Resolution
"When Rat says run, you don't wait."	Raphael	A reflection of Rat's quick thinking and leadership during dangerous situations.	Character, Survival
"He was a hard man, and I knew he could kill me. But I had to get that Bible."	Gardo	Gardo shows bravery when he retrieves the Bible from Marco the guard.	Bravery, Loyalty, Justice
"I'll be Jun now. I'm done with being Rat."	Rat	A moment of identity transformation as Rat moves on to a better life.	Character Development, Hope