MCEWAN ATONEMENT
Published?
Set in?
Key events/ themes.
- 2001
- Set in 1935
- Romantic relationship between Robbie and Cecillia: cross- class relationship.
- Cecillia becomes nurse and Robbie joins army: changes due to war.
ATWOOD “The Handmaid’s Tail.”
Published?
Set in?
Main events and themes.
- Late 1900’s
- Dystopian future.
- Women forced to procreate with men: segregation of women.
- Offred separated from her child.
1984 “Owen”
Published?
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
- Published in 1949.
- Set in: 1984.
- Winston (main character) aims to rebel against political party (Big Brother) that control society but ends up becoming a member of them.
- Big Brother prohibits free will and sex.
Housseni’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns.”
Published
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
- Spans across many time periods (Afhanistan.)
- Maryam arranged marriage to Rashid/ Maryam = silently resilient.
- Layla best friend = Tariq, forced to leave due to Afghanistan War.
- Layla becomes Rashid 2nd wife.
- Maryam and Layla bond.
- Tariq returns, Maryam kills Rashid so Layla can leave with Tariq, she is sentenced to death.
- Strength of women!!
“Everything I never told you” Celeste Ng
Published?
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
June 2020 one!
- 2014
- 1952, USA.
- Marilyn (protagonist) mother expects her to be a house wife/ faces discrimination in wanting to be doctor. Familial expectations.
- James, Marilyn partner, insecure about his chinese heritage.
- FLASHBACKS used.
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Published
Set in
Main themes/ events/ features.
The Road
Published
Set in
Main themes/ events
- Dystopian future after extinction event.
- Published: 2006
- Father and son survival, protecting his son with pistol.
- Moral conflict of when to kill/ who to help on The Road.
- Hope.
Brick Lane “Ali”
Published?
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
Specimen paper one
- 2003 .
- Set over a wide time period.
- Nanzeen, Bangladeshi, forced to move to London –> arranged marriage. Speaks little english.
- Initially feels isolated –> then choses to stay in London when has choice to return/ has affair.
- Immigration, cultural adapation, personal development.
Things Fall Apart - Achebe
Published.
Set in?
Main themes/ events?
- Published: 1958.
- Set in: 1890’s
- Affect of British colonialism on Igobo society in Nigeria.
- Okonokwo: very masucline man/ war hero/ wants his son to be like him/ finds son figure in Ikemufuna.
- Missionaries travel to Okonkwo village/ tell the people their culture is wrong!/ Okonkwo hangs himself.
The Bell Jar “Plath”
Published
Set in
Main themes/ events?
- Published: late 1900s
- Set in: 1950’s.
- Esther getting internship for magazine in NYC.
- Esther faces challenges of being woman in work/ societal expectations.
- Feels as though magazine work = shallow/ struggles with identity.
- Spirals into mental illness. Stigmitization of mental illness explored.
- Semi-autobiographical: Plath issues with mental health/ societal expectations.
One Flew Over The Cukoo’s Nest - Kesey.
Published?
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
- Published/ set in : late 1900’s
- Nurse Ratched very strict in mental institution. McMurfy rebels against her rules. Struggle between freedom and conformity.
- Mcurfy rebellion has terrible consequences. Tragic commentary on price on non-conformity.
Oranges are not the only fruit “Winterson”
Published
Set in?
Main events/ themes.
- Published: late 1900’s
- 1960’s England.
- Jeanette’s mother = fundamentalist Christian.
- Jeanette thinks about romance (COMING OF AGE)- has affair with Melanie.
- Jeanette refuses to repent, locked up with no food/ kicked out of home (complex family relationships.)
- Jeanette thinks she can love Melanie and God at same time.
- Semi-autobiographical.
I know why the caged bird sings - Angelou
Published?
Set in?
Main themes/ events?
- Published: Mid 1900’s
- 1930’s USA pre- Civil Rights.
- Racism: Maya told that black students can only be athletes/ servants.
- Maya’s mother’s boyfriend rapes her.
- Maya becomes educated young woman.
- Autobiographical/ coming of age.
God of small things “Roy”
Published
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
- Published: late 1900’s
- Set in India: mix of past/ present tense.
- Focuses on caste system in India (social hierarchy in India.)
- Velutha (of “untouchable” caste) and Ammu break love laws in India / cross-class relationship.
- Green Revolution: introduced pestisides in India / forced people from lower castes off their land.
Birdsong
Published
Set in?
Main themes/ events.
- Published: late 1900s
- WW1.
- Stephen, english soldier (protagonist) has affair with married French woman.
- Awful conditions in WW1 conveyed.
- Friendhsip with Jack in trenches.
- Challenges conventional notions around masculininty in war.
Leftari
Published?
Main themes/ events.
- 2019
- Syrian refugees come to UK. Culture shock!
- Culture differences between different people in refugee camp.
- Relationship between husband and wife changing after wife becomes blind.
- Lost their child in Syria, have to redefine their relationship!
The Kite Runner
Which voices does post-modern literature often favour?
- Outsiders, those not given a voice previosuly.
