Atonement Flashcards
(23 cards)
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 1 of Atonement?
Briony writes ‘the trials of arabella’, the cousins arrive due to parents divorce, start rehearsing play, lola=casted as arabella, briony takes on directors role
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 2 of Atonement?
(Cecilia focaliser) avoids Robbie & reflects on desire yet refusal to leave; explains history of vase to readers; first encounter w Robbie “she liked his eyes”, awkwardness & misunderstanding ab class difference; vase=smashed, Cecilia retrieves it from fountain, believes she is ‘punishing’ Robbie, “she hated him for the inadequacy of his response”
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 3 of Atonement?
(Briony focaliser) Lola enters nursery in the “guise of the adult she considered herself to be” &they rehearse play; misinterprets fountain interaction, views Robbie as dominant male figure, contemplates how she would write it as a narrative, (metafictional hints that she is author) acknowledges her ignorance yet makes assumptions anyway
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 4 of Atonement?
(Cecilia focaliser) Cecilia mends vase, Marshall’s monologue by pool, characterised as arrogant, vulgar & upper-class (establishes criminal); hints that makes Cecilia uncomfortable “or it may have been a leaf”; hints she suspects Hardman- Leon accuses her of snobbery
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 5 of Atonement?
(Omniscient 3rd person narrator) Lola scolds twins for mentioning divorce- victim= characterised as maternal; Marshall enters, predatory flirting, lolas childishness=heightened by nursery setting; twins leave them alone together
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 14 of Atonement?
Briony contemplates and questions what she witnessed (retrospective narration)”rosary”; gets interrogated “I saw him.” Aftermath, everyone returns & finds out, Cecilia=hostile behaviour (victim) Briony retrieves letter as further “evidence” further interviews- confirms testimony “verification. Or even another separate crime.” Cecilia blames Hardman; Robbie returns w twins, saviour (heightens tragedy of victim status& pity); Briony questions her memories (retrospective narration); misinterprets Cecilia talking to Robbie (parallel to fountain scene, stands at window); Mrs Turner shouts “Liars!” -injustice, victims
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 6 of Atonement?
Zoomorphism describes debilitating headache (Emily Tallis focaliser) laments lack of ability to care for Briony sufficiently “illness had stopped her giving her children all a mother should”; Briony=characterised as intelligent yet overwhelmed by the changes of puberty “now the demons of self-consciousness and talent had struck her daughter numb”
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 7 of Atonement?
Briony slashes nettles, envisioning them as Lola; imagines a plant as her younger self, then kills it “it was childhood she set about now, having no further need for it.”; symbolism, character arc; decides to wait on the driveway for something interesting to happen
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 8 of Atonement?
Narrative perspective/focaliser=Robbie; setting contrasts with Tallis houshold- class divide, confined, pity evoked for victim, reminders of his future, medical books & universities; symbolism of Malvolio- gets imprisoned & humiliated; Robbie drafts letter, expressing regret for his behaviour after reflecting on his feelings for Cecilia; passionate outburst, writes about explicit sexual fantasies; encounters Briony & gives her wrong letter, realises mistake
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 9 of Atonement?
Cecilia focaliser; gets ready for evening, dissatisfied; cares for & tries to comfort twins- characterised as maternal & kind- heightens victim status; diplomatic, breaks up argument between Betty & Emily; Briony gives her letter & reads it, interprets it as confirmation/moment of realisation of love for Robbie; realises Briony has read it & is excited, Briony avoids & turns away from Cecilia
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 10 of Atonement?
Briony focaliser; Briony tries to decipher her feelings about Robbie, begins to believe he is a sexual predator “she could never forgive him his disgusting mind”; unreliable narration- decides whether to write a realistic or embellished account of fountain scene; Lola seeks sympathy for scars- vulnerable victim; Lola confirms that Robbie is a “maniac”; Briony’s class prejudices are evident; interprets library scene as assault- ‘mens rea’= criminal intent
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 11 of Atonement?
Robbie focaliser- (tense dinner, heat adds to sense of suspense & oppression); Robbie notices scratches on Paul’s face; Briony hints at what she knows; Robbie fantasises about Cecilia; Cecilia confronts him with letter- they move to the library & have sex; Robbie resents when Briony interrupts & accurately guesses her motives/thought process; pudding- Lola’s scratches are pointed out by Briony, letter is found from twins- missing, everyone searches
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 12 of Atonement?
Emily focaliser, stays in & decides not to call police, once again dismissive; we learn of friction between her & sister Hermione- resents Lola; Jack phones & calls police- absence of father figure, his presence may have prevented crime from occurring; Emily’s blaze attitude& failure to notice details & pay Lola/Briony attention= partially responsible; Briony, Lola, Leon & Cecilia appear, “Lola’s face was white and rigid”- victim; tell Jack to come home
What happens in Part 1, Chapter 13 of Atonement?
Briony focaliser; searches pool & imagines/romanticises drowned twins & how she would depict it; obscured senses & contemplates mother’s funeral, characterised as narcissistic; describes hatred for Robbie; sees figure retreating away from Lola (crime, witness, victim, criminal); Lola allows her to decide it was Robbie, domineering dialogue; Leon finds them & carries Lola, Briony tells him about it
What happens on page 170/end of chapter 13?
Briony dominates dialogue, aftermath of Marshall’s crime
What happens around page 200?
Robbies letter from cecilia & them as victims “when they wrecked your life, they wrecked mine”, epistolary
What happens on page 226?
Robbie contemplates how he will “simply resume” life & his memories of cecilia are “bleached colourless”
What happens on page 233?
Robbie guesses brionys motives “persistent” “purposeful & malignant” “never forgive her”
What happens on page 285?
Briony finds out ab paul & lolas marriage “more than implicated in union” “made it possible”
What happens around page 300?
Briony witnesses horrors of war, victim of mass crime, Luc Cornet, desensitised to trauma
What happens at page 320?
Briony admits to lacking backbone & being a coward, metafiction, criminal resolves to reconnect with sister & try to seek justice for Robbie
What happens on page 324?
Paul & lolas marriage- lola as victim “mausoleum” “barely more than a child, prised open & taken”, criminals guilt “rash” “dirt” on her skin
What happens on page 335-340?
Visits cecilia & Robbie, not real “it was paul Marshall.” Says what she should have said “I saw a man his height”
