Examine how Penelope Lively explores a) The Folly of Harbouring Pre-Conceptions, and b) The Transition from a state of Innocence to one of Experience in this Story.

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Examine how Penelope Lively explores a) The Folly of Harbouring Pre-Conceptions, and b) The Transition from a state of Innocence to one of Experience in this Story.

“The Darkness out There”, by Penelope Lively is a short story about Sandra, a young girl, growing up. At first she is young and innocent, and thinks the world is separated into categories where people’s appearances determine what kind of people they are. As the story progresses, we see the transition from her innocence to her allowing herself to face reality, where an experience has an effect on her life, helping her to grow up and leave her stereotypical behaviour and child-like views behind.

At the beginning of the story we are met with a lively tone, as Sandra is described as walking through flowers, giving us a pleasant image as she is walking towards a cottage to visit an old lady, Mrs Rutter. This is our first encounter with a stereotypical image, as we are told, “She’s a dear old thing, all on her own, of course. A wonky leg after her op.” This makes us imagine a fragile, sweet old lady, which is how Lively wants us to see her, as this is how Sandra imagines her.

The journey, which is described in the opening paragraphs, is important in giving us a sense that the story is going to be an important symbolic journey for Sandra, and we as the reader, are invited to accompany her on this journey.

She describes the lady who runs the Good Neighbour’s Club, which she is a member of as, “Pat had a funny eye, a squint so that her glance swerved away from you as she talked.” She then goes on to say, “Are people who help other people always not very nice looking?” This is an interesting quotation, as it is another stereotypical view of a person, and we can sense her immaturity and lack of knowledge of the world, by the way she speaks.

The story goes on to explain about the Good Neighbour’s Club, and we are told that the notice in the library has the slogan “Adopt a Granny.” “And the jokey cartoon drawing of a dear old bod with specs on the end of her nose and a shawl.” This drawing reinforces the stereotypical images of old people and gives us an insight into how Sandra views them.

As Sandra’s journey to the cottage continues, we are told about Packer’s End. It is described to give the feeling of a dark and almost enclosed place, which gives us a sense of fear, and we realise that this place is going to play a large and important part in Sandra’s journey, from the way it is described.

We are told of Sandra’s thoughts, as she walks by, and they are those of stories which had been told of a German plane going down in the area during the war, and the aircrew being killed. “There were people who heard them talking still. Chattering in German on their radios, voices coming out of the trees, nasty. Creepy. People said.” This shows Sandra’s fears which she has clearly had since she was very young. As she walks on, we are told, “She kept to the track”, which makes us think of her rushing on, in the light, carefully so as to keep away from the danger and her fears.

At this point in the story we are first introduced to the idea of fairy stories, which crop up frequently in the story, and symbolise Sandra’s innocence. She explains that before she had known about the German plane, Packer’s End had brought her fear in the form of wolves, witches and tigers. This shows Sandra’s dream world, and the lack of reality in her thoughts. We are also told that she liked going home, away from Packer’s End when she was younger. “It was cosy to think of Packer’s End, where you weren’t.” This tells us that Sandra tends to run away from her fears as small children often do where they can be protected from danger by the cocoon their parents provide for them.

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Through the story, Sandra has a tendency to daydream about her wishes and hopes for the future. “One day, this year, next year, sometime, she would go to places like on travel brochures and run into a blue sea. She would fall in love and she would get a good job.” These dreams which she describes are all unrealistic, and this shows Sandra’s innocence of the world.

As Lively is describing Sandra hurrying along towards the cottage while thinking about her dreams, she suddenly stops mid-sentence and says, “He rose from the plough beyond the hedge.” This is important in ...

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