Odour of Chrysanthemums quotations

telling tales aqa gcse english literature paper 2 prose

F o t s b E d

fountains of tears stopped by Elizabeth’s directness

fountains of tears stopped by Elizabeth’s directness

• Walter’s mother’s hyperbolic reaction contrasts Elizabeth who does not react outwardly

• It shows how they have two different impressions of him; Elizabeth knows what he was really like

T h b t i b, f a a n

They had been two isolated beings, far apart as now

They had been two isolated beings, far apart as now

• She realises she never really knew her husband

• “Far apart as now” highlights she feels the same amount of connection to him when he dead vs when he is alive

T h m i t d a f i t d

They had met in the dark and fought in the dark

They had met in the dark and fought in the dark

• Realises she never really knew him

• In the darkness, things come to light

  • Only when he is dead she has the epiphany

T s s w w s h b l a o f

This separate stranger with whom she had been living as one flesh

This separate stranger with whom she had been living as one flesh

• Emphasises lack of connection between husband, calling him a “stranger”

• Biblical imagery of “one flesh”

• Epiphany

P h v d h g t g t a p h a h i s w h d w f h

Past his very door he goes to get to a public house, and here I sit with his dinner waiting for him

Past his very door he goes to get to a public house, and here I sit with his dinner waiting for him

• Use of pronouns “he”, “his” etc emphasise lack of connection - she can’t say his name

• Guttural “h” sounds are aggressive and show her disdain towards Walter’s neglect of his family