3.1.1

Pages 191-201: Key Events

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Key Events in Pages 191-201: To The Farmhouse

Part Two of the novel is set in northern France in May, 1940.

Key events: 191-201

Key events: 191-201

  • Robbie, now a soldier in the British army, leads two other soldiers through the war-ravaged French countryside towards the northern coast at Dunkirk where British forces await rescue back to England.
  • The three men arrive at a farmhouse where they are given food and a bed for the night.
**"Horror"** of WW2

"Horror" of WW2

  • Through Robbie’s eyes, we are given a glimpse of the “horrors” of World War 2.
  • The opening sentence of Part Two refers to the destabilising impact of “the unexpected detail” during wartime.
  • In the next paragraph, we learn about the particular “horror” which has affected Robbie so much.
Quotation: **"leg in a tree"**

Quotation: "leg in a tree"

  • “It was a leg in a tree. A mature plane tree, only just in leaf. The leg was twenty feet up, wedged in the first forking of the trunk, bare, severed cleanly above the knee… It was a perfect leg, pale, smooth, small enough to be a child’s…” (p192).
Analysis of body imagery

Analysis of body imagery

  • The surreal image of a disembodied leg in a tree is unsettling in itself but the detached, matter-of-fact tone in which it is described suggests that the soldiers are numbed, used to seeing such atrocities.
  • The suggestion that this is a “child’s” leg seems to be the detail which means that Robbie cannot get this image out of his head.
Jump to other topics
1

Introduction to Atonement

1.1

Introduction & Background to Atonement

1.1.1Background to the Author - Ian McEwan1.1.2Settings & Historical Context of Atonement1.1.3Social Issues Raised in Atonement
1.2

Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts

1.2.1Atonement as a Crime Text
2

Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One

2.1

Chapter 1

2.1.1Chapter 1: Key Events2.1.2Chapter 1: Key Themes
2.2

Chapter 2

2.2.1Chapter 2: Key Events2.2.2Chapter 2: Key Themes
2.3

Chapter 3

2.3.1Chapter 3: Key Events2.3.2Chapter 3: Key Themes
2.4

Chapter 4

2.4.1Chapter 4: Key Events2.4.2Chapter 4: Key Themes
2.5

Chapter 5

2.5.1Chapter 5: Key Events2.5.2Chapter 5: Key Themes
2.6

Chapter 6

2.6.1Chapter 6: Key Events & Themes
2.7

Chapter 7

2.7.1Chapter 7: Key Events2.7.2Chapter 7: Key Themes
2.8

Chapter 8

2.8.1Chapter 8: Key Events2.8.2Chapter 8: Key Themes
2.9

Chapter 9

2.9.1Chapter 9: Key Events2.9.2Chapter 9: Key Themes
2.10

Chapter 10

2.10.1Chapter 10: Key Events2.10.2Chapter 10: Key Themes
2.11

Chapter 11

2.11.1Chapter 11: Key Events2.11.2Chapter 11: Key Themes
2.12

Chapter 12

2.12.1Chapter 12: Key Events2.12.2Chapter 12: Key Themes
2.13

Chapter 13

2.13.1Chapter 13: Key Events2.13.2Chapter 13: Key Themes
2.14

Chapter 14

2.14.1Chapter 14: Key Events2.14.2Chapter 14: Key Themes
3

Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two

3.1

Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse

3.1.1Pages 191-201: Key Events3.1.2Pages 191-201: Key Themes
3.2

Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn

3.2.1Pages 202-213: Key Events3.2.2Pages 202-213: Key Themes
3.3

Pages 214-226: The Attack

3.3.1Pages 214-226: Key Events3.3.2Pages 214-226: Key Themes
3.4

Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections

3.4.1Pages 226-234: Key Events3.4.2Pages 226-234: Key Themes
3.5

Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal

3.5.1Pages 234-246: Key Events3.5.2Pages 234-246: Key Themes
3.6

Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk

3.6.1Pages 246-254: Key Events3.6.2Pages 246-254: Key Themes
3.7

Pages 254-265: To the Cellar

3.7.1Pages 254-265: Key Events3.7.2Pages 254-265: Key Themes
4

Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three

4.1

Pages 269-277: London, 1940

4.1.1Pages 269-277: Key Events4.1.2Pages 269-277: Key Themes
4.2

Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer

4.2.1Pages 277-286: Key Events4.2.2Pages 277-286: Key Themes
4.3

Pages 287-315: Victims of War

4.3.1Pages 287-315: Key Events4.3.2Pages 287-315: Key Themes
4.4

Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding

4.4.1Pages 315-327: Key Events4.4.2Pages 315-327: Key Themes
4.5

Pages 328-349: The Visit

4.5.1Pages 328-349: Key Events4.5.2Pages 328-349: Key Themes
5

Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four

5.1

Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371

5.1.1Pages 353-371: Key Events5.1.2Pages 353-371: Key Themes
6

Key Character Profiles

6.1

Briony Tallis

6.1.1Overview of Briony's Character6.1.2Briony in Part One6.1.3Briony in Part Three & Four
6.2

Robbie Turner

6.2.1Overview of Robbie's Character6.2.2Robbie in Part One6.2.3Robbie in Part Two & Three
6.3

Cecilia Tallis

6.3.1Cecilia in Part One6.3.2Cecilia in Part Three
6.4

Lola Quincey

6.4.1Overview of Lola Quincey6.4.2Lola Relationship with Marshall
6.5

Paul Marshall

6.5.1Overview of Paul Marshall6.5.2Paul Marshall's Relationship with Lola6.5.3Paul Marshall's Power
6.6

Emily Tallis

6.6.1Overview of Emily Tallis6.6.2Emily Tallis' Character
7

Key Themes

7.1

Introduction to Crime Texts

7.1.1Common Themes in Crime Texts
7.2

Crimes in Atonement

7.2.1Crimes in Atonement7.2.2Structural Patterning & Ambiguity in Crime Texts
7.3

Criminals in Atonement

7.3.1Paul Marshall & Lola as Criminals7.3.2Narrative Point of View in Crime Texts
7.4

Victims in Atonement

7.4.1Lola, Robbie & Cecilia as Victims7.4.2Females Victims & Social Class in Crime Texts
7.5

Detection in Atonement

7.5.1Detection in Atonement7.5.2Detection in Crime Texts
7.6

Settings in Atonement

7.6.1Settings in Atonement7.6.2Symbolism of Settings in Crime Texts
7.7

Guilt & Punishment in Atonement

7.7.1Marshall & Briony Escaping Punishment7.7.2Guilt & Punishment in Crime Texts
8

Writing Techniques

8.1

Structure

8.1.1Overview of Structure8.1.2Metanarrative, Circular Structure & Ending8.1.3Manipulation of Time
8.2

Form

8.2.1Narrative Perspective8.2.2Genre
8.3

Symbols & Motifs

8.3.1Symbolism of the Vase & Amo Bar
8.4

Language

8.4.1Focalising Through Briony & Robbie
9

Context

9.1

Historical Context

9.1.1The Summer of 19359.1.2Dunkirk, 19409.1.3London, 1940
9.2

Social Context

9.2.1Social Class9.2.2The Role of Women in the 1930/40s
9.3

Literary Context

9.3.1Literary Genres & Atonement
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Marxist Literary Criticism

10.1.1Introduction to Marxist Literary Criticism10.1.2Marxist Readings: Importance of Social Class10.1.3Marxist Reading: Capitalist Exploitation & War
10.2

Feminist Literary Criticism

10.2.1Introduction to Feminist Literary Criticism10.2.2Feminist Readings: Gender Roles & Stereotypes10.2.3Feminist Readings: Marriage & Family10.2.4Feminist Readings: Male & Female Sexuality

Practice questions on Pages 191-201: Key Events

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  1. 1
    How is the leg that Robbie sees in the tree described on p192?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Where do Robbie and the other soldiers find food and a bed in pages 191-201?Multiple choice
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Chapter 14: Key Themes

Pages 191-201: Key Themes