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1. What does the title and opening line of the story say about the narrator’s identity at her place of work?

“laminex and mirrors, that’s me.” The title and opening line of the story have a connection between the protagonist as that is her rule in the hospital and that is what she is known for, cleaning laminex and mirrors. Nothing else, making her seem a lot lower than everyone and demoralised

2.    What do the coloured uniforms denote?

The male doctors have a blue uniform while the females have an ugly mauve colour, clearing showing that there are gender roles as that the males are more important than the female cleaners

3.       Why does Matron hunt out Marie? Why is Matron annoyed? Why is Marie annoyed? What does this have to do with identity?

Matron hunts out Marie because she is mad that the narrator is talking and mingling with patients. Marie, who is supposed to be supervising is doing nothing when Matron finds her. This annoys Matron but also annoys Marie who puts her frustration and embarrassment on the narrator by making her clean the old bathroom. Identity is shown through job titles amongst the hospital staff. Up until this point of the story we see Marie bossing orders and showing the power. This changes when Matron talks to Marie as the power shifts. This is an example of how the story works around the roles that people have.

4.      What misconceptions does the main character have about Len and Dot? What changes her mind about them?

The narrator seems to make judgements on her co-workers based on their backgrounds and appearances. Kennedy is making it obvious for readers that the narrator is pointing out Dot’s outdated hairstyle, nervous nature and shyness to emphasis her judgemental personality. But then we find out later that Dot holds much wisdom and that her cleaning sales keeps herself and husband Len going. The narrator understanding that first judgements of people aren’t always the way.

5.       Why is Mr Moreton both happy and sad about his daughter’s visit?

He is happy to be seeing his daughter because he misses her, but he is sad because she is coming to say goodbye to him as he will be passing shortly.

6.       Why do you think the narrator decides to do what she does for him?

Out of kindness and empathy, she sees how nervous he is about seeing his daughter and the thought of passing away himself, so she helps him to feel more content. I think she realises that money is a lot less important than making someone feel happy, especially someone that doesn’t have a lot of time left.

7.       What does the passage on P56 infer about the meaning of the story? ‘….in the no-man’s-land of the hospital’s thermostatically cool interior, its sterilised world of hard surfaces, wiped clean and blameless.’

That in the nurse’s station they are very professional, sterilised and hard surfaces, that they just do their job, where the narrator is more human and has more empathy. The ‘cool interior’ refers to the Matron’s cold personality and the way she hates on the narrator for being friendly with Mr Moreton.

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1.       How are short sentences used to emphasise points? Look at the first page for examples.

For the most part, short sentences will be quite simply written. This will contrast to the usual/long length of other sentences and help to hold the reader’s attention and convey necessary information in a way that is easy to retain. Short sentences can also help with characterisation. For example it is known that the narrator is 18 years old and a cliché is that teenagers will use shorter or simpler sentences and language, reflecting their ‘inexperience’. Sentencing also help to emphasise on details, “Laminex and mirrors, that’s me” And “I don’t get this at first” Leaves no room for arguing and show how the character feels. The other main use of short sentencing in narratives is to develop tension. It can help to indicate that something is building or about to happen, creating suspense and uncertainty. This isn’t necessarily the case in Laminex and Mirrors but it does show how the story has built up when you compare the sentence lengths from the first and last pages.

2.       P39-40 the narrator discusses the pointlessness of what she is doing, interspersed with observations of the rhinoplasty patients, the hospital upgrades and the old wing. This passage is finished with Dot telling her how pointless the cleaning products are, even though she sells them. Kennedy has placed these ideas together….discuss what it highlights for readers.

Laminex and mirrors has a reoccurring theme of losing one’s identity and not connecting with what we believe in. This is reflected with how the narrator states of the many things within the hospital and her job being “pointless”. She is doing something which fruitless to her but knows that it is her responsibility for it to be completed anyway. The narrator often states that this is for her own self benefit, so she can escape overseas when she is done, but audiences are also shown how often her actions reflect a more selfless intent. This is seen when she purchases Dot’s cleaning products and by how in the end she takes Mr Moreton out for a cigarette; again something that she doesn’t believe in (products and smoking) but something that has to be done in other people’s interest anyway.

3.       How do the long sentences, such as the final one of the story, manipulate the pace at which you read? Find at least three of the longer ones to discuss.

The use of long sentences at the end helps to bring the narrative together by slowing the time and pace of the story to allow for reflection and contrasting to the short sentences at the start. By using long sentences Kennedy has allowed time for audiences to pause to think, as well as set a calm relaxed tone to her writing. This simultaneously contradicts the narrator’s thoughts as she is wheeling Mr Moreton into the hospital; she knows she will lose her job due to her actions but is content that she has brought some happiness to Mr Moreton before he dies.

On page 56 the narrator describes wheeling Mr Moreton back into the hospital. The sentence is long and helps to describe new sence of strength and pride Mr Moreton holds. Instead of simply saying “I wheel him back inside” Kennedy has used descriptive language to ‘show not tell’. This allows time to move slowly and for the experience to feel more personal.

The long sentence explaining how Matron will be waiting for the narrator feels long, boring and dull. Jumping from one idea to another quickly creates a sense of misplacement as the reader isn’t focusing on one thing. This sentence also indicates the narrator’s indifference towards the women and how she no longer cares of what they have to say or think.

This is greatly contrasting to the following paragraph were the narrator describes Mr Moreton, instead there is a sense of comfort and peace. The two long sentences allow a sense of continuation and completion at the same time. The story feels complete as audiences are able to understand what would happen after the writing stops, as all stories come to an end. However, just like the sentence continues, the unity between the two characters feels as though it will continue.

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‘She smiles thinly, a cup of tea and two biscuits balanced on her palm.’ – Marie in the storage closet
‘Inside each can is a toxic soup of ash, butts and other detritus—‘—Description of the ash bins.
‘You can’t tell if she’s pretty or not because of the swelling and bruising, and the black rim of blood around each nostril.’ – Description of elective ward patients.
‘Rust-coloured marks streak the surface under the chrome taps, where millions of leaks have dripped year after year after year,--’ – Menzies wing bathtubs
‘—sitting sheepishly in bed in his stiff new pyjamas—‘—Mr Moreton’s description
‘I hear the rattling undercurrent in it, like an old engine that won’t turn over, a battery that’s nearly flat.’ – Moreton’s breathing
‘--fitted out with the moulded, seamless shower recesses Dot mops every day, all laminex and mirrors, all reflective surfaces everywhere.’— Vision of rooms replacing Menzies’ bathroom
‘I feel the sinewy old muscle in his arm as he lowers himself—‘ Describing Moreton
‘fumbling for the brake on the wheelchair as we reach the tanbarked square of garden’ Heading outside from the hospital

Cate Kennedy’s utilization of sensory imagery to evoke emotions is apparent in Laminex and Mirrors, such as when she describes emptying the ash bins, going into somewhat gruesome detail on the contents of the bins; the use of the noun ‘soup’ comparing the toxic mess to a foodstuff truly depicts the monstrosity that our protagonist deals with. Her description of Mr Moreton’s breathing also stands out, the description resembling a vintage automobile – a comparison very appropriate to Mr Moreton’s depiction. The deterioration and desperate cling to life brilliantly illustrates the struggles Mr Moreton deals with, exemplified by his mention of marching the previous Anzac Day.

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Cate Kennedy’s use of language throughout ‘Laminex and Mirrors’ helps set the scene for the reader, and creates symbols and connections between past and present lives. Her use of adjectives and adverbs, “coolly,” “thermostatically,” not only paints a clear image of the rooms and Marie’s personality, but also sets up a hierarchy amongst the workers and the hospital. She describes the objects in the hospital as being large, with the “huge industrial benches” and “gigantic tureens of custard.” This makes the narrator look and feel small, like she doesn’t really belong here, hence her desire to go “overseas.”

In the beginning of the story, Kennedy juxtaposes the narrator with the seasoned workers to show a clear difference between their goals and personalities. When discussing the other workers, she uses words like “the cleaners,” going about “their morning tasks” in a “slow” manner, rather than using inclusive words like ‘we’, ‘our’ etc. This separates the narrator from being one of them, and is instead described as ‘eager-beavering’ and ‘intent on making a good impression’.

As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced to another character, Mr Moreton, “an old bloke, ex-army.” He is on his last legs, his lungs weak and frail. To emphasise his failing lungs, Kennedy constantly uses new descriptive words like “wheezing,” “sucking,” “gasping,” and “quavering,” indicating his old age and medical condition. Being an ex-army man, Kennedy makes connections back to those days by using war language and similes when Mr Moreton speaks. He feels the oxygen mask is “choking” him “like in the war.” When he asks about having a cigarette, he refers to how “they used to give us smokes in the army,” bringing forth the question of why he isn’t allowed one now. Towards the end of the story, the narrator is described as going “AWOL” with her decision to break the rules. This portrays to the reader the idea of this woman deserting her duties to grant the old man’s wish, that she is ‘Absent With Out Leave.’