Jellicoe School has some pretty weird rituals going on—most notably, a battle-to-the-death war with the Townies and Cadets and carving song lyrics and personal expressions into a giant tree. What the present-day practitioners of these traditions don't know, though, is that their origins aren't exactly what they might expect, and the current leaders in particular have some surprises ahead of them. As for us as readers, this is part of what makes reading Jellicoe Road so fun: Instead of explaining everything right way, traditions are part of the mystery and strangeness that flows through the book.
Questions About Tradition
- Who the heck starts a war with his friends as something to do? What about Webb's character makes the territory wars his brainchild?
- Traditions often evolve over time. What causes this to happen? In the case of the territory wars, what might account for how they change?
- How might the school's traditions give meaning to the lives of the students, many of whom have been abandoned or lost family?
- How will the traditions of Jellicoe be different now that the real purpose of the wars has been uncovered? Will they continue or will Taylor and her friends create new ones?
Chew on This
The evolution of the territory wars' purpose reflects Taylor's growth as a character.
The subcultures of the different factions help establish the book's setting.