2.6.1
Chapter 6: Key Events & Themes
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Key Event & Themes in Chapter 6: Emily Tallis' Migraine
Emily Tallis, the mother of Briony, Cecilia and Leon, lies in the darkness of her bedroom, anticipating another migraine.
Emily's reflections on parenting
- Emily reflects on her family and on her role as mother.
- The reader may gradually begin to suspect that Emily has been a neglectful mother.
Quotation: Emily's fear
- “But though she sometimes longed to rise up and intervene, especially if she thought Briony was in need of her, the fear of pain kept her in place” (p66-7).
- Emily is conscious that her frequent absences mean that she has perhaps failed her children.
- But tellingly, this is not enough to make her rise. She instead becomes distracted by a list of household chores which need her attention.
Emily Tallis as focalizer
- Emily Tallis is the focalizer in Chapter 6.
- She is a very self-absorbed character, consumed by her fear of an oncoming migraine which she personifies as “a caged panther”.
- There is a note of melancholy in Emily’s voice when the narrative mentions how, at 46-years-old, she now “mourned” the passing of a happier time.
Key Event & Themes in Chapter 6: Emily's Misjudgement
We see Emily “retreating” before the threat of a crippling migraine. We also see her retreating from the role of parent. She is distant and remote from her children, disapproving of Leon’s and Cecilia’s choices in life.
Irony: "all-knowing"
- Irony is created by the description of her as a wise and “all-knowing” mother-figure: “She lay in the dark and knew everything. The less she was able to do, the more she was aware” (p66).
Emily's misinterpretation
- In reality, Emily disastrously misinterprets what is happening around her.
- She misreads the “little squeal of laughter abruptly smothered” between Lola and Paul Marshall which leads her to speculate that Marshall “may not be such a bad sort”.
- The chapter ends with her looking for a pair of dark glasses – metaphorically, Emily wishes to remain in the dark.
Emily's disapproval of Cecilia
- Emily Tallis disapproves of Cecilia’s studies, thinking that she should be concentrating on “a husband to find and motherhood to confront” (p.65).
- This reflects Emily’s status as an upper-middle class, middle-aged woman of the time. Cecilia and Briony point to new identities for women in society with both attempting to find self-realisation through education or a career.
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
Practice questions on Chapter 6: Key Events & Themes
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What does Emily misinterpret in *Atonement*?Fill in the list
- 2What does Emily look for at the end of Chapter 6?Multiple choice
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books