Atonement - Contexts Flashcards
How does the WW2 context relate to McEwan?
McEwan’s father served in WW2. We see in Part 2 how the war starts to break down class distinctions which were in place in part 1.
How are gender roles portrayed in the novel?
Gender roles in society place women in the home, nursing etc whilst men make decisions behind the scenes eg Jack. Cecilia goes to Cambridge - educated for a life she won’t have.
How is postmodernism presented in the book?
McEwan draws attention to the fictional nature of the novel by foregrounding the role of writers and writing. There is frequent intertextuality which alludes to other texts and writers. The novel ends ambiguously, asking more questions than it answers.
How is a time period between wars shown in the book?
Post WW1, people seem to be in denial of a second war. WW1 only mentioned in relation to family history - eg Uncle Clem’s vase.
What is the significance of the 2001 publication date?
McEwan was writing the novel as the millennium drew to an end - prompting him to reconsider history and how it is written?
