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The admiration of Madge challenging her mother and asserting her own independence, provokes a realisation she has been unconsciously seeking to take Madge’s role as ‘Mrs Bowers, favoured child’

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Isobel sees herself in Diana which helps her learn more about herself. When Diana is told about Nick’s death Isobel says, “The feeling was appearing now: relief. Isobel was the prison governor who had brought her news of her reprieve.” (PG.140). She realizes this was the same reaction she had about her mother. “She’s glad he’s dead.

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DIANA

Q1) When Isobel first see’s Diana she describes her as ‘beautiful, except for the obsessed eyes’ (P.113)

Q2) Isobel admires Diana’s beauty. “Isobel was frightened by Diana’s plight, and amazed that beauty had not saved her.”  (PG.113)

Q3) Isobel says, “She’s a corpse all right with the flies buzzing round her, and she hears them buzzing, though she’s dead.” (PG.126)

Q4) What Isobel finds interesting about Diana is when she explains ‘She pitied Diana but was curious too. She wanted to know what is was like. She felt about Diana as she had felt about children who got the cane at the convent; they knew what it was like.” (PG.111) she also said, “She sounded quite belligerent. Interesting. Here was someone freeble enough to bring out the bully in Isobel.” (PG.127)

Q5) Isobel sees herself in Diana which helps her learn more about herself. When Diana is told about Nick’s death Isobel says, “The feeling was appearing now: relief. Isobel was the prison governor who had brought her news of her reprieve.” (PG.140). She realizes this was the same reaction she had about her mother. “She’s glad he’s dead. She feels the way I felt when my mother died. He wasn’t a human being to her, he was a thorn in her side, a stone in her shoe.” (PG.140).

Q6)

Q7) Diana and her relationship with Nick was sort of a reflection of Isobel and her mother’s relationship but in different contexts they both were desperate for love from people who weren’t going to give it to them.

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1. “Isobel saw Nick as an exiled prince, not meant for sitting talking in cafes, driven by fury out of his own kingdom.” (pg.114)

2. Isobel liked how Nick presented as confused and embarrassed about certain things just like her. “Isobel looking with wonder at the back of Nick’s head, picturing the beautiful calm face which hid vulnerability, confusion and helplessness.” (pg. 112)

3. Isobel dislikes how Nick treated Diana after he dumped her. This is mostly caused from seeing firsthand how much he was hurting Diana by avoiding her, and not agreeing to talk to her when she was having such a hard time. She also resented the fact that she became the messenger between them when it didn’t involve her. “I’m a messenger, Isobel thought with resentment. I’m supposed to tell Nick she’s lost her job.” (pg.126)

4. Isobel finds it interesting that Nick doesn’t always hang out with their group, he likes being alone. “Nick wasn’t there, but Nick was never really there. He was the charming exile.” (pg.132)

5. Nick’s death allows her to realise that she can grieve, she has the right to feel sad about his death like the others because they WERE friends. “She was fighting off the shameful thought that grief was a terrible bore. Perhaps it wasn’t such a shameful thought – grief might be like that.” (pg.141)

6. Nick teaches Isobel a lot about relationships. She learns that they don’t always work out, no matter how in love one of them is. Nick’s actions towards Diana also gives Isobel some insight into how men behave, especially in relationships, which was always an unfamiliar topic for Isobel.

7. Nick’s death is the major event that changes the dynamics of the group and allow Isobel to become more involved with the others and allows her to recognise feelings of grief, sadness, friendship, love and the power of group support.

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5. Nick’s death allows her to realise that she can grieve, she has the right to feel sad about his death like the others because they WERE friends. “She was fighting off the shameful thought that grief was a terrible bore. Perhaps it wasn’t such a shameful thought – grief might be like that.” (pg.141)

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4. Isobel finds it interesting that Nick doesn’t always hang out with their group, he likes being alone. “Nick wasn’t there, but Nick was never really there. He was the charming exile.” (pg.132)

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1. “Isobel saw Nick as an exiled prince, not meant for sitting talking in cafes, driven by fury out of his own kingdom.” (pg.114)

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2. Isobel liked how Nick presented as confused and embarrassed about certain things just like her. “Isobel looking with wonder at the back of Nick’s head, picturing the beautiful calm face which hid vulnerability, confusion and helplessness.” (pg. 112)

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1. "Tim was cheerful, pink-cheeked and blubber-lipped;"(pg. 58)
2.
3."on those nights the boys were as rowdy as poletergeists. switching a yelling wireless from station to station, playing a kind of football with a matchbox, shouting

4."Seemed to live a life as restricted as her own."(pg.77)

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Aunt Noelene

WORKPLACE

Olive

Rita

Nel

Frank

Mr Walter

Mr Richard

THE BOARDING HOUSE

Tim & Norman

Madge
Betty

Mrs Bowers

Mrs Prendergast

Mr Watkins

THE ‘SPECIAL CROWD’

Mitch

Nick

Kenneth

Janet

Trevor

Diana

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1: "Frank was a neat, cheerful little man who radiated some of the virtue of the chance-found German dictionary. He handled the pretty glasses with a secure and gentle touch and called Mr. Richard 'the dickybird'." -pg 69
2: He's very kind and gets along with her.
3: He has a temper that Isobel is startled by when it is let loose.
4: His being a communist and his alternate way of seeing the world
5:
6:
7:

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1. "the elderly gentleman (such a one as the words had been coined from) sat at the other end."
2. Isobel likes Mr Watkins becuse he is friendly to everyone in the boarding house.
3. Not much, in the story Isobel never really says anything bad about Mr Watkins because he isnt a character who plays a prominit roll in the story.
4. How relaxed he is and how he helps people and expectes nothing in return
5. Mr Watkins helps Isobel figure out what a real relationship looks like.
6. Same as above
7.

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Q1)  "Her smile was beautiful" (referring to Madge)PG 122
"She was not, after all, monumental in size, but in stillness and dignity; she moved as if she were wearing an invisible robe and handed soup as if she were taking part in a religious ceremony" PG 58
"Madge was flighty"

Q2)nothing
Q3) "you didn't hate Madge for her methodical mastication. You hated her because you took her place" PG 119
"she never disliked Madge more than when she was doing the very thing Isobel would have done in her place." PG 107
Q4) "Madge's life had its charm- she could see attraction of a small, exclusive religion, the trouble was, being oneself to believing it"
Q5) "you wanted Madge's place' she said to herself, 'And now you've got it' she thought of Madge, leaving so splendidly ; but could not imagine having so much strength, herself" PG 132

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1)      ●”tall elderly woman, ruddy faced and ginger- haired”

● “Isobel wondered...who were the people who caused concern in Mrs Pendergast and humorous resignation in Mrs Bowers.”

● “The enemy of sex and marriage”

2)      Isobel first finds solace in Mrs Bower’s strangeness, giving her the effect that she wasn’t the only one considered weird.

3)      At first, Isobel feels “uneasiness” when confronted with Mr Bower’s affection.

·         “This roused conflicting feelings: warmth and gratitude-It was astonishing to be remembered- but uneasiness, because felt more return than she could give” (page 82)

She slowly begins to dislike her more after the news of Madge’s fiancé, partly due to the way she views her daughter’s own choices (Page 108.)

4)      Isobel finds Mrs Bower’s views of men, much like her reactions to Arthur (Madge’s fiancé) to be interesting.

·         “Mrs Bowers came to the kitchen wearing a meek, silly look and gazed him with wonder” (page 106)

5)      Throughout Mrs Bower’s anger, Isobel learns about the importance of social contact and making the right moves to get her way.

6)      Bowers makes Isobel feel the influence of her own mother, making her realise that the real word does contain possessive people. This is due to how Isobel takes over Madge’s role when she leaves the boarding house with Arthur, making Isobel the only source of a daughter to Mrs Bowers.

7)      Bowers is used as an indicator of the harshness of the real world as she slowly turns into another version of Mrs Callaghan to Isobel. However unlike Mrs Callaghan, this is due to favourism and not anger (Much like Mrs C and Margret in chapter 3).

·         “Mrs Bowers appeared at the kitchen door, looking angry. Angry had engraved its history on Mrs Bowers face; when the lines it made there came alive, the effect was frightening” (page 118)

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Q1)
- "Tim and Norman seemed to live a life as restricted as her own" Page 77
- When Betty wasn't home Tim and Norman were as rowdy as poltergeists.
Q2)
-  'Norman terracotta and hard-boned (she wondered what it would be like to touch him, then dismissed the thought with shame.)
Q3)
- "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses. and where did you learn? did someone recite it to you?"
" She looked up and found his gaze fixed on her, tense and dull with hatred. The invisible knife again"
Q4)
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Q1) "She was real confection, the old woman, large and so soft she seemed made of whipped cream, and topped with a floss of silver hair" p.54
"Mrs Pendergast was an admirer of death, entranced by its ceremonies, awed by its sudden captures, marvelling at its rare defeats." p.79
Q2) "
Q3) "Isobel was disappointed at the frustration of Mrs Pendergast's story about the Christian Science" p.109
Q4) "Mrs Pendergast, though her subject was grisly, had a weird talent for anecdote" p.80
Q5) "She was a collector of useless objects and Mrs Pendergast was one of them" p.81
"I wouldn't think of it. I'm a sensitive. I see many a thing that i wouldn't mention to the person concerned" p.81
Q6) "
Q7) "Isobel followed her along the hall into a large bright kitchen, where an old woman sat at the table slicing beans, or, it seemed, resting from slicing beans, while she stared with vague salt-water blue eyes into the distance" p.54
"She's not exactly the Leader of the Opposition. That's Mrs Pendergast. Mrs Bowers is only against men. Mrs Pendergast is against the lot. She's fond of death" p.101

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1. Isobel describes the character as very straight forward and wants the jobs done but a very intimidating one at that. “The German mail, of course. That’s the most urgent matter.” P-62

2. Isobel has little interaction with Mr Walter but after Nick’s death Mr Walter was quite helpful with letting Isobel leave work early and looking after her right after the phone call. Isobel is amazed at first due to the fact that the boss she had originally offended was now looking out for her and she admires that. “Mr Walter had thought of that. He came in carrying a glass of water” p137, “Who could of imagined such kindness in Mr Walter.” P-137

3. At the start of Isobel’s job she does the usual stereotypical act of an employee and a boss and automatically doesn’t like Mr Walter but as time goes on they grown on each other as Isobel translating the German is an important job. “Her tone was not quite hushed, yet was subdued by the importance of Mr Walter.” P-61

4. Isobel has admiration for Mr Walters as he has a high work ethic and Isobel often gets distracted so she is unable to contain a decent work ethic. “..but the mail must come first, you understand.” P-62

5. Mr Walter shows Isobel that she still needs to grow and learn a bit more in the upcoming modern world as Mr Walter shows her and enables her to use a typewriter and get better with her German and after Nick dies help her go through the healing process. “Look after her, show her the ropes. And remember, the German mail has priority.” P-63

6. Mr Walter enables Isobel to see that the world is a big place and there is always something to do and for Isobel’s instance it is the German mail to keep the world running smoothly. “A hand touched her arm. She looked up. Mr Walter, looking gentle, was nodding.” This quote exclaims the willingness for Mr Walter to teach and help Isobel.

7. Mr Walter acts for Isobel as an opportunity for Isobel to grow and mature in her first workplace and by giving Isobel such an important role really makes her grasp responsibility and learn how to deal and cope with it. “He asked, ‘Do you know how to get there?’ She shook her head. ‘I’ll find it for you.’ He took his street directory from the bookshelf, found the street and began to draw a map.” This quote is an example of all the help Mr Walter provides for Isobel along her journey.

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1) Isobel describes Olive as "beautiful calm Madonna face and a slender torso, but set on a solid rump of legs, as if someone made a mistake when assembling two sets” (page 63).

2) Olive is more of a mentor for Isobel. She guides her through her job watching over her and looking out for her. “Well just do your best. Would you like me to put the paper in for you?” (page 64) "Mr Richard.... Isobel has never used a type writer before" (page 66)

3) “Olive’s look gave her no comfort” (page 67). On Isobel’s first day she was looking for comfort from the first person she met, which happened to be Olive. However after being confronted by Mr Richards she is left to move on and continue with her work like everyone else.

4) “She shook her head sadly. Olive and her boyfriend had been going out for six years… but they could not marry because of family issues” (page 85). Isobel is intrigue that that Olive cannot marry because of family issues and also feels sorry for her not being able to marry.

5) “Its only ten minutes till lunch. Couldn’t you go and get one?” (page 67). Olive teaches Isobel to be more independent and to cope with different situations better than she did before by guiding her in the right direction, but not giving her the answers.

6)

7)

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Q1. “It was easy to talk to Trevor because he was more like a teacher than a young man.” P104.
Q2. Isobel liked how Trevor liked to read and how he could lend her books and was easy to talk to. "Come and look at my books, Isobel. I probably have something you'd like to borrow." P115
Q3 Isobel disliked the way that Trevor had moved so fast and couldn't take things slower with her.  "thinking sadly if Trevor had gone a bit slower, if she had had some warning, if he had asked her to the pictures on a Saturday night." P 134
Q

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Q1.
"Rita was a gypsy girl and flashed a gypsy smile." page 63
Q2.
‘Can anyone tell me how to extract a capital letter from this apparatus? It was the gypsy girl who came.” page 65. This demonstrates that Rita is a supportive and helpful friend to Isobel in her struggles of embarrassment.
Q3.
“In spite of her kindness, Rita gigged over the tentative pecking noise of the keys.’ I can’t help it. You sound like a drip in a tap! Isobel retorted, 'mind who you’re calling a drip” page 65. The drip refers to something as annoying, therefore she is referring to Rita as annoying.
Q4.
“We want to be married and go together.” Isobel heard this with dismay” page 86. Isobel is concerned about the relationship and struggles to see how their relationship would work out, as her parents did not have that loving aspect that Rita and Stephan have.
Q5.
Rita and her engagement helped Isobel realise that she  is different to other females as she doesn’t know how to act to Rita’s engagement. “Olive came to admire the ring :Isobel followed, wondering what to say.” Page 84
Q6.
Through Rita's engagement and commitment of marriage, shows Isobel that there can be a 'loving' relationship between a man and a women, unlike her own parents relationship.
Q7.
Rita plays a supportive character/ friend for Isobel, as she guides her in the work place by providing the help she need. She is also a key characters as she helps Isobel identify herself and help her realise that she isn’t like other normal people.

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Q1. "The other must be called old, because her hair was grey, yet her face belonged to a heroine of romance, with delicate features, narrow blue eyes and full lips." pg 57
Q2. Isobel likes Betty because she sees her as beautiful, amiable and well mannered.
Q3. When Betty turns on Isobel, “’Why should Betty, who was amiable and well-mannered, though perhaps a little cold-hearted, turn on her so? ‘I wanted her to like me.’”
Q4.
Q5.
Q6.
Q7.

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1. Isobel describes Kenneth as “virtuous” p.91 meaning he shows high moral standards. and she explains that “his air of repose tormented” p.91 her. Isobel feels “jealous” p.91 that Kenneth is so relaxed and calm and she wishes so much that she could be like him.

2. What Isobel likes about Kenneth is his ability to be calm, explaining him as in an “air of repose” p.91.

3. She explains how the “affection with which Kenneth pronounced [Joseph]… cracked Isobel’s matchbox cabin and sent it sliding towards the black pit.” P.92 Isobel hears the name Joseph and makes a connection to her own Joseph in her running novel in her head, she feels angry that Kenneth is stealing her character.

4. What Isobel finds interesting about Kenneth is confidence and authoritarian character, shown when he says “Where he cannot dom-in-ate, He will not part-i-ci-pate.” P.93 Isobel finds that Kenneth is a careless character and non-conforming when he says “I’m offering quality instead of quality.” P.91.

5. Kenneth helps Isobel see that she considers herself as a “preposition” p.95 and she explains that she governs “small common objects”. This means that Isobel has no control over major decisions in her life but does have control over small things, she could possibly mean books.

6. What Kenneth teaches Isobel about the world is that people can be described as part of speech and that these same parts of speech can be related to real world circumstances like when she says, “My landlady’s a preposition. Against.” P.95.

7. Kenneth’s role in the book is to demonstrate dominance and how people in the world can take control.

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Questions- Use a quote in your response to each question.

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Questions- Use a quote in your response to each question.

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1) How does Isobel describe the character?
2) What does she like about them?
3)What does she dislike about them?
4) What does she find interesting about them?
5) What does the character help Isobel to see about herself?
6) What does the character teach Isobel about the world?
7) What is the function/role of the character in the text?

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Isobel studies others to learn more about herself.