How is the clash in educational standards/ perceptiveness between Keith and Stephen made clear?
Chapter 3
- Keith’s incorrect spelling: “Logbook, Secrit.”/ “Privet.” Keith’s bad spelling throughout/ Frayn’s use of wordplay.
- Stephen thinking to ask “how “ Keith actually knows his mother is a spy.
- Although Keith is more superior in the relationship, Stephen is definetely more perceptive. Power struggle.
How is Uncle Peter described in the picture alongisde Dee and Mrs Hayward?
Chapter 3
- “lounging boyishly.”
- Repetition of “boyish”- playful, carefree.
- “air-force blue”: often associated with distinct colours linked to RAF.
How is Mr Hayward juxtaposed with Uncle Peter in his description in the photograph that the boys see?
Chapter 3
- “lifeless clipped grey hair.”
- “grey” juxtaposing the “air-force blue.”
- “lifeless” - serious, austere, standing separate in the picture, not involved in family as Peter is.
- He is naemless in Frayn’s description here, very sinister.
What does Stephen say he is doing by invading Mrs Hayward’s private space in chapter 3?
- “penetrate the secrets of the present and dismantle the future.”
What do the boys find in Mrs Hayward’s diary?
- X’s, exclamation marks.
- x = when her period comes
- ! = when she has sex, only 3 times a year shows her “lifeless” relationship with Mr Hayward.
- The fact Stephen misinterprets this as secret meetings shows his great immagination/ immaturity.
References to power dynamic between Stephen and Keith. What could Frayn be commenting on here?
Chapter 3
- “loyal squire that sword bearer requires.” Medieval imagery. Stephen self-depriciating , thinks he isn’t important - on several occasions!
- “he uttered words and the words became so.” Mirroring biblical creation story. God grants life “to be” and it simply does.
- Critiquing the class divide, causing divisions between EVEN children/ showcasing that childhood relationships have lifelong psychological consequences.
How is Keith described to look at Stephen in chapter 3?
- “looks as his father must.”
- He mirrors his dad’s behaviour throughout narrative.
Clue as to Stephen being Jewish in chapter 4.
- “it’s always nice if I stay in on Friday evening.” Friday: Sabath for Jews. “nice” –> family trying to hide Jewish heritage from Stephen to protect him.
Significance of the use of elipses in chapter 4 and throughout the novel.
- Symbolic of piecing together fragments of memory.
How is Uncle Peter described by Stephen in his memory in chapter 4, when all the children are gathering around him?
Pg. 75
- “golden light.” Repetition of “gold” and “silver” –> his royal position.
- Eagle (on uniform) “spread wings protectively.” Father figure to everyone/ takes responsibility; like Peter in the bible.
- “worshipping faces.”: religious imagery, he is God-like, guidance figure.
What repeated phrase is used by Frayn to describe Mrs Hayward?
- “unhurried and composed.”
How are the houses in The Close described when Stephen is following Mrs Hayward?
- “sinister ordinariness.”
How does Stephen describe the mystery after having followed Mrs Hayward?
pg.77
- Feels as though she keeps “disappearing.”
- Calls it a “ghost story”: foreshadowing Uncle Peter’s death. Uncle Peter described as “ghost” later on.
How does Stephen describe Barbara Berril?
pg. 80
- “little white summer socks.”
- Repetition of “little”, infantalising her/ thinks that he is superior.
What words are echoed at the beginning of chapter 5, where were these words mentioned before?
- “Everything is as it was, and everything has changed.”
What could Keith and Stephen be seen as?
- Binary opposites.
How are The Lanes described by Frayn? Why are there houses there after Old Stephen returns?
ch.5
- “raggedy children.”
- “desolate no man’s land.” WWII Imagery.
- Houses: housing crisis after WWII, needed to build on places were theres were no buildings previously.
When is there a break in narrative, why is this frustrating - what does it add to?
- Between ch.4 and 5.
- Reader wants to continue action on Mrs Hayward.
- Revealing events in fragments, just as memory does.
How is the train described in chapter 5? Quotes.
pg. 92
- Motif throughout.
- “magestic danger” Paradoxical
- “terrified worshipers prostrate before a God.”
- Train= symbol of war, boys idolise this idea - find it “magestic” but really, there’s physical/ psychological “danger” behind it.
- “carriage after carriage” –> never-ending strength/ symbol of WWII being never-ending as train carries artilery.
What is the train a symbol of?
THROUGHOUT TEXT
- War.
Significance of symbol “X”
ch.5
- Has infinite possibilites (as he says: birthday cards, Judas Kiss of betrayal.)
- Adds to theme of boy’s imagination.
How is Barbara Berril described by Stephen?
ch.5
- “bobbly blue leather, shiny blue popper.”
- Synesthesia - including all senses.
Give examples of word-play throughout that Frayn uses. What does this enhance?
- “Germs”, “Geranium”, “German.”
- “Privy”, “privet”, “private.”
- Losing all sense of reality, reader feels as though they are in someone’s head/ delving into their emotions.
Image Frayn uses to show Stephen being so close to the truth but not being able to get it?
ch.5
- “touches the solidity of silver frame, Barbara Berrill’s story bursts like a soap bubble in my hand.”
- Image of temporary nature of memories.
- Barbara Berill idea that Auntie Dee has a “boyfriend” - Stephen can’t believe, looks up to Peter. IRONY.
- Frayn intermingling images, memory being distorted - can’t remember the truth
