Essay Questions

What is the novel Both Sides of Time about?

Both Sides of Time is a novel that follows the life of the fifteen-year-old protagonist Annie Lockwood who time travels back in time to the year 1895. While there Annie falls in love with Strat, a boy she meets in that era. Annie is torn between the two periods of time and has to decide whether she will stay in that period or return to the 20th century. Cooney uses the novel as a way of presenting the difficulties that women faced back in the 19th century, a thing which she excellently manages to do.

What is the reason behind Mathew’s death?

Mathew dies following the fact that he overhears the plan that Clarence Rowwel, a friend of Hiram Stratton has to grab hold of Harriett’s wealth and money through marriage. Because having someone around who knows the plan would have jeopardized their plan. The two are aided unconsciously by Annie whose love for Strat causes her to turn her affections elsewhere and she marries Clarence.

Death is a constant theme in the novel. Explore the instances of death as portrayed in the work.

Mathew dies as a result of his being in the wrong place, a place that allows him to overhear the devised plan to swindle Harriet’s wealth through marriage by Clarence. To ensure that their plan remains on track, Mathew is murdered. After the truth about Mathew’s murder is discovered, Florinda shoots Clarence who had had the idea of pushing his wife over the tower to murder her and accomplish his mission of getting hold of her wealth. The plan fails, of course, as Clarence ends up dead. Death becomes a major player in the story, particularly at its climax.