Trotter

Question 1

Stanhope’s contempt for Trotter

Answer 1

• ‘I suppose all his life Trotter feels like you and I do when we’re drowsily drunk.’
• I’m going to draw a picture of Trotter being blown into pieces.’
• ‘I suppose Trotter look at that wall he just sees a brown surface. He doesn’t see into the earth
  beyond-the worms wandering about round the stones and roots of trees.’
• ‘Always the same, am I?(he sighs) Little you know- ‘
• ‘You never get sick to death of everything, or so happy you want to sing.’
• ‘look ‘ere skipper, its nearly eight now i couldn’t we make it ‘alf past?’

Question 2

Coping mechanisms

Answer 2

1. ‘Well it won’t let me cut it.’
2. ‘I’m going to draw a hundred and forty-four little circles on a bit o’ paper…’
3. ‘Well, come on, my lad, lets go and see about this ‘ere war.’
4. ‘The big attack soon, I reckon. I don’t like it, uncle. Pass the jam.’
5. ‘Ad some find ‘olly ‘ocks out the back. One year I ‘ad one eight feet ‘igh. Took a photo of it. (He jumbles in his pocket case) Like to look at it?’

Question 3

Food

Answer 3

1. When Mason reveals that he hasn’t bought the pepper, Trotter ‘ [throwing his spoon with a clatter into the plate?] Oh, I say, but damn it! … I mean - after all - war’s bad enough with pepper-[noisy sip] -but war without pepper - its -its bloody awful!’
2. ‘I never knew anything like a war for upsetting meals.’
3. ‘You might leave my apricots out, Mason. Put in on a separate plate and keep ‘em in there.’
4. ‘Well, take the lumps out o’ mine.’

Question 4

Illuminates nature of war

Answer 4

1. ‘I’m going to draw a hundred and forty-four little circles on a bit o’ paper…’
2. ‘Isn’t it lovely! Makes you feel sort of young and ‘opeful. ‘… and damned is a bloomin’ little bird didn’t start singing!’
3. Tells the audience about a raid a company did and how the Germans knew exactly where they were going to go. However, the raid wasn’t cancelled. Trotter comments, ‘It was murder. Doesn’t this tea taste of onions?’
4. ‘my wife reads the papers every morning and write and tells me.’
5. ‘ still I’d rather ‘ave a bang or two than this damn quiet.’