peter grimes

Question 1

“A father’s pleasure, when his toil was done/ To plague and torture thus an only son!”

Answer 1

Peter Grimes
analysis : This quote shows that Peter is a product of his upbringing and is not innately evil.

Question 2

“Another boy with equal ease was found”

Answer 2

Peter Grimes
analysis : In this quote, Crabbe is critical of the society which enables the criminal to repeatedly commit his crime.

Question 3

“His crimes they could not from their memories blot but they were grieved and trembled at his lot”

Answer 3

Peter grimes
analysis : The community has an ambivalent attitude to Peter, unable to reconcile its hatred of his crimes with its pity for his wretched state.

Question 4

“He toil’d and rail’d; he groaned and swore alone”

Answer 4

Peter grimes
analysis : This is after Grimes’ measly punishment. Nevertheless he suffers greatly from isolation so much so that his voice is diminished to the point that his curses are unheard of.

Question 5

“Pinned., beaten, cold, pinched; threatened and abused”

Answer 5

peter grimes
analysis : In this quote, Crabbe does not spare the reader with graphic details because he did not want his readership to be ignorant in the way that the townspeople were.

Question 6

took young Peter in his hand to pray

Answer 6

peter grimes
analysis : parents brought up Grimes as a Christian, nature vs nurture debate, pity and injustice for well-intending father

Question 7

murmurs were there and some questions asked

Answer 7

peter grimes
analysis : awareness of the abuse, social services deliberate ignorance towards it, easiest option

Question 8

Peter passed untroubled and unmoved

Answer 8

peter grimes
analysis : Justice failed on Grimes - danger of child labour. Lack of remorse for his actions

Question 9

Another boy with equal ease was found

Answer 9

peter grimes
analysis : corruption of the child slave-trade. Grimes’ lack of remorse for his previous murder, society don’t hesitate to allow him to have another child

Question 10

one of gentle blood

Answer 10

peter grimes
analysis : Third child has strong Christian values, innocence emphasises Grimes’ cruel nature

Question 11

My Lord, in mercy, give me time to pray

Answer 11

peter grimes
analysis : Irony as Grimes returns to religion at end of life, sense that it is done as fear for his afterlife and self-pity as opposed to genuine Christian belief

Question 12

‘Again they come,’ and muttered as he died

Answer 12

peter grimes
analysis : final line implies that ghosts have come to take him to hell, sense of divine justice

Question 13

Cold nervous tremblings shook his sturdy Frame

Answer 13

peter grimes
analysis : Grimes’ illness, sense of divine justice

Question 14

Alas, for Peter not a helping hand

Answer 14

peter grimes
analysis : Grimes’ isolation as a result of his crime.

Question 15

“At first refused, then added his abuse; His father’s love he scorned, his power defied, But, being drunk, wept sorely when he died”

Answer 15

Peter grimes
analysis : he could have killed his dad. Besides feeling powerless in the relationship, there is no particular reason he might have killed his own dad, despite resenting how pure and Chrisitan his dad was.​

Question 16

“stubborn boy from care broke loose, At first refused, then added his abuse”

Answer 16

Peter grimes
analysis : This was the beginning of rebellion against a standard life.​

Question 17

“with a greedy eye he looked on all he saw”… “he laughed at law”

Answer 17

Peter grimes
analysis : grimes is a criminal, he’s ruthless

Question 18

“He wanted some obedient boy to stand ,And bear the blow of his outrageous hand”

Answer 18

Peter grimes
analysis : Instigated the torture of slaves, the ones he owned and others as a whole. Also establishes the character as being cruel and evil.​

Question 19

The sum was dealt him, and the slave was bound

Answer 19

Peter grimes
analysis : Peter bought the slaves to beat, use and control them.​

Question 20

None could the ridges on his back behold…“Peter, dost thou give the boy his food?”

Answer 20

Peter grimes
analysis : Clear neglect, the boy is being starved to become weaker to make Peter feel more powerful.

Question 21

“Struck if he wept, and yet compelled to weep”

Answer 21

Peter grimes
analysis : The boy could only cry but was hit when he cried.​

Question 22

“The savage master, grinned in horrid glee”

Answer 22

Peter grimes
analysis : inflicting pain for enjoyment

Question 23

“Poor Sam is dead.” / untroubled and unmoved

Answer 23

Peter grimes
analysis : Peter’s deceitful/false sympathy, his true feelings afterwards when no one can see.​

Question 24

“stern Peter, with a cruel hand”

Answer 24

Peter grimes
analysis : he’s still beating the boys he owns, is now beating the third boy.​

Question 25

“He clung affrightened to his master’s knee”

Answer 25

Peter grimes
analysis : emphasized that it was child abuse.​

Question 26

“followed and cursed, the groaning man was led”

Answer 26

Peter grimes
analysis : he’s now being called a “man”, instead of Peter, he’s been reduced to his simplest form, just a man, less so than an individual. They “seize” him like a criminal, he’s being treated worse because he’s got a despicable/criminal’s reputation, but also because he’s lost his mind.​

Question 27

no success could please his cruel soul, He wished for one to trouble and control;

Answer 27

Peter grimes
analysis : assures that peter grimes is cruel

Question 28

He growled

Answer 28

Peter grimes
analysis : animalistic nature of peter

Question 29

‘Grimes is at his exercise’

Answer 29

Peter grimes
analysis : suggests he thrives at being abusive as it makes him feel​
powerful

Question 30

‘it chanced he fell’,’

Answer 30

Peter grimes
analysis : ‘chanced’ suggests a sarcastic tone - too much of a coincidence to be an accident.​

Question 31

‘manners soft and mild’

Answer 31

Peter grimes
analysis : creates empathy as he is described as passive and shy - feel sorry for him​