Lighthouse Quotes Flashcards
“Bobby playing on the beach with his pail and spade”
Epitome of an idylic childhood scene. Wholesome and traditional. Bobby is content and playful here. Seaside setting is immediately established in a positive, contrasting wih later in the story when seaside becomes a scene of tradegy and horror. (Characterisation and setting)
“At three and a half years, he had the face of an angel, but his appearance belied a strong determination to have everything his own way”
Here, we are given the immediate impression that Bobby’s is of a very young age, highlighting his potential vulnerability. The metaphorical description of “face of an angel” creates images of goodness, innocence, and even perfection. However, his “strong determination” highlights that he has another side: he is wilful, forceful, and stubborn, demanding “everything” as he pleases. (Characterisation and metaphor)
“Im going, and i hope a monster doesn’t get you”
Evidence of Megan’s propensity for nastiness. Also behaving like a classic “big sister”, teasing little brother/trying to scare him. Megan’s manipulative side is also demonstrated here as she makes up a threat to get your own way. Megan and Bobby probably picture a traditional storybook monster, but little do either of them know that the monster in the story will end up being a human man (Characterisation and foreshadowing)
“Together, they walked along in a friendly way, going at a pace that suited them both”
Despite squabbles and conflict, there is also harmony. Relationships ebbs and flows; they’re clearly close and comfortable with each other (Characterisation)
“The day was warm but with a bit of wind”
“Warm” = pleasant, comfortable. “But” = turning point in sentence suggests there’ll also be turning point in story. “Bit of wind” = potential for unsettled/things won’t stay the same (setting and pathetic fallacy)
“Megan lost her temper. “If you dont start moving, I’ll slap your face.””
Aggressive/bossy tone. Willing to resort to violence. Makes reader wonder: perhaps Megan influenced by her parents - in her ‘caring’ role for Bobby shes using threats shes heard her parents use. Raises concerns (Characterisation and tone)
“The woman studied them through thoughtful, narrowed eyes. “Do your parents know you’re out here in this lonely place?””
First adult perspective in the story helps readers to realise the situation is concerning. “Thoughtful, narrowed eyes” and “studied” = lone young children are an unusual sight and the woman is trying to assess the situation. “This lonely place” = first time the reader explicitly made aware of starkness and potential danger of setting (compared with intial, positive impression.) (Word choice and setting and contrast)
"”Mummy and daddy will be put in jail for neglecting us…””
Odd thought/knowledge for a 10 year old child to have - almost as if Megan had heard this somewhere else - perhaps from parents or social work involvement. Suggests theme of parental neglect. Evokes sympathy in reader (theme)
“…she was forced to put a hand over his mouth.”
Megan trying to protect them from further interference from the dog walker. Also emphasises her forceful manner. Foreshadows dark ending when man put his hand over Megans mouth but in a much worse way. (Foreshadowing/Characterisation)
“Arent they pretty,” she said, just ws he threw a stone into the pool, causing them to disappear
Potential deaper meaning - pleasant, playful enviroment is ruined by violent action/innocent, sweet creatures are disturbed and “disappear”. Could link to later in the story when man interferes with the two children and, ultimately, both vanish from society (foreshadowing/symbolism)
“They found they were on a golf course stretching for miles, with nobody on it but a man in a grey track suit”
"”Stretching for miles” - large expanse of land as far as can see highlights how far away from safety the children are/how vulnerable they are in comparison to the setting. “Nobody on it” emphasises the singularity of the man; no other adults are around
“Track suit” - immediately unsettling and out of place on a golf course, which has strict dress code (not a track suit). “Grey” has connatations of ambiguous (neither black nor white) - unclear what kind of person he is at first. Also connatations of bland, indistinctive and unremarkable. Significant as it highlights how easy it will be for the man to commit crimes/leave scene of crime and blend back into society without being noticed. (Setting/Characterisation/symbolism/connatations)
“He called on her to come back, though it was doubtful she heard him above the cries of the seagulls..”
Evokes sympathy from the reader as Bobby wants his big sister but shes left him. Sensory description/pathetic fallacy - loud sound would muffle the sound of him calling out. Again, nature seems to be working against the children. Also word choice of “cries” has connatations of upset/fearful young children. (Pathetic fallacy/Characterisation)
“It was much more boring from this angle that it had seemed from a distance. She wished she’d never come.”
Anti-climatic moment. Megans wish has been a disappointment. Creates a sense of youthful excitment being ruined and tainted with regret. Seems that nothing good will come from this day. (Setting/Characterisation/anti-climatx)
“The sea was stormy now with the waves lashing over the rocks”
Links to/contrasts with “bit of wind” at the start. Pathetic fallacy - situation is now intense. “Lashing” = violent verb highlighting settings risk/haram that can be caused. (Setting/pathetic Fallacy/word choice)
“Suddenly her attention was riveted to what looked like a body in the water…it was only a mooring buoy. She laughed at her mistake then began to feel uneasy.”
Sinister foreshadowing of the actual body (megans) that ends up in the water. A retrospectively chilling description. Even the reailty - a “buoy” - is a play on words that sound very similar to “boy”, suggesting that bobby is in danger. Feeling “uneasy” immediately after trying to laugh it off highlights that megan is unable to relax and the reader senses that threat is still very present. (Setting/Characterisation)
