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Stories of Ourselves vol 1 > The door in the wall > Flashcards

The door in the wall Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the main character’s name in ‘The Door in the Wall’?

A

Lionel Wallace

Lionel Wallace is portrayed as a successful but emotionally unfulfilled politician.

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2
Q

What does the green door in ‘The Door in the Wall’ symbolize?

A

Escape and lost innocence

The door represents a pathway to happiness and contentment that Wallace seeks.

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3
Q

Who is the first-person narrator of the story?

A

Redmond

Redmond recounts Wallace’s story and introduces an element of skepticism.

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4
Q

What does Wallace experience when he first discovers the door?

A

An enchanted garden filled with bliss and beauty

This garden includes friendly panthers and an atmosphere of overwhelming peace.

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5
Q

How does Wallace’s memory of the garden affect his life?

A

It haunts him and serves as a symbol of unattainable joy

It creates a longing that impacts his career and personal relationships.

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6
Q

What is the significance of the pit in the story?

A

It is where Wallace dies

The pit was inside a door in a wall that was accidentally left unlocked by builders.

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7
Q

What era is ‘The Door in the Wall’ set in, and what technological advancements influenced it?

A

The dawn of the 20th century

Influences include automobiles, airplanes, and motion pictures.

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8
Q

What theme does ‘The Door in the Wall’ explore?

A

The conflict between art and science

This theme is articulated through Wallace’s character and his struggles.

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9
Q

True or False: Wallace’s father is supportive of his creative desires.

A

False

Wallace’s father represents societal pressures that prioritize ambition over creativity.

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10
Q

What does the term ‘dichotomy’ refer to in the context of the story?

A

Division or contrast between two opposing things

It highlights the conflict between artistic imagination and rationality.

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11
Q

Fill in the blank: The story was published in _______.

A

1911

‘The Door in the Wall’ reflects the transformation in England post-Queen Victoria.

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12
Q

What does Redmond’s skepticism introduce into the narrative?

A

Conflict between fantasy and reality

Redmond’s perspective invites readers to judge the truth of Wallace’s story.

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13
Q

What does Wallace’s longing for the garden indicate about his childhood?

A

He was unhappy and neglected

His mother died young, and his father was preoccupied with ambition.

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14
Q

What is the emotional effect described when Wallace first sees the door?

A

A peculiar attraction and desire

He feels both drawn to the door and a sense of it being wrong to yield to that desire.

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15
Q

What does the color ‘white’ symbolize in the context of the wall?

A

Purity and innocence

The wall represents societal boundaries that Wallace begins to reject.

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16
Q

What realization does Redmond come to about Wallace’s truthfulness?

A

He believes Wallace did his best to convey the truth

However, Redmond is unsure if Wallace experienced reality or fantasy.

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17
Q

What emotion does Wallace experience at the sight of the green door?

A

Attraction and a desire to open it.

This desire is accompanied by a conviction that it may be unwise or wrong to yield to it.

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18
Q

How does Wallace describe the contrast between the London street and the garden?

A

London street is filled with ‘mean dirty shops’, while the garden feels ‘clean and perfect’.

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19
Q

What does the color green symbolize in the context of the garden?

A

Femininity and a connection to Venus.

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20
Q

What does Wallace feel when he enters the garden?

A

A sense of exhilaration, lightness, and well-being.

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21
Q

What creatures does Wallace encounter in the garden?

A

Two great spotted panthers.

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22
Q

What is the significance of the panthers in the garden?

A

They create a child-like image and highlight the garden as a place of safety and comfort.

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23
Q

What does Wallace mean when he says he is ‘haunted’?

A

He experiences longings that diminish the joy in his life.

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24
Q

Fill in the blank: In the garden, Wallace forgets the _______ and the worries of his life.

A

discipline and obedience of home.

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25
What does the repetition of 'forgot' signify in Wallace's experience in the garden?
The complete escape from his worries and the realities of his life.
26
What does the 'sundial' in the garden represent?
The passage of time as a natural process, contrasting with the constraints of his life in London.
27
How does Wallace describe his playmates in the garden?
They symbolize friendship and companionship.
28
What does the sombre woman with the book represent?
Wallace's subconscious and the reality of his life.
29
True or False: Wallace recalls every detail of the games he played in the garden.
False.
30
List three adjectives that describe Lionel Wallace.
* Nostalgic * Obsessed * Tormented
31
What feelings does Wallace associate with the garden upon entering?
Gladness and a sense of homecoming.
32
What is the significance of the first girl Wallace meets in the garden?
She embodies classical femininity and leads him deeper into the garden's world.
33
How do Wallace's memories of the garden affect his adult life?
They overshadow his ambitions and responsibilities.
34
What do the marble seats and statues in the garden symbolize?
Beauty, tranquility, and an idealized version of life.
35
What does the phrase 'takes the light out of things' suggest?
A loss of joy and vibrancy in Wallace's life.
36
Fill in the blank: The garden is described as a place full of _______.
magic and beauty. 'enchanted'
37
What is the main conflict Wallace faces regarding the garden?
The desire to return to the garden versus the responsibilities of his real life.
38
What does Wallace's longing for the garden indicate about his character?
It shows his deep sense of nostalgia and desire for happiness.
39
What conflict does Wallace feel when he returns to reality after the enchanted garden?
He feels inadequacy and loneliness in his grey reality ## Footnote This conflict haunts him throughout his life.
40
How does Wallace describe his feelings upon returning from the garden?
He feels weeping and wretched, longing for his playfellows ## Footnote This emphasizes the stark contrast between the garden and his reality.
41
What does the garden symbolize in 'The Door in the Wall'?
* Contentment * Peace * An escape from everyday life * An escape from loneliness * Happiness * Belonging * Joy ## Footnote The garden also alludes to the biblical Garden of Eden.
42
What is the significance of the panthers in the enchanted garden?
They represent both power and comfort, juxtaposing savagery with gentleness ## Footnote Their friendly behavior highlights Wallace's desire for companionship.
43
What does Wallace's public weeping signify?
It signifies the societal view on expressing emotions, particularly in children ## Footnote This shame affects him deeply as a child.
44
What choice does Wallace make when he encounters the door to the garden again as an adolescent?
He prioritizes getting to school on time over returning to the garden ## Footnote This reflects the increasing responsibilities of growing up.
45
How does Wallace's memory of the garden change as he grows older?
He becomes less motivated to return, focusing more on his responsibilities ## Footnote This indicates a shift from childhood innocence to adult obligations.
46
What does the adjective 'secret' reveal about Wallace's feelings towards the garden?
It reveals his feelings of shame and the need to conform to societal expectations ## Footnote This emphasizes the internal conflict he faces.
47
Fill in the blank: Wallace's father represents the ______ of societal norms that punish imagination.
[strictness]
48
True or False: Wallace successfully keeps his secret about the enchanted garden.
False ## Footnote He eventually shares it, leading to unwanted attention from peers.
49
What emotional state does Wallace experience during his first encounter with the enchanted garden?
A sense of belonging and comfort ## Footnote This contrasts sharply with his feelings of disgrace upon returning home.
50
What impact does the garden have on Wallace's childhood memories?
It serves as a haunting reminder of his lost innocence and joy ## Footnote He yearns to return to it throughout his life.
51
What does Wallace whisper to his pillow after his experience in the garden?
'Please God I may dream of the garden. O! take me back to my garden.' ## Footnote This reflects his deep longing for the enchanted place.
52
What does the phrase 'ungovernable grief' indicate about Wallace's emotional state?
It indicates intense and overwhelming sorrow ## Footnote This highlights the depth of his feelings after leaving the garden.
53
What does Wallace's reflection on not knowing the garden would always be there reveal?
It shows his youthful naivety and lack of foresight ## Footnote This reflects the limited imagination of schoolboys.
54
What does the term 'blabbed' imply about Wallace's emotions when he reveals his secret?
It implies a sense of inability to control his feelings about the garden ## Footnote This highlights his desperation to share his joy.
55
How does the author create a sense of pathos for young Wallace?
By depicting his vulnerability and isolation in his real life ## Footnote This evokes sympathy from the reader.
56
What does the phrase 'sacred secret' imply in the context of the text?
It suggests religious connotations.
57
What metaphor is discussed in relation to the characters?
It continues the idea of predator and prey.
58
What emotion is emphasized by the repetition of the word 'shame'?
Self-disgust.
59
Who is Crawshaw in the context of the narrative?
The son of Crawshaw the composer, who praised the protagonist's lie.
60
What was the protagonist's reaction to being called a liar by Carnaby?
He grew excited, red-eared, and frightened.
61
What does the protagonist remember about the journey to find the garden?
They never found the white wall and the green door.
62
What feelings does the protagonist express about the garden during his school days?
He felt a longing for the beautiful afternoon and the games he hoped to learn.
63
What impact did the protagonist's experiences have on his academic performance?
He slacked and had bad reports for two terms.
64
What is a 'hansom' as mentioned in the text?
A type of horse-drawn carriage.
65
What does the phrase 'the door leapt upon me' suggest?
It has connotations of surprise and attack.
66
What realization does the protagonist have about his career in relation to the door?
He believes that the career merited sacrifice.
67
What is the protagonist's emotional state regarding the garden as he grows older?
He experiences a sense of sorrow and bitterness for never seeing the door again.
68
Fill in the blank: The protagonist swore that if the door offers itself to him again, he will _______.
[go in out of this dust and heat, out of this dry glitter of vanity, out of these toilsome futilities]
69
What significant event happened on the night of the Tenants' Redemption Bill?
The protagonist passed the door but did not stop.
70
What was the protagonist's emotional response after passing the door for the third time?
Hot remorse.
71
What dilemma does the protagonist face when he sees the door?
He weighs the decision to enter against his current obligations.
72
True or False: The protagonist feels he has successfully balanced his career with his dreams.
False.
73
What does the door symbolize in the narrative?
It symbolizes peace, delight, and beauty beyond dreaming.
74
What does the protagonist conclude about his chances with the door?
He has rejected it three times in one year.
75
What does the protagonist repeatedly lament about in 'The Door in the Wall'?
The loss of opportunities for peace, delight, and beauty ## Footnote The protagonist reflects on three instances where he had the chance to enter a door that symbolized escape into a more beautiful world.
76
What does the protagonist compare his success to when discussing it with Redmond?
A crushed walnut ## Footnote This metaphor signifies the emptiness and futility he feels regarding his achievements.
77
How long did the protagonist claim to have done no work except for urgent duties?
Two months, or nearly ten weeks ## Footnote This indicates the depth of his despair and distraction due to his sense of loss.
78
What is the protagonist's emotional state as he wanders at night?
Grieving and lamenting for a door and a garden ## Footnote This illustrates his feelings of regret and longing for the life he could have had.
79
Where was Wallace's body found?
In a deep excavation near East Kensington Station ## Footnote This location is significant as it connects to the themes of danger and the unknown.
80
What does the protagonist question about the green door in the wall?
Whether there was ever any green door in the wall at all ## Footnote This reflects his doubt about the reality of Wallace's experiences.
81
What does the protagonist suggest about Wallace's experiences with the door?
They may have been a hallucination combined with a careless trap ## Footnote This introduces the idea of perception versus reality in the narrative.
82
What deeper belief does the protagonist hold about Wallace's experiences?
That Wallace had an abnormal gift and a sense for escape into a more beautiful world ## Footnote This suggests a mystical or spiritual interpretation of his experiences.
83
What mystery does the narrative raise about dreamers and visionaries?
Whether they see the world differently, moving from security to darkness, danger, and death ## Footnote This highlights the theme of perspective in how success and failure are perceived.
84
Fill in the blank: The story explores the theme of _______ and offers commentary on the nature of success.
sacrifice ## Footnote Sacrifice is a central theme as characters weigh their desires against societal expectations.
85
What significant questions does the reader contemplate at the end of the narrative?
Questions about the nature of reality, success, and the choices made by Wallace ## Footnote These questions prompt reflection on personal values and societal pressures.
86
True or False: The protagonist believes that Wallace's decision to not enter the door was a mistake.
False ## Footnote The narrative suggests that Wallace's choices reflect his character and priorities, even if they lead to tragic outcomes.

Stories of Ourselves vol 1 (3 decks)

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