Jouney's End

Question 1

Describe what happens in act 1 part 1

Answer 1

Osborne arrives, hardy is drying a sock.

They discuss the trench conditions and hardy explains the present situation, refers to a map.

They talk about stanhope’s reputation and drinking, hardy leaves without seeing Stanhope

Page 1 - 8

Question 2

Describe what happens in act 1 part 2

Answer 2

Mason lays the food for supper and discusses it with Osborne.

Raleigh arrives. He and Osborne talk about his connection to Stanhope.

Osborne introduces him to trench life.

Mason meets Raleigh and explains the mix up over the tinned pineapple to Osborne, and leaves to dish out the soup.

Page 9 - 17

Question 3

Describe what happens in act 1 part 3

Answer 3

Stanhope and trotter enters the dugout, Stanhope reacts to raleigh’s arrival.

Food is served.

Trotter and Raleigh goes on patrol

Page 17-23

Question 4

Describe what happens in act 1 part 4

Answer 4

Stanhope talks to Osborne about hibbert, the conversation then turns to Raleigh and his sister.

Stanhope worries that his drinking will be revealed, so he decides to censor raleigh’s letters.

Both of them turn in for the night.

Page 23-31

Question 5

Describe what happens in act 2 part 1

Answer 5

Raleigh, trotter and Osborne eats breakfast, Stanhope is on duty and therefore absent.

The men discuss Stanhope.

Osborne and trotter shares memories of gardening.

Trotter leaves to go on duty.

Page 32-36

Question 6

Describe what happens in act 2 part 2

Answer 6

Raleigh tells Osborne about his first impressions of the frontline,

then Osborne tells Raleigh more about himself(mainly rugby).

Raleigh leaves to write a letter as Stanhope enters the dugout

Page 37-40

Question 7

Describe what happens in act 2 part 3

Answer 7

Stanhope gives Raleigh his orders and talks to Osborne about the need to strengthen the company’s defences.

Talk about the forecoming attack and the colonel’s news.

Discuss trotter and imagination.

Stanhope talks about his feelings.

Focus turns back to Raleigh and his letter.

Page 40-45

Question 8

Describe what happens in act 2 part 4

Answer 8

Osborne and Stanhope becomes silent when Raleigh enters.

Stanhope demands to see the letter and Raleigh gives in after some resistance,

Stanhope is ashamed and Osborne reads the letter.

Page 45-48

Question 9

Describe what happens in act 2 part 5

Answer 9

Stanhope tells the sergeant major that the attack is expected on Thursday and the company is to stand firm and not retreat.

Colonel arrives and tells Stanhope about the proposed raid, and suggests Osborne and Raleigh to lead the raid

Page 48-53

Question 10

Describe what happens in act 2 part 6

Answer 10

Hibbert tries to get sick leave,

Stanhope threatens to shoot him.

Hibbert stands his ground and Stanhope changes his approach to a more soft one.

Stanhope convinces hibbert to stay.

Page 54-58

Question 11

Describe what happens in act 2 part 7

Answer 11

Tea and bread are served.

Stanhope tells Osborne about the raid, then leaves to ask sergeant major for volunteers.

Trotter enters the dugout and he and Osborne talk(Osborne reads alice in wonderland).

Raleigh enters at the end, excited at having been chosen for the raid

Page 59-65

Question 12

Describe what happens in act 3 part 1

Answer 12

Stanhope and the colonel discuss last minute arrangements.

Colonel talks to Osborne and Raleigh and the goes with Stanhope to talk to the men

Page 66-69

Question 13

Describe what happens in act 3 part 2

Answer 13

Osborne gives his personal belongings to Stanhope.

Osborne and Raleigh talk over the raid.

They talk about home. Sounds offstage indicate the raid.

Page 69-76

Question 14

Describe what happens in act 3 part 3

Answer 14

Stanhope and colonel enters.

Sergeant major brings the german captive on stage.

Colonel questions the german.

Stanhope reports the deaths to the colonel.

Raleigh enters, is congratulated by the colonel and sits on osborne’s bed before moving

Page 76 - 80

Question 15

Describe what happens in act 3 part 4

Answer 15

The men sit eating and drinking, discusses women.

The talk turns to Raleigh and the raid.

Hibbert is sent to bed after Stanhope’s outrage.

Trotter is made second in command and raleigh’s meal is brought in

Page 80-88

Question 16

Describe what happens in act 3 part 5

Answer 16

Raleigh enters the dugout hesitantly.

Stanhope questions him for not eating with the other officers.

He is told to eat his dinner but says he cannot because of osborne’s death.

Stanhope becomes emotional and tells Raleigh to leave

Page 88-91

Question 17

Describe what happens in act 3 part 6

Answer 17

Mason wakes Stanhope.

Trotter enters in a cheery mood.

Stanhope sends a message to battalion headquarters and gives sergeant major his orders.

The sound of shells grows closer.

Stanhope tells trotter to take the others out to their platoons.

Trotter and Raleigh leave.

Page 92-96

Question 18

Describe what happens in act 3 part 7

Answer 18

Stanhope tells hibbert to join the others, hibbert tries to delay by sipping his water slowly.

Mason and hibbert leaves together.

Page 96-98

Question 19

Describe what happens in act 3 part 8

Answer 19

Soldier arrives with news from the front line.

Sergeant major is told to take causalties to a dugout on the right.

News of raleigh’s injury arrives and Stanhope orders that he be brought to the dugout.

Raleigh is placed on osborne’s bed.

Stanhope talks to Raleigh as he dies, leaves after a soldier comes to get him

Page 98-103

Question 20

Analyse act 1 part 1

Answer 20

Opening pages helps establish the setting as an unwelcome environment – chaos and untidiness shown through words such as “litter of papers”(p1) and “jumbled mass”(p1).

Also indicates the sort of conditions the soldiers are forced to suffer – disinfectants are added to drinking water to ill harmful microbes.

Hardy’s song – “tick! – tock! -wind up the clock, and we’ll start the day over again”(p1) – shows that the soldiers spend most of their days waiting, reference to time is repeated later on thought osborne’s watch – time is running out for these soldiers.

Hardy and osborne has very conflicting views about Stanhope – hardy sees him as a freak, giving the audience a bad first impression. Osborne argues back, saying he is the best commanding officer – shows the amount of loyalty Stanhope commands in his men

Question 21

Analyse act 1 part 2

Answer 21

Other soldiers call Osborne “uncle”(p10) – younger soldiers go to him for advice.

He and Raleigh discusses the fact that it is quiet, which foreshadows that something is about to happen.

Raleigh “I never thought it was like that”(p15) –shows his inexperience and also indicates the false expectations many had of war. Raleigh represents the romantic, idealistic beginner (his “boyish voice” is contrasted with a “gruff voice”). His hesitant speech and stage directions “self consciously”,”laughs nervously”(p10) suggests a young and inexperienced officer

Raleigh’s determination to join Stanhope’s company shows Stanhope is a person who commands loyalty(contrasting with hardy’s description)

Stanhope – Raleigh “mustn’t expect to find him – quite the same” - shows the huge effect war can have on a man

Talking about rugby and cricket reminds us that they had a life away from war

Comic relief – e.g. Osborne to mason about the canned tinned mixup “good heavens! It must have given you a turn”(p16) – helps lighten the waiting game of trench life, these diversions from their immediate surroundings were essential to survival for these soldiers

Question 22

Analyse act 1 part 3

Answer 22

Stanhope is startled and unhappy to see Raleigh – “dazed”(p18)

Stanhope described as having “pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes”(p17), this indicates the strain he has been under and the effect of war on men.

Trotters fascination with food provides light relief and humour, which helps distract them from their surroundings. They also show how trotter uses food to relieve the strain of war(like how Stanhope uses drinking) – “but war without pepper – its – its bloody awful”.

His comic play over the boxes also help light the mood.

Trotter is established as a different class from the other officers – he talks with a working class accent and has clearly not been to public school, but his carefree and jovial attitude to life helps lighten the atmosphere

We are reminded of the harsh conditions in the trenches – Osborne refers to the need for pepper as a disinfectant(p19) and when trotter talks about rats(p22).

“I wish we knew more of what’s going on”(p20) – suggests the men are clueless, they are simply forced to fight without knowing anything

Question 23

Analyse act 1 part 4

Answer 23

Hibbert introduces the conflict between cowardice and heroism, and also shows us the psychological effects of war on man.

Stanhope looks at things in a “rather black sort of way”(p28) – perhaps due to him feeling responsible for Raleigh and is torn between his desire to protect him and his selfish need to prevent the truth from reaching madge.

Him wanting to censor raleigh’s letters is a sign of the despair and paranoia he feels, also an example of the abuse of power that we see Stanhope demonstrate on a number of occasions, making us slight less sympathetic towards him

The closeness between Stanhope and Osborne makes the loss of Osborne later on greater.

At the end of act 1, Osborne winds up his watch – suggests to us that the move towards an end is only a matter of time

Question 24

Analyse act 2 part 1

Answer 24

Sheriff once again uses food as light relief after the tension earlier where Stanhope decided to censor raleigh’s letters.

The fact that a bird sounds funny to trotter suggests that sherriff is saying that men at war feel separated from the real world, so the normal rules of nature no long apply. This is shown as well in trotter’s story about mistaking the may tree blossom for gas.

The constant references to quiet are a reminder that the attack is imminent and foreshadows the coming tragedy.

The talk of duties and war mixed with jam makes us acutely aware how war has become the normal state of affairs for these men

Stanhope’s strong sense of duty is made clear – “nobody’d be well who went on like he does”(p34) – his service and dedication to his country is recognised and he is respected for this.

Stanhope telling Raleigh to go to bed “just as if raleigh’d been a school kid”(p35) – reminds us that they had known each other before the war and of stanhope’s desire to protect Raleigh as he once did at school, also shows raleigh’s childishness.

Raleigh sat with a “lowered head” – nervous and apprehensive, confused – gives the reader false expectations that Raleigh will write badly about Stanhope to his sister.

Question 25

Analyse act 2 part 2

Answer 25

Raleigh - “I feel like I’ve been here ages”(p37) – shows the grinding effect of boredom

Raleigh and osborne’s conversation draws attention to the divide between the men at the front and the politicians whose war they are fighting – Raleigh – “the germans are really quite decent”(p39) – they do not willingly kill the germans because they want to, or because they are ‘evil’, simply because the politicians told them to.

Sherriff demonstrates the futility of war when Osborne goes on to describe how, despite the enemy soldier’s compassion, “next day we blew each other’s trenches to blazes”(p39), Raleigh describes that as “silly”.

The talk of rugby symbolises the life these men had outside of war, where the games they played were not those of politicians but sport. Raleigh’s inexperience is once again demonstrated – suggests that Osborne should share his experience of having played for England, but does not recognise that “it doesn’t make much difference out here”(p38). The “natural”(p39) rules which Raleigh still follows no longer applies(similar to previous part)

Dramatic irony – Raleigh refers to writing a letter just as Stanhope enters – foreshadows the later quarrel between the two.

Unnatural aspect of war – world is “frightfully quiet and uncanny”(p37), natural laws dissolve, and time takes a new dimension “and yet I’ve only been here twelve hours”(p37) – the soldiers are forced the endure this world

Question 26

Analyse act 2 part 3

Answer 26

Stanhope demonstrates his leadership and strategic abilities – talk about “strong position”(p41)

Osborne reacts with an understated “oh well” after knowing they will be attacked clearly shows tension in the silence that follows

Osborne – “well, I’m glad it’s coming at last. I’m sick of waiting”(p41) – reminds us of the torturous effect of time, perhaps they would rather fight and die than continue this

Stanhope’s reaction to trotter’s chart – he envies trotter for his lack of imagination as it keeps him sane, something which Stanhope is not

Their discussion about worms – worms are found in dirt and earth and this is where they may soon end up, dead, being eaten by worms. Worm’s lack of direction is a parallel with their own feelings of hopelessness.

“all churned up like a sea that’s got muddier and muddier till it’s so stiff that it can’t move”(p43) – creates a vivid image of a chaotic world swallowing all in its path, and has reached a point where there is no way out. Developed in the end scene when the falling shells are likened to “an angry sea”(p103)

Question 27

Analyse act 2 part 4

Answer 27

Raleigh’s embarrassment and nervousness gain sympathy from the audience who are aware of stanhope’s state of mind and now see his uncontrollable behaviour, this along with osborne’s exclamation at Stanhope portrays Raleigh as the innocent victim in the conflict.

Stanhope also becomes embarrassed and ashamed of his own behaviour – “oh god! I don’t want to read the blasted thing!”(p47).

He then also ashamed at his underestimation of Raleigh after hearing the letter – e.g. sits with lowered head, heavy movements, murmuring

Sherriff has built us up to believe that Raleigh will have told his sister about Stanhope being a drunkard – e.g. his embarrassment and laughter, his desire to not send the letter after finding out, his reluctance to hand it over

The shining sun at the end of this scene is symbolic of the light of knowledge that the letter brings for all of us.

Question 28

Analyse act 2 part 5

Answer 28

From colonel’s speech we find out that the attack is confirmed to be on Thursday, a sure sign that there is no escape for the men, foreshadowing the coming tragedy.

Stanhope about Raleigh “its rotten to send a fellow who’s just arrived”(p53) – shows the responsibility he still feels towards Raleigh

Could be read as criticism of the way absent politicians and high ranking soldiers sent men to their deaths – the general, who is not present, wants the raid to happen in daylight – suicide

Question 29

Analyse act 2 part 6

Answer 29

We know that stanhopes mood is irritable due to just receiving the news of the impending raid and attack, we also know that earlier tin the play Stanhope had made clear his views on hibbert and his supposed illness – due to these we know that Stanhope is unlikely to view hibbert favourably, expecting conflict

Stanhope’s complete lack of sympathy towards hibbert may lead us to question his tactics and his personality – e.g. silent threat to shoot hibbert as “he takes out his revolver and stands casually examining it”(p55), and his later spoken threat – makes the audience feel less sympathetic towards him.

But his ability to win hibbert over later is a testament to his qualities as a leader – through changing his tactic, confiding in him in a way we have previously only seen him confide in Osborne “we all feel like you do sometimes”(p57), making hibbert feel he is not alone, even offering to “see if we can stick it together”(p57)

Tension is built up in this section through pauses, silences, Stanhope looking silently at hibbert and undoing his revolver holster threat of death, the countdown of seconds, the emotional outbursts and exclamations.

Sherriff uses hibbert to represent the image of a man who has been psychologically damaged by war – complete despair shown in his hysterical outbursts, complete disregard for his life when Stanhope threatens to shoot him – prefer to know when he is going to die and be “ready”(p56) than face the endless waiting, not knowing when or how his death will come.

Question 30

Analyse act 2 part 7

Answer 30

Osborne responds with “oh”(p60) and repeated “I see”(p60) – demonstrates his shock and recognition of danger – he has resigned to his fate.

Stanhope’s apology “im damn sorry”(p60) makes clear to us that he knows the raid will not be without its casualties.

But the fact that he can still recruit volunteers shows the heroism of the company and the loyalty Stanhope commands.

Osborne’s controlled and understated treatment of the subject in his conversation with trotter highlight the way in which people’s lives are being treated as unimportant.

Alice in wonderland – like the crocodile who “welcomes the little fishes in with gently smiling jaws!”(p64), the first world war enticed men to join up in the hope of glory, only for them to be used as cannon fodder

Trotter “I don’t see no point in that” and Osborne responds “exactly. That’s just the point” – highlight the useless nature of war

The senselessness of the world in alice in wonderland reflects the war and the world they live in.

Scene and act ends with lasting images of war, all are routine activities – nothing changes even as they are all about to die – Osborne writing his last letter to his wife, Stanhope going on duty with hibbert, raleigh returning from duty with all the excitement of a new recruit hungry for glory

Question 31

Analyse act 3 part 1

Answer 31

Stanhope’s nervousness is apparent in his pacing and his anxious look at his watch, indicating the importance of time.

The red rags the enemies placed along the wire suggests the men’s death and blood.

Repeated pauses – builds up tension, shows that Stanhope feels uncomfortable about the situation and is lingering

Colonel tells them to empty their pockets – indicates the high chance of them being taken prisoner

Question 32

Analyse act 3 part 2

Answer 32

Osborne, who is an experienced officer, recognises the dangers of the raid and passes on his belongings to Stanhope in preparation for the possibility of being killed – for the audience this signals the coming tragedy.

His awkward laugh and stanhope’s pauses and later laughter suggests the tension of the scene

Silences and pauses when Osborne talks to Raleigh once more indicate the fear and tension on stage

Osborne recites a rhyme from alice in wonderland

Raleigh’s repeated invitations to Osborne to visit “one day”(p73) are ironic given later events

Raleigh keeps on wanting to talk about the raid while Osborne keeps changing the topic – shows the difference between experience and inexperience

After this momentary relief of tension, Osborne looks at his watch, signalling the return to reality, Osborne leaving his watch behind shows that all the time as left him.

When Raleigh notices Osborne’s ring on the table, Osborne lies about his reasons for leaving it – once again showing us Osborne’s role as a carer – he is protecting Raleigh from the knowledge of his true motives and worries

Question 33

Analyse act 3 part 3

Answer 33

We see how little information is extracted and recognise how high a price has been paid for this when we find out Osborne has died

Stanhope wants to see the men after the raid and leaves the colonel to carry out the questioning of the prisoner – his loyalty is to his company

Raleigh’s behaviour and appearance suggests the trauma he has endured

“heavy guns booming miles away” – war is still going on, what happens to the soldiers does not affect the state of the war, their life and death is insignificant

Question 34

Analyse act 3 part 4

Answer 34

The feverish laughter and conversation acts as a stark contrast to the tension of the preceding scene

The setting is like that of the last supper, with the men celebrating like jesus and his followers did before they die

Stanhope asking for whisky on top of champagne is a reminder to us of the strain he is under

Stanhope confides in trotter as he did previously in Osborne– talking about hibbert’s “repulsive little mind”(p87)

Trotter “always the same am I? little you know”(p87) – gives us a brief insight into trotter’s character, suggesting that he too hides his own feelings. Still shows commitment to his duty and loyalty to Stanhope – “I won’t let you down”(p87)

Question 35

Analyse act 3 part 5

Answer 35

Silence on stage and raleigh’s halting speech suggests tension.

Stanhope “his hand trembles so violently that he can scarcely take the cigar”(p90) – shows how much strain he is under – Raleigh and the audience watch horrified

he scene ends with the personified sounds of war – “the impatient grumble of gunfire that never dies away”(p91) – reminds us of the constant threat of attack that trench life brings – “impatient grumble” – like a dissatisfied person, a symbol of the enemy, but also of war itself, an attack that has been kept waiting for too long – end of the scene – suggests the waiting has ended, attack is imminent

Question 36

Analyse act 3 part 6

Answer 36

Trotter is already awake before Stanhope and has woken the others – he is taking his role as second in command seriously – as he said he would previously

Trotter sings about a long trail winding – referring to the uncertain path towards death. This singing and stanhope’s joke of giving him coins for it lightens the mood as shells sound outside, suggesting the impending attack

Stanhope suggests to give all the men “a decent drop of rum”(p94) as encouragement – just like he did with Osborne and Raleigh before the raid – we expect of similar loss of lives

Stanhope’s message to headquarter and requests that there is no reply demonstrate his own expectation of tragedy

Stanhope’s whisky at an end – men’s lives and the play are drawing to an end too

Question 37

Analyse act 3 part 7

Answer 37

Shells are falling steadily – attack is in full swing

Hibbert’s appearance suggests that he is terrified

We lose some sympathy for hibbert as he tries to delay his duty

Question 38

Analyse act 3 part 8

Answer 38

Discussion over where to put sacualties shows that the facilities the soldiers had for dealing with the wounded were inadequate

Stanhope commands that Raleigh to be brought down to the dugout suggests the responsibility he feels towards Raleigh, enough to make him contradict his own earlier order.

Raleigh is carried “like a child in his huge arms”(p100) – this simile highlights his youth and makes the tragedy of his impending death all the more acute – sherriff uses him to represent the thousands of young soldiers who died in the first world war.

Stanhope makes osborne’s bed ready for Raleigh – Stanhope views him as his best friend now and recognizes the imminence of his death – changed from earlier when Raleigh was told to get off osborne’s bed

Stage direction as Raleigh dies – “the faint rosy glow of dawn is deepening to an angry red”(p102) – reflects the worsening of events, dawn is becoming tainted with the soldiers’ blood,

Raleigh “it’s so frightfully dark and cold”(p102) – could be talking about the dugout or death itself.

“red dawn”(p103) – symbolizes their lost blood

There is a stillness and emptiness at the end of the scene like the cold and dark of death to which Raleigh refers – we recognize the futility of it all

“dull rattle of machineguns”(p103) – symbolizes the continuing battle – the loss of one company is insignificant to the state of the war, soldiers’ lives are insignificant – also suggests there could by many other companies where such tragedies have occurred

Sounds of war are personified – “whine” and “great fury” – implies that once started, war takes on a life of its own, and becomes an unnatural life form whose hunger can only be satisfied by death

Question 39

Describe the theme of war

Answer 39

Raleigh’s youthful enthusiasm and stanhope’s hardened cynicism were typical reactions to the war.

The apparent complacency of the colonel and his lack of interest in those killed after the raid would have also been familiar to those who had been at the front line

Osborne finds escape in reading alice in wonderland – a world where nothing seems to make sense – reflects the war

Raleigh describes it as “so frightfully quiet” at the start of the play – still inexperienced at that point and shared the reaction that many new soldiers probably had

Themes of waiting and nothing happening is repeated throughout the play

Trotter’s circles counting down the hours reveals the tedious nature of war – it is a countdown until he can escape – each circle is the same – just like each hour is the same in the war, nothing happens

Question 40

Describe the theme of comrageship

Answer 40

The constant threat of death and the men’s subsequent reliance on each other create this special bond.

Stanhope draws on this bond when trying to persuade hibbert to stay – “shall we see if we can stick it together”(p57)

But this comradeship also leads us to believe that all of them will die at the end of the play

Question 41

Describe the theme of heroism

Answer 41

Sherriff presents us with two sides – the heroism and its cost. Only after his experiences of the raid does he realise the true price of glory and the futility of the attack, but with this as well as osborne’s death as the cost, he becomes a hero.

The death of Osborne and the others may seem pointless, but could also be seen as heroic sacrifices – sherriff recognizes and pays tribute to the heroism of the men of C Company - to him they represent all the men who died in the first world war

At the end of the play, sherriff reminds us that the price paid for heroism is blood – “the red dawn glows through the jagged holes of the broken doorway”(p103)

Question 42

Describe the theme of public school and class

Answer 42

The central focus on public school life, with talk of rugby, cricket and schoolmasters, acts as a bond between the men – allows them to view life at the front as an extension of school life – Osborne measures distances by relating them to rugby fields and Raleigh relates his fatal injury to one he suffered in rugby.

Osborne can be seen as an old and wise housemaster, Stanhope a head boy and Raleigh a newcomer who needs to learn the rules of school life

The only high ranking officer we see – the colonel – has a pronounced high class accent – acts as a huge contrast to the lowest ranking soldier we see, who is mason – suggests the influence of class in the appointing of rank – also reflected as the unsuitable hibbert and the inexperienced Raleigh is appointed a higher rank than the older and more competent sergeant major, but speaks in a working class accent

At the start of the first world war, only men who have been to public school could become commissioned officers, but this was changed and at the end, anyone could gain a promotion – signified by trotter, who has not been to public school, being an officer, and eventually promoted to second in command

Question 43

Describe how war changes men

Answer 43

The heroic schoolboy Stanhope succumbs to the allures of whisky and turns in to a drunk

The innocent schoolboy Raleigh is transformed into a confused, disorientated wreck

Hibbert resorts to lying to escape the horrific scenes of war

The play tells us how terrifying the war really was, and the fact that the soldiers weren’t prepared to face such trauma made the situation worse

Helped the audience at that time understand why those few men who did come back were so different

Question 44

Analyse the structure of the play

Answer 44

The whole play takes place over four days – the confined timespan, the claustrophobic setting and the overwhelming feeling of doom help to create a sense of unity in the play

The apparently disorganized nature of events is a reflection of the chaos of war where things do not follow a strict pattern

Question 45

Analyse Stanhope

Answer 45

Has not taken proper leave in 3 years – indicates his attitude to duty and his strength of character

Relies on alcohol to cope with the horrors of war – immediately introduced at the beginning of the play – “damn the soup! Bring some whisky!” – shouting also emphasises his desperation and dependence on it

Has high military standards, and extreme distaste at those who are not responsible – “you never saw the blasted mess those fellows left the trenches in”

Despite his experience in the war, he is still a young man – “kiss me uncle” and “tuck me up”

His dismissive attitude towards hibbert’s claim of neuralgia and a start lack of sympathy for hibbert reveals his intolerance and anger for those who only cares about himself

Has a love interest – allows the audience to feel some tenderness for a man who could otherwise have been seen as harsh and uncaring – also makes his death more dramatic

Raleigh’s hero worship of him shows that Stanhope is a man worthy of admiration

Can rely on volunteers for the raiding party, almost suicide – shows the loyalty he is able to command, despite drinking a lot

Greatly affected by the loss of Osborne – “he stands with his face towards the wall, his shoulders heaving as he fights for breath” – the physical manifestations of his grief reveal the difficulty Stanhope has with coping with osborne’s death

There are instances where stanhope’s strained nerves are evident, making us less sympathetic to him – e.g. mason fears punishment over a simply pineapple chunk error, Stanhope forces Raleigh to hand over the letter

Always places duty and the good of the entire company above all else

Refers to Raleigh as jimmy at the end of the play – caring for him as a close friend, not as an officer – this moving moment incorporates both the themes of horrors of war and reminiscence of home life – still resilient – manages to return to his duty after

Stanhope’s drinking dramatizes the stresses pf war -suggests of a fatal flaw in the ethos of the officer class who led the british army

Question 46

Analyse Raleigh

Answer 46

Presented as naïve, inexperienced, straight out of school, he is an idealist who views war as “romantic”

Described as having a “boyish voice” and hesitant speech, which indicates his lack of experience.

His youthful enthusiasm is evident thorugh his exclamations and expressions of awe – e.g. “she’ll be awfully glad I’m with him here”

His eager anticipation of meeting his hero Stanhope and his expectations about the war show that he views it as a continuation of boarding school

His enthusiasm at discovering that Osborne played for England as well as his earlier joy at the prospect of playing soccer shows his innocence – also underline his unrealistic expectations of life at the front, perhaps cause of the misleading government

His pride when having been chosen to go on the raid is contrasted with osborne’s resigned acceptance of his fate – shown the contrast between wisdom and inexperience

Represents the officers who have been lured into war by such means as propaganda and lies which were peddled to the population by the government

Compares war to a game of rugby – emphasises his childishness and his lack of experiences

After Osborne dies he dines with the soldiers – his coping mechanism could be being around those who have gone through a similar experience and share a sense of empathy – could also be the reason he asked to be assigned to stanhope’s battalion – they have been “through it all” during their school life

Raleigh epitomises the young men who died in their hundreds of thousands in the great war

Officers thought of themselves as different kinds of human beings from the men – Raleigh to Osborne when discussing the raid “ just you and me isn’t it – and ten men?”

Raleigh died within one week at the front line

Question 47

Analyse Trotter

Answer 47

Only officer who has not been to public school – of a lower class than the other officers – seen clearly through the way he speaks – e.g.”bloomin’ ‘oles”

Uses food and humour to relieve stress – has grown used to events that happen in the play – they don’t affect him as much – his coping mechanism is much simpler than the others – suits his simpler mind – he was the one who pounced on mason for not bringing pepper at the beginning of the play – the removal of his way of coping with the war created an internal difficulty, instigating his passionate respon

Relationship with Stanhope is much more formal – shows loyalty and commitment when made second in command
Promoted near the end of the play – shows how the use of a coping mechanism can help soldiers survive and thrive in the war

Question 48

Analyse Hibbert

Answer 48

We do not feel as sympathetic towards him as we do towards everyone else – tries to escape home through claiming to have neuralgia, boasts about his exploits with women at the celebration dinner after the raid, at the end of the play he fails to perform his duty by deliberately wasting time.

A clear contrast to Raleigh, who is willing to join his platoon at the front and eventually sacrificing his life.

Question 49

Analyse Colonel

Answer 49

Serves as a symbol of those complacent decision makers who show little regard for human life – views war as a game where all that matters is obeying orders – blamed for the loss of Osborne

Shows little compassion when interrogating the german prisoner – even confiscates his personal letters

A clear contrast to the hero figure of Stanhope – promotes the idea of “lions led by donkeys”

Question 50

Analyse Hardy

Answer 50

Provides a stark contrast to Stanhope – where Stanhope is calm, collected, organized and regimental, hardy is unorganized, brash and untidy

Uses black humour in order to cope with the war – allows him to distance himself from the horrors of war and also rationalizes and diminishes the war’s brutality and danger to something which can be mocked

Question 51

Analyse Osborne

Answer 51

The oldest member, has a wife and 2 children, former school master

Often referred to as “uncle” – makes clear to us his role as an adviser, party as an extension of his role as a schoolmaster, partly because of his age

Modest and experienced– does not show off about his achievements

Reads “alice in wonderland” – escapist literature suggests that he is trying to distract himself from the deadly raid – his coping mechanism is escapism – talks often of home life and reading escapist literature – the nature of the literature that he is portrayed to be reading has a classic “happily ever after” nature which could reflect that he still has hope in making out of the war and returning to a normal civilian life

His death marks a turning point in the play – raleigh’s visons of war are altered – confused and moved, and Stanhope has lost his best friend

Question 52

Analyse Mason

Answer 52

The soldier cook

His concern over having got the wrong tin of fruit and his reaction to the mix-up over pepper show his loyalty to his company

Serves as a reminder that normal activities still have to continue despite the war

Speaks with a working class accent – showing his lower statues and rank

Provides comic relief and a sense of normality to the play

Could be proposed that mason wishes to serve with the other men rather than as a cook – only noticeable in the final scene – he cannot do that due to his lower class

Question 53

Analyse the use of understatement, irony and humour

Answer 53

All the characters deliberately use very controlled language – suggests the way that the men come to treat an abnormal situation in a normal way – the use of understatement shows how normal the war has become – situations which would surprise us no longer affects them

Understatement also serves as a device to hide painful emotions, in the same way that humour and irony are used – e.g. “there’s nothing worse than dirt in your tea” – understatement and humour helps them deal with the horror of war

Question 54

Analyse the use of lighting

Answer 54

Stanhope move to shadows on stage when he wants to conceal himself because of sadness or shame

The red lights used suggest danger or death