Atonement Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes for Ian McEwan's Atonement, Chapters 1-4.

Who is Briony Tallis?

The youngest daughter of a civil servant father and semi-invalid mother, living in the English countryside in 1935, who has written a play to impress her older brother.

Briony's play intends to inspire terror, relief, and instruction. What is this an allusion to?

An allusion to Aristotle's Poetics, where tragedy inspires terror and pity, then relief.

What is Briony's gift and curse, according to the commentary?

Her ability to describe and fashion worlds in words, which is both a gift and a potential source of misinterpretation and problems.

What is Cecilia's relationship with Robbie in Chapter 2?

Cecilia avoids talking to him, and there is visible tension between them.

In Chapter 2, what does the vase symbolize?

Represents the Tallis family history and traditions, which are about to be broken by war, Cecilia's passion, and Robbie's social reach.

In Chapter 2, how does Cecilia build dramatic tension around the breaking of the vase and what is the key element of her interaction with Robbie?

By explaining its history and Cecilia's actions she gives the vase a mythical status, Cecilia's carefully calculated response milks it for every last bit of impact. In modern terminology, Cecilia is being dramatic.

In Chapter 3, what does Briony witness and how does she interpret it?

She misinterprets the scene between Cecilia and Robbie at the fountain, assuming Robbie is commanding Cecilia to undress.

How does Briony's perspective as a writer influence her interpretation of events?

She sees everything as material for her writing and considers how to use the scene she witnessed.

What does Briony observe with some irony when attempting to interpret the action she sees through the window?

Briony witnesses how easy it was to get everything wrong, completely wrong

In Chapter 4, what is the status of the vase?

Cecilia has successfully repaired the vase, with only barely visible cracks remaining.

What does Paul Marshall talk about when he arrives at the Tallis house?

His confectionary business and ambitions to profit from the predicted war.

What causes conflict between Leon and Cecilia in Chapter 4?

United by the look they shared as children Cecilia is angered by the fact that Leon has invited Robbie to dinner. Leon refuses to cancel the invitation.