The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Alyssa Schell https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi Alyssa Schell en-us 2019-03-25 20:53:26 UTC 2026-02-19 22:15:08 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Doubleheart.png Theme alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345023910 Having a group of close friends during a time of crisis can be the greatest distraction.]]> 2019-03-25 21:16:04 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345023910 "Charles Lamb made me laugh during the German Occupation, especially when he wrote about the roast pig. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society came into being because of a roast pig we had to keep in secret from the German soldiers, so I feel a kinship to Mr. Lamb" (Shaffer 9). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345024506 During World War II, German soldiers occupy much of the English island called Guernsey where people are limited to resources, including their own livestock. In the novel, a group of Islanders meet up in secrecy to cook a pig they are able to hide from the German soldiers. They all have a nice dinner with the resources they could find, which marks the birth of the Literary and Potato Peel Society. The group of Islanders bond over the hardships of the war and distract themselves by reading books. Dawsey feels a connection to one of the authors who writes about the roast pig since he is there at the pig dinner. Therefore, Dawsey's distraction from the war is relating his hardships with the books he reads for the society. ]]> 2019-03-25 21:19:08 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345024506 "The old adage-humor is the best way to make the unbearable bearable-may be true" (Shaffer 33). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345028854 Books are very limited to the Islanders after the German Occupation. Many of the Islanders in the novel prefer to read more of the humorous novels to help them escape the harsh reality of a brutal war during World War II. Juliet makes this assumption to indirectly remind Dawsey to find a way to not think of the unbearable, meaning the war, and to draw his focus more on the bearable aspects of life. Together, Juliet and Dawsey distract themselves through their love for literature, which is how Dawsey meets Juliet in the first place. They send each other letters about finding more books to read and slowly start a friendship founded on this love for literature.]]> 2019-03-25 21:41:13 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345028854 "I began to go to meetings, and I'm glad I did, else how would I have read the works of William Wordsworth- he would have stayed unknown to me. I learned many of his poems by heart" (Shaffer 72). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345029771 Many of the islanders write to Juliet in London to tell them about their experiences with the literary society back in Guernsey. The members are very thankful they go to the meetings because it serves as an enjoyable pastime for the members to forget about their losses from World War II. This particular member, Clovis Fossey, talks about how being a member of the literary society has opened him up to new types of literature and authors. His pastime of reading poetry stimulated a way to help him draw his energy into poetry and less of it in worrying about the German Occupation. ]]> 2019-03-25 21:46:25 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345029771 "It's death that goes on; Ian is dead now and will be dead tomorrow and next year and forever. There's no end to that. But perhaps there will be an end to the sorrow of it. Sorrow has rushed over the world like the waters of the Deluge, and it will take time to recede" (Shaffer 104). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345031234 One of the main emotions felt during any war is sorrow. Amelia's son dies during World War II, Amelia hates the constant reminder of people telling her that "life goes on." As a founding member of the literary society, she forms a bond with the members to talk about her feelings and find ways to relate with the books she reads. She then goes into mentioning hope and happiness that Juliet can maybe bring back to the island to get rid of the sorrow the Germans have left on Guernsey. Finally, Amelia goes on to say that sorrow will not last forever and will eventually "recede" by going back to the way life is before the war. ]]> 2019-03-25 21:54:02 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345031234 "Elizabeth was my friend, and in that place friendship was all that aided one to remain human" (Shaffer 178). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345034885 During the war, the value of humanity is lost since the German soldiers treat the islanders poorly, with a few exceptions; therefore, humanity is lost during this time. However, the value of friendship seems to be one of the only ways to save humanity during this time since friendships help the Islanders cope with the hardships and mistreatment. Having a friend also helps with the loneliness that the war brings on since families are separated to protect the children. Elizabeth McKenna is a friend to everyone, and her friendship helps those in need of comfort while their significant others are fighting in the war. She helps form the literary society, which helps fight this battle of loneliness by the distraction of books. ]]> 2019-03-25 22:16:41 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345034885 "Each day I learn something new about Elizabeth. How I wish I had known her myself! As I write, I catch myself thinking of her as a friend, remembering things she did as though I'd been there- she's so full of life that I have to remind myself she's dead, and then I feel the wrench of losing her again" (Shaffer 228-229). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345039409 Elizabeth is one of the founding members who is central to the literary society. Although Juliet never gets the chance to meet her, Juliet feels a connection with her through the involvement of the literary society. When Juliet says she often catches herself "thinking of her as a friend," she believes she is there when Elizabeth is still alive. Juliet and Elizabeth are very similar in that they dedicate their time to the literary club and are very passionate in their work. Juliet even chooses to adopt Elizabeth's daughter, Kit, since she feels the love that Elizabeth would have felt for her own daughter. Juliet and Elizabeth both have created great friends through this club, as they both make sure everyone can be kept distracted through the love of reading to pass time. ]]> 2019-03-25 22:44:36 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345039409 "The story is about to begin, and everyday will be a new piece of the plot" (Shaffer 274). alyssa_schell1 https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345040504 Juliet ends by saying how her life is finally coming all together. Even though her life is still in the beginning, there will still be more to fill in as each day passes. She is the reason for picking the island back up from what Elizabeth starts before passing away. Her contributions to the island are also just the beginning since she will now reside there with her husband, Dawsey. Dawsey also plays a big role in the growth of the literary society. If it is not for Dawsey, the society would have never met Juliet or acquired more books for the members to read as a way of distraction through the rough times of the war.]]> 2019-03-25 22:51:40 UTC https://padlet.com/alyssa_schell1/gi5l1ku8jlyi/wish/345040504