English Literature - Atonement (Essay 2)

"Atonement offers us no heroes and no villains- only victims" How far, and in what ways, does your reading of Atonement lead you to agree with this view? Atonement conveys a dichotomous message. Ian McEwan - the reality, the tangible author - is supplemented by a deeper layer; his construct - the potentially unreliable narrator - Briony Tallis. Essentially, branding any of the enigmatic individuals offered to us in Atonement as 'heroes' and 'villains' is impossible - and indeed unjust - simply because of the sheer amount of ambiguity and subjectivity involved - "there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so"1. The select tendencies these individuals relay on the other hand is another matter; the notion of 'victimhood' must imply some malicious behaviour beforehand. Taking 'villainy', the Concise Oxford Dictionary, necessarily - though feebly - lists it as a derivative of 'villain'; alluding to it as an individual's moral essence. The Collins Dictionary, on the other hand, defines it as a "vicious behaviour or action"2, supporting the notion that select 'behaviour' and themes are the 'heroes' and 'villains' of the novel. For example, on the surface Briony is a 'villain' whose actions merely generate destruction and deprivation. Yet, the Observer gives the view that "the personal story - especially Briony's childhood 'failure to grasp the simple truth that

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Consider the significances of innocence in Part One of Atonement.

Consider the significances of innocence in Part One of Atonement. Innocence can be defined as being pure and lacking corruption, having little knowledge of something's consequences, and is also used as a euphemism for virginity. McEwan explores innocence as key theme in Atonement throughout Part One, showing how the main characters' innocence, or lack of, forms the narrative plot. McEwan creates the nursery setting to represent Lola's innocence, having Paul Marshall's intrusion show her vulnerability. Despite 'the adult she considered herself at heart to be' McEwan has 'Lola had come to the nursery that morning' to show the irony of her desires. Although she is fifteen, McEwan places most of Lola's acts in the nursery, a room which has strong connotations of being cared for as a young child. This makes it clear to the reader she may not be ready for adult experiences, emphasising her innocence. McEwan creates Paul Marshall to be seemingly pure as he enters the nursery in his 'white suit', with Lola's vulnerability made clear as she thinks 'a game was being played' whilst they conversed. However, the trust surrounded with the nursery is broken as he sees 'that the girl was almost a young woman' whilst 'watching her closely'. The reader are led to believe by McEwan that Paul Marshall is caressing Lola, and the description of her 'unblemished incisors' highlights this

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How does McEwan capture a sense of desperation in Part 2 of 'Atonement'?

How does McEwan capture a sense of desperation in Part 2 of 'Atonement'? The title 'Atonement' hints at a dark secret, a need for retribution and weighty themes, which McEwan duly delivers. The desperation in the narrative format of Robbie the soldier is paralleled by Briony's increasing desperation to obtain penance for her crime. It is a desire further complicated by her omnipotent narrative role; McEwan steps in and out of his characters' minds with unfettered confidence and in Part 2 he provides Briony with the same gift so that she might assume the mind of Robbie. This can therefore provide her with only a fabricated atonement, of which she is subconsciously aware will never fully purge her of her sin. Briony says that "it isn't weakness or evasion, but a final act of kindness, a stand against oblivion and despair, to let my lovers live and to unite them at the end." The second half of the story opens as Robbie, is released from jail only to land himself in the British Army retreating toward Dunkirk. Along with Robbie's terror and his desperation to return to the woman he loves Briony, now a nurse, has realised the true nature of her error, and she greatly wishes to reverse her actions and Part 2 follows her crime's repercussions through the chaos and carnage of World War II. The emotional trauma of the war and the wounded is developed in a manner that allows us to

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Analysis of the opening chapter of 'Atonement'

Atonement -The Opening Chapter As stated by Geoff Dyer the opening of Ian McEwan's Atonement "is almost perversely ungripping..." Set to inform rather than attract the reader, the first chapter of the novel is seemingly boring and pointless, on first inspection. However on deeper analysis the opening is found to be effective in setting up the rest of the novel, and foreshadowing the tragic events that occur as a result of the crime committed on that hot summers day. The focus of the opening chapter is to explore and describe the novels main character, Briony, and the aspects of her personality that lead to the novels conflict and heartbreak. This chapter also introduces many of the novels other main characters and relates them to the novels key concerns. The most important function of the opening chapter is to explore the character of Briony. From the opening sentence of the novel Briony is established as an imaginative and idealistic young girl, whose dedication to writing is lightly humoured by McEwan "the play was written in a two-day tempest of composition, causing her to miss a breakfast and a lunch." The seriousness Briony sees in missing a "breakfast and a lunch" highlights a girlish innocence and naivety, which evidently fades as the novel progresses, and Briony's views on life change. Up until this point Briony has lived a relatively protected life, away from the

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English Literature - Atonement (Essay 1)

By analysing two passages from Atonement, consider ways in which McEwan presents the transition between the child and adult world The prime method by which McEwan presents the transition between the child and adult world in Atonement is through specific focus on the behaviour and motivations of one character, Briony Tallis. Taking a psychological and personal approach, McEwan addresses the complexities of adolescence, "the ill-defined transitional space between the nursery and adult worlds"1, and the various archetypal effects, usually of a sexual nature, that affect a child with little or no experience of adult life. Briony, it would seem, is a character trapped in a bubble, who requires the intervention of internal and external forces in order to break into the world of adulthood. The two passages selected specifically show the distinction - or, indeed, lack of - between child and adult Briony, her coming to being and her realisation of the 'crime' "for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone"2. Part One mainly concerns McEwan developing a prevailing aura of obscurity and anticipation, with young Briony having intercepted a vulgar letter that she believes confirms Robbie Turner as a 'maniac'. The Part focuses on two differing viewpoints; those of Briony and the rest of the world; dropping her in solitude. The paradox is that while Briony is attempting to

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An essay that examines whether Briony ever achieves atonement in 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan

An essay that examines whether Briony ever achieves atonement in 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan Ian McEwan is held in high esteem as an author, and won the 1998 Booker prize for his novel Amsterdam. Atonement lives up to these high standards, being short listed for the 2001 Booker Prize and was awarded the best fiction novel of the year by Time Magazine. Atonement is acknowledged to be one of Ian McEwan's finest works offering a love story, a war story and a story of whether atonement is achievable. We read so much of Briony's search for it and so little of the result of that search, that perhaps the point of the book is her need for atonement and not whether she found it or not. The ambiguity of giving the story two possible endings is a very effective and clever device used by McEwan; this in turn may leave him open to criticisms by readers who are left frustrated at there being no satisfactory conclusion as to whether atonement was ever achieved. The work operates on a number of levels. It has a strong narrative and is written with tremendous descriptive power dealing with complex themes and examining the creative act of story telling via the shared, self-reflection of the main protagonist, Briony Tallis, a budding author. At the beginning of the novel Briony is a girl of thirteen her mind filled with romantic stories containing morally certain scenarios; she views the world

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It is ridiculous to argue that McEwan makes Jed Parry anything other than terrifying. What do you think of this view?

It is ridiculous to argue that McEwan makes Jed Parry anything other than terrifying. What do you think of this view? Jed Parry as a character raises key questions and ideas in ' Enduring Love' as well as upbringing contrasting emotions amongst the readers. The actions , such as kidnapping Clarissa are evidently seen and are able to form an image of a terrifying human being which we lack sympathy for.Although this is true, there are many factors which I believe are able to reflect on the vulnerability of his character. The whole novel is written from Joe's point of view which could mean that it is an interpretation that is exaggerated. The way McEwan cleverly structures the letters , evidently confirms Joe's opinion of him. However the gaps in between the letters we are readers can only assume mostly in Joe's favor ; due to McEwan's clear attempt of manipulation. Instead of seeing Parry as a person with a serious illness, we see him as a problem for Joe. Therefore there is a lack of sympathy and a 'terrifying' image as we are tricked into sympathizing for Joe. Although Jed is noticeably ill , there is a sense of pity and sorry which Parry feels for Clarissa as he believes that Joe loves him and it will surely hurt her. This is shown on page 68 when he delicately suggests they should break the news to Clarissa. He says it very simply ' The only way is for the three of us to

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What is the significance of the endings of Enduring Love?

What is the significance of the endings of Enduring Love? The endings of Enduring Love hold important significance to the whole novel. The 'endings' refer not only to the final chapter, Chapter 24 but also to the appendices I and II. After reading the last chapter readers are bound to be left with the feeling of unfulfilment. The appendices, particularly the case study in Appendix I, provides a lot of resolution that is not given in that final chapter or any other chapter in the novel. The Appendix I is a case study reprinted from The British Review of Psychiatry, by Dr Robert Wenn and Dr Antonio Camia. It is a case study Oliver Burkeman (The Guardian reporter) proclaims to 'detail the terrifying real-life case on which the story is based'. It provides us with the case from which the book was apparently based upon and provides us with resolution as to where the narrative would continue to from the end of the last chapter. But the major significance of this is that the case study is infact false and the British Review of Psychiatry does not exist. 'I can confirm that Appendix I of Enduring Love is fictional, based on the novel that precedes it rather than the other way around' admits the author, Ian McEwan. He has set this up so manipulatively that the two supposed authors of the British Review of Psychiatry, Dr Robert Wenn and Dr Antonio Camia are fictional and whose

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Compare two passages of your choice explaining what they reveal of McEwen's reoccurring themes and concerns?

Compare two passages of your choice explaining what they reveal of McEwen's reoccurring themes and concerns? The two Ian McEwen passages I have compared are the openings of 'The Comfort of Strangers' and 'The Black Dogs'. The reason I have chosen these extracts is because I feel they have a lot in common and also some differences. I begin by explaining the titles of each novel. The 'Comfort of Strangers' is ironic since usually strangers make a person feel uncomfortable. 'The Black Dogs' is an interesting title because a black dog can be seen as something that represents something bad is going to happen. The titles help reveal reoccurring theme as McEwen's books do occasionally include strangers (Jed Parry, Enduring Love) and in many of McEwen's stories bad things happen, this wouldn't be seen as a reoccurring theme of all his novels really just more of a prediction for the specific book. Both novels talk about a troubled relationship between a couple within the first couple of paragraphs. In 'The Comfort of Strangers' the reader is told 'Colin and Mary are not on speaking terms' This is evidence that there is trouble in the relationship. We have evidence that troubled relationships are a common theme in McEwen's writing because in 'The Black Dogs' the readers are told about 'the disintegrating marriage of my sister Jean to a man called Harper'. Other examples from other

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  • Subject: English
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How does Ian McEwan hook the reader in the opening three chapters of Enduring Love?

"In an age of multiple choice and short attention spans, beginnings are more crucial than ever. To prevent readers drifting off, an author has to hook them quickly" (Blake Morrison) How does Ian McEwan hook the reader in the opening three chapters of Enduring Love? In McEwan's book Enduring Love, he uses a wide variety of techniques to intrigue and hook the reader. He begins his story with the startling and dramatic scenario of a hot air balloon accident. He begins his story in medias res (in the middle of things). This is a significantly effective technique as it plunges the reader into the middle of a dramatic scenario without having dragged them through a boring introduction first. This immediate element of excitement and drama experienced by the reader in the beginning will no doubt have a very positive first impression on the reader, as they will be absorbed instantly by the fast pace and action. McEwan also attempts to hook us with the use of a very interesting narrator in the form of Joe Rose. He is a character who has the technique of withholding details, which creates suspense - 'I'm holding back, delaying the information'. This point is emphasized in the fact that it takes three chapters for us to find out that Harry Gadd came down safely. He is presented to us as a very imaginative, deep thinking character, which we can see by the way he takes up different

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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