Life Class

Question 1

Initial setting

Answer 1

The Slade- prolific art school in London. Symbolism of wealth? Paul may feel separated.

Question 2

When was Pat Barker born?

Answer 2

1943

Question 3

What is the significance of Art in Life Class?

Answer 3

• Assyrian Empire and Ancient Egypt usually used art to glorify leaders and victories, no care for other soldiers.
• After Renaissance, more of an insight into horrors of war.
• Jacque Callot produced art about brutality of TYW.

Question 4

Give an example of art from WWI:

Answer 4

Otto Dix’s ‘Shock Troops Advance Under Gas’.
Modernist painter, fragmented view on war.

Question 5

Who is Eleanor based on?

Answer 5

Hilda Carline
Served in Women’s Land Army at trained at Slade School of Art.

Question 6

What is a common theme in Barker’s work?

Answer 6

Fictionalises real people.
Hilda Carline–> Eleanor and Tonks is a real figure.
Wants to bring a sense of realism into her work.

Question 7

Structure:

Answer 7

Switches to epistolary narrative.
‘Sometimes we’re in Elinor’s head and sometimes we’re in Paul’s or Neville’s’.
This is how we get a true insight into the love triangle.

Question 8

What brings the characters together?

Answer 8

Opposition through art, the love triangle.
But war brings them together.
Highlights the dynamic aptitude of war.

Question 9

What is part one of the novel representative of?

Answer 9

Life before a catechism.

Question 10

What does Chapter 18 highlight?

Answer 10

Loss of masculinity.
The removal of a man’s penis.
Glory of hero worship futile. Post-war period described as ‘the most expensive orgy in history’.
Sex no longer accessible.

Question 11

Religious imagery within Life Class and poetry:

Answer 11

Lewis- ‘I’m a Quaker’ and the triumvirate Neville, Elinor and Paul. Three is consistent throughout novel. Trinitarian imagery, father, son and the holy spirit. Ironic- In ‘Exposure’ and ‘Spring Offensive’, question faith.
For some, war strengthened relationship with God, for others worsened.

Question 12

What does the ending of Life Class provide?

Answer 12

Sense of incompleteness.
Vast emptiness

Question 13

What chapter is the bombing in the city?

Answer 13

25

Question 14

Quote that highlights Elinor’s naivety:

Answer 14

‘When the rumbling started, she thought: thunder. Good. She’d always loved storms’.

Question 15

Give examples of the brutality of war:

Answer 15

10- fight between Halliday and Paul.
18- penis.
19- suicide attempt.
26- boy losing arms, mother smothered him.
27-Paul cuts himself.

Question 16

What is the significance of the epistolary narrative?

Answer 16

There’s more certainty between Elinor and Paul when they’re writing than when they’re together.

Question 17

Change in setting:

Answer 17

Chapter 29.
Paul and Lewis leave the hospital.
In an area in ruin, effectively uses mise en scene to highlight the long-term effects of war.

Question 18

What happens in Chapter 1:

Answer 18

Introduced to Slade setting, Paul has doubts over ability.
Acts as the Exposition.
Get a sense Paul has some moral superiority.

Question 19

What happens in Chapter 2:

Answer 19

Bohemian setting, introduced to Teresa and Kit Neville.

Question 20

What does Teresa act as?

Answer 20

Somewhat of a Red Herring, Paul uses her as a means to an end for sexual gratification.

Question 21

Masculinity in Elinor:

Answer 21

Paul says she’s attractive in a ‘boyish’ sort of way.

Question 22

Teresa and Jack:

Answer 22

Chapter 4, ‘he’s put her in hospital twice’.
Chapter 6, we see Neville doesn’t believe Teresa talking about her husband.

Question 23

Where do we get the first hint of war in Life Class?

Answer 23

Page 62.
Page 93.
Chapetr 16- Germanophobia.