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Atonement Part Three Notes

This document summarizes notes about similarities and differences between early drafts and the final published version of Ian McEwan's novel "Atonement". It notes that in early drafts Briony over-described settings without advancing the plot, and that the final version adds impact by showing Cecilia removing her clothes before the mistaken accusation. It also discusses how from the start, Briony's passion for writing and imagination shape her view of reality and cause her to irrationally accuse Robbie based on fitting events to her fictional stories rather than seeing reality objectively.

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Jennifer Polidano
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303 views2 pages

Atonement Part Three Notes

This document summarizes notes about similarities and differences between early drafts and the final published version of Ian McEwan's novel "Atonement". It notes that in early drafts Briony over-described settings without advancing the plot, and that the final version adds impact by showing Cecilia removing her clothes before the mistaken accusation. It also discusses how from the start, Briony's passion for writing and imagination shape her view of reality and cause her to irrationally accuse Robbie based on fitting events to her fictional stories rather than seeing reality objectively.

Uploaded by

Jennifer Polidano
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Atonement Part Three Notes

Similarities between Two figures at a fountain and Atonement. (First and final drafts of the same book.)
We have matters from the mans point of view, then the womans though we dont really learn much that is fresh. This changes in Atonement. The long grass stalked by the leonine of high summer this line remains the same. You both capture a flow of thought and represent it with subtle differences in order to make attempts at characterisation. Stream-of-consciousness improved increased depth. Response of the child at the window remains the same. Difference the woman goes into the fountain fully dressed to retrieve the pieces. The scene is irrelevant in the first draft as it is Brionys response to it that makes this scene important. In itself it isnt worth much. The short story changes into a full blown novel. In the first draft Briony over describes the scenery and setting, such writing can become precious when there is no sense of forward movement. precious meaning over stylization, too much description can be interpreted as the author showing off. The issue of whether or not Briony is telling the truth in the final publication of the book is still in question. At the end of the story, readers are still left with some uncertainties and grey areas. Cecilia removing her clothes in the final version aids Brionys misinterpretation and also adds impact on Robbie. The final version is more meaningful. The difficult long words in the first draft are a reflection of Brionys love of words.

From the very start of the novel, Brionys passion for writing is key to her personality and to the development of the plot. Discuss.
Writing and imagination shape reality.
Brionys irrational conviction that Robbie attacked Lola is caused be her tendency to see reality in terms of fiction. Brionys world is peopled by a heroine and her reckless passion, a wicked foreign count, and a doctor who is a prince in disguise. Reality is boring. She dismisses it. You saw the word castle, and it was there, seen from a distance, with woods and high summer spread before it . Brionys tendency to think words can create reality.

Transforming reality
Robbie and Cecilia, a proposal of marriage she herself had written a tale in which a humble woodcutter saved a princess from drowning and ended by marrying her. What was presented here fitted well. It is reality that needs to fit in with her stories, in Brionys view, and not the other way round. Briony thinks everything will be safe once she has written it on paper.

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