2.11.2
Chapter 11: Key Themes
Key Themes in Chapter 11
Key Themes in Chapter 11
We hear Robbie's perspective on his sexual encounter with Cecilia. Lola's injuries are revealed.
Narrative perspective
Narrative perspective
- After the description of the dinner table and the oppressive atmosphere in the room due to the heat, we look back at the events leading to the sexual encounter in the library from Robbie’s perspective.
Graphic details of love making
Graphic details of love making
- The description of Robbie and Cecilia making love contains graphic detail and a wide range of sensual imagery: “contact of tongues… moist flesh on flesh… strange sound it drew from her…”.
- The violence of the initial flurry of passion soon gives way to more tender passages where time seems to be suspended (“They moved closer, deeper and then, for seconds on end, everything stopped” p137).
Revelation of Lola's injuries
Revelation of Lola's injuries
- Lola only reveals her injuries when the twins are absent from the table, a hint that Lola is scapegoating them for something they did not do.
- Significantly, Robbie notices that Marshall is also scratched between his eye and nose (p127).
- Emily’s shock at Lola’s wounds (“How on earth did they do that?”) also suggests the force used during Marshall’s ‘horseplay’ or assault.
Allusion to Twelfth Night
Allusion to Twelfth Night
- Robbie recalls a quote spoken by Malvolio in Twelfth Night (“nothing that can be can come between me and the full prospect of my hopes”) in which Malvolio mistakenly states that nothing can prevent him from finding love and happiness with Olivia.
- This allusion acts as a possible foreshadowing of future heartbreak for Robbie.
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
Jump to other topics
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
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