How is Mrs Hayward described when she goes to Stephen at beginning of chapter 9?
ch.9
- “more perfect.”
- Repetition of MORE/ comparative words ie “-er.”
- “blue silk cravat” around her neck with a “silver clasp.”
- “Silver” association with Peter. “Blue” associated with RAF.
- On floor “like a beggar.”
- Juxtaposition between how she looks vs her desparate nature.
Why could Mrs Hayward be dressing “more perfect” than ever at the beginning of chapter 9?
ch.9
- Trying not to draw attention to herself so people don’t ask questions.
- Extra makeup/ scarf could be to cover up abuse from Mr Hayward?
Why does Stephen speak in 3rd person at beginning of chapter 9?
ch.9
- Older Stephen abdicating responsibility for explaining events.
- Shows how memory doesn’t explain itself ie. why specific memories come at specific times.
What declarative does younger Stephen use to describe the man under the “corrugated ion?”
ch.9
- Declaratives used throughout: revelation of parts of the truth/ incorrect truths - misleadint to reader.
- “The man visiting Auntie Dee is the same man as German in The Bairns.”
How are Barbara Berill and Mrs Hayward mixed up in older Stephen’s memory? Why does Frayn do this?
ch.9
- “I remember her sitting where Keith’s mother’s sitting now.”
- “puts her arms round her knees, the way Babara does.”
- Barbara kisses Stephen just as Mrs Hayward does.
- Highlighting confusion of memory/ coming of age - young boys finding all women attractive of many ages.
Repeated image associated with Barbara.
ch.9
- “blue bobbly purse.”
- Onomatopeic created vivid image.
Significance of Mr Hayward brining Stephen into his garage to ask him for the basket filled with Uncle Peter’s things.
ch.9
- Bringing Stephen into his Kingdom so he is able to manipulate him.
How is it clear that Stephen is maturing through his perception of Mr Hayward?
ch.9
- Understanding that Mr Hayward is actually abusive.
- Fells grateful that he is not his father so can’t cane him, in chapter 9.
What does Mr Hayward say to Stephen to try and make him hand over the basket?
ch. 9
- Calls what Stephen’s doing: “silly games of let’s pretend.” –> “games”–> doesn’t want Stephen to think this is anything serious so he hands the basket over “Game” - repeated word.
- Says “Please”: understands that manners mean a lot to Stephen - won’t be able to say no.
- “Please” said = similar to Mrs Hayward humbling herself to Stephen’s level “thank you for having me.”
What oxymoron is used to describe the privet hedge?
ch.9
- “rank sweetness.”
- Idea of smell being harsh but sweet is also repeated in ch.10
How is the space under the “corrugated ion” described by Stephen?
ch. 9
- “living grave.” Repetition of this phrase. Foreboding Peter’s death.
How does Stephen describe the world of Mrs Hayward?
ch.9
- World of “silver ornaments” and “silver chimes.”
- Motif of “silver”: hinting at her relationship with Uncle Peter.
How does Frayn describe Uncle Peter’s PHYSICAL appearance?
ch.10
- “brightness of eyes.” Still has child-like carefree nature to him.
- Eyes also described as “feverish”: war has destroyed his brightness/ health.
- “dark tangle of hair and beard and shaggy outline.” Dehumanising effects of war. Repeated description of unkempt/ shaggy appearance, contradicting how he should appear as an RAF pilot.
What shift is there when Stephen is describing the appearance of Uncle Peter under corrugated ion?
ch.10
- Shift to present tense.
- Older Stephen asks himself the Q: “did Stephen really not understand who it was?”
What quote portrays that younger Stephen really values respect to adults?
ch.10
- “still helplessly obedient to adult authority” when Uncle Peter tells him to stay.
What repeated image does Frayn use to describe Uncle Peter?
ch.10
- “like a ghost.” Repeated image
- Links to beginning when Stephen calls story “ghost story” because Mrs Hayward keeps disappearing.
- “Ghost” foreshadows his death.
- “Ghost” shows how glorified presence of Uncle Peter fades, becomes forgotten/ unseen like a ghost.
What does Uncle Peter say is the only thing that keeps him sane?
ch.10
- The sound of the trains.
- Acts as a timepost for him.
- Ironic because he dies from the train.
What would desertion in WWII eventually lead to?
- Imprisonment.
- They only started to get pardonned at the END of WWII.
What does Uncle Peter speak about to Stephen under the corrugated ion in his “speech?”
ch.10
- Begins speech speaking about Stephen “you start playing some game” but then relates it to his own experience.
- “game”: thinks that being part of army would be fun.
- Image of “darkness” - fear of unknown linked with war.
- “Everything’s drowned by this great scream of terror in the darkness.” Losing all sense of humanity/ not in touch with surroundings.
How does Uncle Peter describe his relationship with Mrs Hayward?
ch.10
- Tells Stephen to tell her that it’s “it was always her.”
- Ambigious nature of relationship, still not given truth.
- Maybe not even romantic relationship, just she was always there to support him
Significance of Mrs Hayward wearing different types of scarfs around her neck?
ch.10
- Covering up persistent abuse from Mr Hayward.
- They are silk just like the silk map that Uncle Peter has- link between the two characters.
How does Stephen describe Keith when he attacks him with the bayonet because he “showed (Mrs Hayward) our things?”
ch.10
- “They’re the eyes of a stranger.”
How does Frayn describe the blood that washed off in the water from Keith attacking Stephen?
ch.10
- “like upside cigarette smoke.”
- Intermingling of images, just like with the “bubble” of BB’s story popping against the “solid silver frame.”
How is the night described when Uncle Peter died?
ch.10
- “dark moon”: foreboding his death.
