Atonement London 1999 Flashcards
What does Briony learn the day before her seventy-seventh birthday?
That she has vascular dementia.
Why does Briony visit the Imperial War Museum?
To make sure the archives are in order before she loses her memory.
Who does Briony see leaving the museum as she arrives?
Paul and Lola Marshall (Lord and Lady Marshall).
What does Briony note about the Marshalls’ appearance?
Paul looks well for eighty-eight
Why is Lola’s longevity significant to Briony?
Because it means Briony cannot publish her book while Lola is still alive.
What does Briony give the Keeper of Documents?
A bundle of letters from Corporal Nettle about Dunkirk.
What does the Keeper give Briony?
Notes from an amateur historian suggesting revisions for her latest manuscript.
What does Briony reflect on back at her flat?
A picture of her late husband
Where is Briony taken for her birthday dinner?
Her old family estate
What does Briony notice about the estate?
The lake and island are gone
How does Briony feel about the changes to the estate?
She feels no nostalgia and is glad people can enjoy it now.
Who are some of the guests at Briony’s party?
Leon
What special performance do the children put on?
The Trials of Arabella.
What keeps Briony awake after the party?
Thoughts about her latest novel and the truth it contains.
What is different about the latest version of her novel?
It ends with Robbie and Cecilia reunited in London.
What is the truth about Robbie and Cecilia?
Robbie died of sepsis on the way to Dunkirk. Cecilia was killed by a bomb in the London Underground.
Why doesn’t Briony end the story with the truth?
She wants to offer them a final kindness through fiction.
Why can’t Briony publish the book during her lifetime?
Because Paul and Lola could sue her for libel.
What does Briony believe will happen to them all after death?
They will only exist as creations of her imagination.
How does Briony imagine the final scene?
Robbie and Cecilia attending her birthday party
