Noise Analysis in The Knife of Never Letting Go

Noise is the thoughts of men and boys in the New World, including words and images, which they broadcast out to the world so that anyone nearby can detect it. Todd grows up believing that everyone on his planet has Noise, but he learns that girls and women don’t have Noise (although they can still detect it). Contrary to what Mayor Prentiss says, Noise is not caused by Spackle germ warfare but instead by the natural conditions of the New World.

Noise Quotes in The Knife of Never Letting Go

The The Knife of Never Letting Go quotes below are all either spoken by Noise or refer to Noise. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Men lie, and they lie to theirselves worst of all.

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Mayor Prentiss

Page Number and Citation: 22

Explanation and Analysis:

Cillian comes running up but before he says anything to us, Ben cuts him off and says, “Don’t think it!”

Ben turns to me. “Don’t you think it neither. You cover it up with yer Noise. You hide it. You hide it as best you can.” And he’s grabbing my shoulders as he’s saying it and squeezing tight enough to make my blood jump even more than it already is.

Related Characters: Ben (speaker), Todd (speaker), Cillian

Page Number and Citation: 39

Explanation and Analysis:

I know what a girl is. Course I do. I seen ’em in the Noise of their fathers in town, mourned like their wives but not nearly so often. I seen ’em in vids, too. Girls are small and polite and smiley. They wear dresses and their hair is long and it’s pulled into shapes behind their heads or on either side. They do all the inside-the-house chores, while boys do all the outside. They reach womanhood when they turn thirteen, just like boys reach manhood, and then they’re women and they become wives.

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Viola/Girl

Page Number and Citation: 68

Explanation and Analysis:

Aaron turns, not even fast like, just turns like someone’s called his name. He sees me standing there, knife in the air, not moving like the goddam coward idiot I am, and he smiles and boy I just can’t say how awful a smile looks on that torn-up face.

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Viola/Girl, Aaron

Related Symbols: Knife

Page Number and Citation: 81

Explanation and Analysis:

“Viola,” I say again.

She don’t nod this time.

“I’m Todd,” I say.

“I know,” she says.

Related Characters: Viola/Girl (speaker), Todd (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 131

Explanation and Analysis:

“It’s why I can read so good,” Hildy calls back to us. “He gets better at hiding, I get better at finding.”

Related Characters: Hildy (speaker), Tam, Mayor Prentiss, Todd, Viola/Girl

Page Number and Citation: 158

Explanation and Analysis:

A shadow steps into the far doorway.

Matthew Lyle.

And his Noise is saying, Ye ain’t going nowhere, boy.

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Matthew (speaker), Elizabeth, Francia, Aaron

Related Symbols: Knife

Page Number and Citation: 197

Explanation and Analysis:

“If they’d told me, Prentisstown would’ve heard it in my Noise and known that I knew. We wouldn’t’ve even got the head start we had.” I glance at her eyes and look away. “I shoulda given it to someone to read and that’s all there is to it. Ben’s a good man.” I lower my voice. “Was.”

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Mayor Prentiss, Viola/Girl, Cillian, Ben

Page Number and Citation: 226

Explanation and Analysis:

And (no no no no no) I see the fear that was coming from his Noise–

(No no no, please no.)

And there’s nothing left for me to throw up but I heave anyway–

And I’m a killer–

I’m a killer–

(Oh, please no) I’m a killer.”

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Viola/Girl

Related Symbols: Knife

Page Number and Citation: 277

Explanation and Analysis:

It’s saying Not you–

And Viola’s raising her arm–

Raising the knife–

And bringing it down–

And down–

And plunging it straight into the side of Aaron’s neck–

Related Characters: Todd (speaker), Aaron, Viola/Girl

Related Symbols: Knife

Page Number and Citation: 462

Explanation and Analysis:

“Welcome,” says the Mayor, “to New Prentisstown.”

Related Characters: Mayor Prentiss (speaker), Ma, Viola/Girl, Todd

Related Symbols: Journal

Page Number and Citation: 479

Explanation and Analysis:

Noise Term Timeline in The Knife of Never Letting Go

The timeline below shows where the term Noise appears in The Knife of Never Letting Go. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...He curses the squirrel, who can’t speak but who can communicate with Todd with its Noise (thoughts). While Todd is distracted, all of a sudden Aaron comes out of nowhere and... (full context)

Humanity’s Connection to Nature Theme Icon

...dead Spackles (an alien race, also called “spacks”). Todd himself doesn’t remember a world before Noise. His Ma and Pa died when he was young, and so Ben and Cillian raised... (full context)

...to talk with other men. As Todd walks through the swamp, he hears the worried Noise of small birds. He and Manchee walk further, and all of a sudden Manchee seems... (full context)

Todd knows Noise should be everywhere. The Spackle released the Noise germ in a war against the humans,... (full context)

Manchee runs toward the hole in the Noise, so Todd follows. The quiet makes Todd feel empty on the inside. He feels like... (full context)

...to his village. He doesn’t believe that silence exists because he’s always been surrounded by Noise. Todd lives in Prentisstown, where Mayor Prentiss is in charge. Boys used to be taught... (full context)

Todd has never known life without Noise, which is not just words but also pictures of memories, fantasies, and other thoughts people... (full context)

...with Todd about what a beautiful day it is. Todd tries to think his usual Noise so that he won’t reveal anything to Mr. Phelps about the Noise hole he just... (full context)

Todd passes Mr. Hammar at the petrol station, and his Noise is always bloody and angry. When Mr. Hammar sees Todd, he thinks “One month” and... (full context)

...enough free corn. Todd goes on to the Church, which has some of the most Noise in town. At the Church, Aaron preaches about how the New World is like Eden... (full context)

At the top of the hill in Prentisstown is the place with the most Noise of all: Mayor Prentiss’s house. Mayor Prentiss believes it’s possible to control the power of... (full context)

...less than dogs, mostly just “Sheep!” As Todd passes them without stopping, he hears Ben’s Noise. Ben has very different Noise from Cillian, reflecting Ben’s calmer personality. Todd’s Ma was friends... (full context)

...a cut on Todd’s lip and guesses it must have been Aaron. Todd hears Ben’s Noise say, “One month,” but Ben quickly covers it up. Todd asks Ben directly about it,... (full context)

Cillian comes running, and Ben warns him to cover up what he’s thinking with Noise. Ben asks Todd if he went through town and is nervous to learn that Todd... (full context)

...but Todd doesn’t move. Mr. Prentiss Jr. says he can hear both Todd and Ben’s Noise. (full context)

...for long as he can with his rifle, saying goodbye to Todd forever with his Noise. Ben will go with Todd to the river, then try to distract everyone on his... (full context)

...to keep Todd in the dark to stop Todd from giving things away with his Noise. Ben tells Todd there’s a map in the front of his Ma’s journal that he... (full context)

...bangs from the farm must have been Cillian blowing up the generators to create a Noise so loud it would disguise Todd’s escape for a while. Now in the distance, Todd... (full context)

...who she is. Todd knows what girls are because he’s heard about them in the Noise of other men. He knows that, like boys, girls reach adulthood at 13 and eventually... (full context)

...hit in the side of his head. He realizes that because the girl has no Noise, she was able to sneak up on him while Manchee wasn’t looking. The girl also... (full context)

...just as he’s asking if the girl can understand him, he hears a bunch of Noise coming toward them. Todd tries to pull the girl up, but they can’t get moving... (full context)

...and goes running, knife in hand. As he gets closer, he can tell from Aaron’s Noise that he intends to sacrifice the girl to God. Todd catches up and tells Aaron... (full context)

Aaron finally notices Todd’s Noise. He says that Mayor Prentiss will be sorry to hear of Todd’s death, but God... (full context)

...the dark swamp while the girl follows. They keep walking, and even though there’s no Noise behind them, Todd forces them to go until nearly dawn, when he can’t go any... (full context)

...all of a sudden, he realizes that if she comes from a place with no Noise, she must not have caught the Noise germ yet. When she catches Noise, it will... (full context)

Todd tries to tell the frightened girl he’s mistaken about her catching the Noise germ, but she can tell he’s lying because of his Noise. She runs away. Todd... (full context)

There are six men, including Mayor Prentiss, and they’re all practicing the mayor’s Noise thought exercises like “I AM THE CIRCLE AND THE CIRCLE IS ME.” Aaron is also... (full context)

...she somehow knew what Aaron’s name was even though he never said it (due to Noise). She explains that she crashed in the swamp, but she refuses to acknowledge whether the... (full context)

Viola asks why Manchee can talk. Todd explains the Noise germ and the war against the Spackle. Viola then asks if she’ll also die from... (full context)

...older man, tells Todd to quiet the dog or he’ll shoot. The man has no Noise. He asks Todd why he’s running, and Todd debates whether to say he’s from Prentisstown.... (full context)

...her rifle up but introduces herself as Hildy (short for Mathilde). She can hear Todd’s Noise and lets him know that he’s right: he definitely won’t be welcome in the settlement... (full context)

...Manchee can go off on their own again. All of a sudden, Todd hears the Noise of a stranger thinking about Hildy and the burning bridge. The stranger’s noise says “Hello”... (full context)

...kiss when she gets back. His name is Tam, and like Todd, he also has Noise. He greets Todd enthusiastically and says it’s been a while since he had guests. Todd... (full context)

Todd is confused because he thought Noise killed women. Tam explains it’s the opposite, and actually women are immune to it, and... (full context)

Tam tells Todd he would’ve gotten lost in the Noise many years ago if Hildy hadn’t saved him. Todd asks if this means Tam was... (full context)

...going to the settlement immediately. To his surprise, Viola gets angry, confronting him about his Noise, including his thoughts about how he finds her so emotionless and how he wants to... (full context)

...why his journal is telling him to go to Farbranch in the first place. Todd’s Noise reveals that he can’t read and doesn’t understand the journal. Nevertheless, he refuses her help... (full context)

...see both men and women, probably a few less men than Prentisstown. He detects both Noise and silence from them. As Todd walks by, some people’s Noise begins to say “Prentisstown?”... (full context)

...warns him not to use it. Todd, however, is worried because he can tell Matthew’s Noise is getting very red, and that only happens with people looking to fight. Matthew references... (full context)

...Viola asks if it’s true that there’s a place called “Haven” with a cure for Noise, but Hildy says the cure is just a rumor. Haven is definitely real, however, and... (full context)

...else has the meeting. But as Todd is heading back, he hears a hint of Noise, and suddenly, Matthew appears and stops him. (full context)

...Todd needs to hear her story before he dies. Matthew sends Todd something in his Noise, but Todd just calls Matthew a liar and runs away. (full context)

...and Viola travel, Todd complains that it’s rude for Viola to always be reading his Noise, but she says it’s impossible not to. Eventually, Viola says that she doesn’t want to... (full context)

Viola and Todd sleep briefly before Viola wakes Todd up saying she hears Noise. They run in the dark and come to a settlement similar to Farbranch. Todd wonders... (full context)

Todd and Viola hear Noise that sounds like a thousand voices singing together. All of the voices in the Noise... (full context)

...Viola says the most terrifying thing she ever experienced was hearing Aaron raving in his Noise. (full context)

...run off the road. The horse rider gallops frantically, when all of a sudden, his Noise goes “Todd Hewitt?” Todd realizes it’s Mr. Prentiss Jr. Mr. Prentiss Jr. is surprised and... (full context)

...war. The Spackle is clearly an alien, with big ear flaps and black eyes. Todd’s Noise is getting red, so Viola warns him to calm down. Todd can tell from the... (full context)

...Todd thinks back, and he can recognize the fear that was coming from the Spackle’s Noise. He realizes that he’s a killer. He throws down his bloody knife, and they decide... (full context)

...but Todd lets him have it. They keep going, and Todd thinks he hears the Noise of people nearby. He hopes they have food. (full context)

Todd approaches the huts of some men, then all of a sudden, he hears their Noise going “Prentisstown?” Todd changes his mind immediately and decides to run away, to Manchee’s disappointment.... (full context)

...knife comes up beside Todd. He asks Todd what they should do, so that Todd’s Noise doesn’t alert Aaron. Todd realizes he’s not too late, and Aaron hasn’t completed his sacrifice... (full context)

...check on Todd and says Todd was so sick that he wasn’t even giving off Noise until recently. Viola leaves the room, and Doctor Snow says that while Todd was unconscious,... (full context)

...the same reason that the pub in Prentisstown played music: to help men keep their Noise private. Viola explains that in this settlement, Carbonel Downs, women can only take care of... (full context)

...outside the settlement near the river. Todd can barely believe it, but he thinks the Noise belongs to Ben. (full context)

...is really there. Ben is happy to see Todd, but Todd can tell from Ben’s Noise that Cillian apparently died in a burning farmhouse while fighting Mayor Prentiss’s men. Todd’s own... (full context)

...that he can’t come because Prentisstown men aren’t welcome in Haven. Todd opens up his Noise to let Ben know about everything that happened on his journey, including Farbranch, Wilf, and... (full context)

Todd senses in the Noise of all the Carbonel Downs men that they’re focusing all their fears about Prentisstown in... (full context)

Todd can tell from Doctor Snow’s Noise what the law demands for men from Prentisstown like Ben. He draws his knife, striking... (full context)

Ben reveals that the Noise germ wasn’t part of Spackle warfare—it was always present on the New World. Shortly after... (full context)

Todd can tell from Ben’s Noise that the war didn’t stop with the Spackle. The men of Prentisstown couldn’t stand the... (full context)

...Todd, Ben, and Viola hear the sound of one horse approaching. Todd realizes from the Noise that it’s Mr. Prentiss Jr. Todd senses Ben forming a plan in his Noise and... (full context)

...scenic countryside. Viola tries to reassure Todd by reminding him that they don’t hear any Noise and didn’t hear any gunshots, suggesting that perhaps Ben succeeded in stopping Mr. Prentiss Jr.... (full context)

...the far side of the swamp, where there will be some isolation from the other Noise in the New World. (full context)

...realizes that he knows what Viola is thinking, that he can “read” her even without Noise. He knows she’s thinking about how her own parents also came to the New World... (full context)

...a few options, they make for a ledge behind a waterfall that will disguise Todd’s Noise and hopefully let them hide from Aaron. They have to jump over a gap in... (full context)

...the sacrifice Aaron was trying to complete earlier. Viola says she thinks, based on Aaron’s Noise, that maybe she wasn’t the real sacrifice after all, that maybe Aaron was always intending... (full context)

...of death because he believes it’s his fate to become a saint. Todd reads Aaron’s Noise and sees that Aaron’s original plan was to make Todd a killer by murdering Ben... (full context)

Todd’s Noise begins to go red. He feels that he can hear his knife calling out to... (full context)

Todd can sense Aaron’s Noise saying, “Not you.” Viola drives the knife into Aaron’s neck so hard that it goes... (full context)

...Todd ignores him and runs right toward Mr. Prentiss Jr. Todd sends a blast of Noise toward Mr. Prentiss Jr’s horse and it rears back. While Mr. Prentiss Jr. is trying... (full context)

...was enough to win a surrender from Haven. Todd realizes he can’t hear Mayor Prentiss’s Noise or anyone’s. He promises to do anything to save Viola, but the mayor ignores him.... (full context)

Noise Term Analysis

Noise Quotes in The Knife of Never Letting Go

Chapter 2 Quotes

Chapter 4 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 8 Quotes

Chapter 13 Quotes

Chapter 15 Quotes

Chapter 18 Quotes

Chapter 21 Quotes

Chapter 25 Quotes

Chapter 41 Quotes

Chapter 42 Quotes

Noise Term Timeline in The Knife of Never Letting Go