The Cone Gathers - Perth Academy English



|The Cone Gathers |

|DUROR |

|Duror is in many ways the most tragic figure in this book. He also causes the tragedy for others. |

|He appears in Chapters 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,14,16 and is mentioned as affecting the thoughts of the other characters in most of the other chapters. |

|Look at each chapter and trace the stages by which he comes to his tragic end. Write notes on each of the aspects of his character which are shown in these |

|chapters. |

| |

|Chapter 1 This chapter give us an insight in Duror’s problem with Calum. |

|Gamekeeper setting traps |

|Watching Calum weeping over the rabbit |

|His thoughts about killing Calum |

|The imagery of sea sweeping over him |

|His feelings for the wood |

|Other people’s tolerance of the cone-gathers. |

|His watching of the cone-gathers’ hut |

|His attitude to the German extermination camps. |

|His sense of brotherhood with Calum and Neil |

|His thoughts about strong men dying in the war. |

|Chapter 2 Here we learn at least partly why Duror is so bitter. |

|Peggy |

|The doctor’s opinion of Duror |

|The tree outside his house |

|His arguments with Mrs Lochie |

|His attitude to his dogs |

|The talk of punishment and mercy |

|The Cone Gathers |

|Chapter 3 His plans to discredit the cone-gathers |

|Roderick’s attitude to Duror |

|Duror’s unshaven state |

|The story he tells Mrs Effie Morton |

|What he hopes to get from her |

|Chapter 4-6 The Deer Hunt |

|Lady Runcie-Campbell’s shops for the hunt |

|His suggestion that the cone-gathers should help |

|His knowledge of Calum’s fear of killing |

|Duror’s fear as he climbs the tree. |

|The organisation of the hunt |

|the killing of the deer |

|Chapter 8-10 Duror’s developing hatred of Calum |

|Duror telling Roderick that Calum is evil and hinting at the lie he had told Mrs Morton. |

|His memory of himself like a poisoned tree |

|The doctor’s attempt to explain what is wrong with Duror. |

|His observation at the inn of the soldier’s story of the monkey |

|Chapter 13-15 The Doll |

|How do each of the characters see the doll? |

|Duror |

|Calum |

|Mr Tulloch |

|Lady Runcie-Campbell |

|Sheila |

|What does this tell us about evil? |

|Chapter 16 The Death of Duror and Calum |

|What does Graham think as he sees Duror march off towards the cone-gatherers? |

|What does Lady Runcie-Campbell realise as soon as she hears Duror has gone? |

|Who does she realise will be most hurt by Duror's murder of Calum? |

|What is the significance of the way Calum hangs in the tree? |

|Why has Duror shot himself too? |

|Why does Lady Runcie-Campbell weep for "pity, and purified hope, and joy"? |

Essay: Choose a character whose downfall seems inevitable. Discuss how the author creates a sense of inevitability throughout the novel and yet maintains our interest.

This essay will require you to take the stages in the novel which lead to Duror's death. This is a suggested plan.

Section 1

Discuss the first two chapters showing how the hatred Duror feels for the cone-gatherers is described and explained. Comment on possible outcomes suggested by this description.

Show how the fear and tension are built up.

Comment on his relationship with his wife and his attitude to deformity

Section 2

Consider Duror's first attempt to discredit Calum and the different characters reaction to it.

Section 3

Look at the deer hunt. What seems to be happening to Duror during the preparations for the hunt?

What does he seem to think he has done when he kills the deer?

What do we fear he may do now?

Section 4

The further build up of his hatred for Calum.

Attempts to offer solutions or to help him.

The image of Duror as a poisoned tree.

Section 5

The doll. Look at how the reaction to the doll brings out the innocence of the other characters. Only he sees evil in it.

Section 6

The death of Calum

Duror's suicide.

Lady Runcie-Campbell's reaction to it.

Essay: Choose a character who is NOT attractive and explain how interest in that character is

nonetheless maintained throughout a novel you have read.

This essay will follow a similar pattern but in this case you are looking at the character and assessing your interest.

This interest will be maintained by emotions e.g. Pity, Fear, Sympathy, Anger, Indignation, Relief.

It will also be maintained by your wondering what he may do next.

Essay: Choose a character who has an important influence on the life of another character. Explain what that influence is and what is the outcome of their relationship.

Duror and Calum do not have a relationship with each other in the normal sense, but throughout the novel Duror is obsessed by Calum and Calum is conscious of the hatred and fears him.

Again this essay could follow a similar pattern to the first but in this case you are looking also at Calum's role in the relationship. This will show the innocence of Calum contrasting with the hatred and developing evil of Duror.

The death of Calum is the inevitable outcome.

Duror's own death can be interpreted in Biblical terms, like the suicide of Judas for betraying Christ, or as the expected suicide of a man driven to madness by his own psychological problems.

|The Cone Gathers |

|The Brothers Neil and Calum |

|NEIL |

|Write notes on the following: |

|Established facts about Neil |

|Age |

|Appearance |

|Background |

|His ability in the trees |

|His Views |

|His role as Calum’s Protector |

|On marriage |

|His attitude to Lady Runcie-Campbell and the aristocracy |

|His wishes for Saturday entertainment |

|His fears for Calum’s future |

|The opening Chapter introducing the characters |

|Neil’s views on their present job |

|His attitude to the rabbit in the trap |

|The Deer Hunt |

|How are his working attitudes upset |

|His fear for Calum |

|What does he know about his position socially? |

|The Saturday in Lendrick |

|Looking at the ships: his dreams |

|Attitude to Roderick |

|To Lady Runcie-Campbell |

|The soldier’s story about the monkey |

|The Storm |

|His beliefs on an after life |

|Attitude to forbidden summer house |

|Frustrations |

|His version of the events to Mr Tulloch |

|Roderick in the tree |

|His attitude to helping him; explain ‘a man can only surrender so far.’ |

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|Death of Calum |

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|The Brothers Neil and Calum |

|CALUM: Write notes on the following: |

|Established facts about him |

|Age |

|Appearance |

| |

|Mind |

|Skills |

|Background |

|Chapter One, introducing the characters. |

|His empathy with an owl. |

|The image of a monkey |

|His attitude to trapped animals. |

|His attitude to the war. |

|His attitude to the trees |

|Neil’s comment ‘is it daft never to be angry, or jealous or full of spite |

|Duror’s lies |

|Why might people believe them? |

|Deer Hunt |

|Why had Mr Tulloch and Neil tried to keep him from it |

|Why did he have to go |

|The death of the deer, |

|Saturday afternoon |

|Why does he want to stay with the deer in the forest? |

|His fears about Neil |

|The present |

|His attitude to conscientious objectors : ‘honest, generous and truly meek’ |

|Monkey story |

|The Storm |

|What does he believe about his mother? |

|What does he claim to have had? |

|What does he want the doll for? |

|What can he understand about Lady Runcie-Campbell? |

|How is his understanding different from Neil’s? |

|His death |

|What had Roderick wanted to do? |

|Describe the scene of his death. |

|How does Lady Runcie-Campbell see his death? |

The Cone Gatherers Essay:

Choose a character from a novel whose presence is of great importance to one of the main themes of the book. Explain his role in the novel and show how his fate casts light on the theme.

Take the theme of Good versus Evil and think about the character of Calum

Calum is in many ways a symbolic character

Look at all the references to his close association with animals e.g. the small birds in the trees, his understanding of the owl, and his sympathy with the deer.

Look back at the descriptions of his innocence, his lack of vice or even normal human weaknesses.

Think about his physical deformities. Notice that though some laugh at him it is never intentionally vicious e.g. the soldier.

Both Lady Runcie-Campbell and Roderick are striving for human goodness.

Lady Runcie-Campbell is distracted by adult considerations and fears. Roderick, a child, is naturally drawn to Calum and literally aspires to be like him.

Neil recognises his brother's goodness. He has given up his own life to guard him.

Only Duror hates him. He accuses him of evil but given the insight we get into Duror's own evil we can only accept that Calum is his antithesis i.e. good.

Many religions hold to the idea that when we sin we must pay a price. That price is to sacrifice something very dear to us. The better the thing sacrificed the better the chance of forgiveness. Thus in the Christian church Christ was sacrificed so that we might be forgiven for our sins. He was without sin himself and was crucified. When he died evil was defeated and the way for good men to go to Heaven was open.

Calum can be seen as a similar figure. He is without sin and when he dies so does Duror and evil is driven out of the woods. His death hanging from the tree with blood dripping to the ground can be seen as similar to the death of Christ hanging from the cross with blood dripping from the wound in his side.

Plan your essay.

A suggested plan would be to take the main events and show Calum's goodness in contrast to the evil in Duror and the inability of the other characters to protect Calum fully.

Section 1 A description of Calum and his character.

Section 2 An explanation of Duror's hatred of Calum.

Section 3 The deer hunt

Section 4 The doll

Section 5 Roderick's attempt to imitate Calum

Section 6 Calum's death

In each case the reactions of the other 'normal' characters should be taken into account. All the adults are worried by material, social and practical considerations which make them unable to see the truth. Only Roderick tries to ignore them.

Essay: Choose a minor character from a novel you have read and show how his relationship with one of the main character is important in the book.

Neil could be chosen for this.

Look at the way his life is entirely bound up with protecting Calum. Notice in the trees their roles are reversed.

Look at how he tries to protect Calum from the deer hunt.

He does have a day off on Saturdays but even that is spoilt by the 'monkey' story in the pub

Look at the beech hut incident. Calum almost seems less upset by it than Neil. He is not aware of social Issues

Look at the tension building up as we hope the cone-gatherers may leave before a tragedy happens.

Look at Neil's grief when Calum is killed. His is perhaps the greatest tragedy because now he seems to have no focus for his own life.

|LADY RUNCIE-CAMPBELL |

|Lady Runcie-Campbell is the character who watches the tragedy unfold. |

|She understands that there is something wrong with Duror. |

|She tries to look after the estate, in her husband's absence, both as a member of the aristocracy and as a Christian. |

|Her feelings are divided between these two duties which do not seem compatible. |

|She is the mother of the heir to the estate, Roderick. |

|She seems to take some meaning from the final tragedy. |

|Write notes on what we learn about her on these occasions. |

|Chapter 4: her first introduction into the action. |

|Her appearance. |

|Her character. |

|Her effect on Duror. |

|Her ideals. |

|'a hand outstretched to help him'. |

|The difference between her and her husband. |

|The Deer Hunt |

|Before the hunt: Her attitude to deer. |

|Her attitude to Duror's suggestion that the cone-gathers should help. |

|Her attitude to Calum. |

|Her hopes for the hunt. |

|What she thinks afterwards. |

|Sending the cone-gatherers away |

|This crops up several times. What are her motives each time? |

|After the deer hunt |

|After the incident at the beech hut. |

|The Saturday in Lendrick |

| |

|Her reaction to Roderick speaking to the cone-gatherers. |

|Her worries about bringing him up |

|Her concern for Duror |

|The difference between her attitude and Duror's. 'Rose thorns to the tiger's claws of aversion'. |

|Visit to Mrs Duror, Peggy: Chapter 10 |

|Why does she do it as a penance? |

|What is her attitude to Peggy? |

|What is her problem with being a Christian and a landowner's wife? |

|What are her worries over Roderick? |

|What are her hopes as she walks through the wood? |

|The Beech Hut: Chapter 11 |

|Why does she react so badly? |

|Why does she clash with Roderick? |

|What is Sheila's reaction to the two of them? |

|What do you think her father meant by ‘scruples could burn a heart out, if that heart was not fortified with a robust and intelligent appraisal of humanity"? |

|What do you think she is going to say to Roderick about ‘pity'? |

|The Doll |

|What is her first reaction to Mrs Lochie telling her Duror has the doll? |

|How does she respond to Duror's claims about the doll? |

|What does she realise when Mr Tulloch holds it? |

|What does Sheila add to the picture? |

|How is her memory of school girls looking at monkeys relevant to what she realises about the doll incident? |

|Roderick stuck in the tree |

|What does she realise he has been doing? |

|Why does she call it a sacrifice to send for Calum? |

|The Death of Calum |

|Graham becomes the messenger: he tells her Neil has said,' A man can surrender only so far.' How does she react to this? |

|Why does she nearly strike him when she says they will come if she goes herself? |

|What do you think she realises when he says Duror has gone for them? |

|Why do you think she feels these emotions as she runs towards the cone-gatherers and Duror |

|‘Fear, anxiety, love, sorrow, regret, and hope'? |

|Why not ‘anger'? |

|Who is she thinking of as she hears the shot? |

|What has she learned as she wept pity, and purified hope, and joy'? |

|Why is this scene most significant to her who has tried to live as a Christian? |

|Essay: Choose a character from a novel you have read who is in conflict with themselves. Explain the nature of the conflict and explain whether through the course |

|of the novel the character is able to resolve it. |

|Look at the main events through Lady Runcie-Campbell's eyes. Her Christianity is constantly at odds with her wish to do her duty as the wife of a major landowner.|

|Explain the way the two sides battle during the different incidents. |

|Decide for yourself whether you think she has reconciled them in the final scene. |

|MINOR CHARA CTERS |

|Mr Tulloch He is an outsider and can to a certain extent take an objective view. Write notes on: His appearance |

|His attitude over the deer hunt |

|His comments on the doll |

|His problem in his dealings with Lady Runcie-Campbell |

|Roderick is the heir to the estate |

|What qualities has he taken from his father? |

|What qualities has he taken from his mother? |

|What has he learned from his grandfather? |

|What is his attitude to the cone-gatherers, especially Calum? |

|What is he trying to achieve by climbing the tree at the end of the story? |

|Sheila |

|What qualities has she gained from her mother? |

|From her father |

|What is her attitude to the cone-gatherers? |

|to Roderick? |

|Write briefly what you know about: |

|Peggy |

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|Mrs Lochie |

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|Mrs Morton |

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Essay: Choose a novel which depends for its appeal on a variety of characters. Explain how the range of characters added to your interest in the novel and contributed to the themes of the book.

Though there are not a great number of characters in this book each one has an important role in the unfolding of the tragedy. The best approach would be to explain the main theme of the book, the struggle between Duror's evil and the innocence of Calum, and show how the other characters contribute to the situation which develops.

| SETTING |

|PLACE: The novel is set in the woods around the Runcie-Campbell estate. The nearest small town/village is Lenrick which is on the loch which leads out into the sea;|

|one incident takes place there. The individual scenes move between the cone-gatherers' cottage, the Runcie-Campbell mansion, Duror's house and the beech hut. The |

|woods are the centre of the action. |

|TIME: It is the second World War. None of the characters have been called for active service for various reasons; age, sex, sickness, belief, responsibilities. The |

|soldiers at Lendrick are the only active fighters. However. all are very aware of the war raging not far away. |

|PLACE The wood is to be cut down for the war effort. How does this affect: |

|Calum? |

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|Duror? |

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|Neil? |

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|Lady Runcie Campbell? |

|Both Duror and CaIum love the trees. |

|How does Duror feel about trees? |

|Before the story begins |

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|As the story develops |

|Calum |

|How does Calum behave in the trees? |

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|How does he react to the animals? |

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|How does he feel about the cones? |

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|How do the different characters feel about the buildings.on the estate? |

|The Runcie-Campbell mansion |

|The cone-gatherers' hut |

|The beech hut |

|Duror's house |

|Lendrick |

|Why does Neil like going there? |

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|The estate is a microcosm of the world. What does each character think this involves? |

|Lady Runcie-Campbell |

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|Neil |

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|Duror |

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|Calum |

TIME

The time is the Second World War. Explain how this has directly affected the following characters:

Lord Runcie-Campbell

Lady Runcie-Campbell

Duror

Neil

Calum

Captain Forgan

The Doctor

The soldiers at Lendrick

The conscientious objectors

Mr Tulloch

Many scenes are set against the signs of war in the area. Comment on these particular occasions:

The opening page of the book.

The end of Chapter 1.

The end of the book just before Calum is killed

Essay: In many books, setting in Time and Place is an important factor in influencing the main characters and determining their actions. By referring closely to one novel, show how the setting affected the characters.

For this question it might be better to look at Time first, then at Place.

Section 1.

How the war has brought everyone to the estate.

Section 2

How Lady Runcie-Cambell comes to be in charge, and what effect that has on the estate.

Section 3

How some characters are away; while others feel frustrated because they have to stay.

How the cone-gatherers come to the estate and how this affects Lady Runcie-Campbell and

Duror.

Section 4

How Calum fits into the wood but how the first crisis, the deer hunt arises. How, during the visit to Lendrick, there is a brief time of happiness.

Section 5

How Duror used to feel about the woods, and how he feels about the estate.

Section 6

How the crisis develops because of the incident in the beach hut, and leads to the final disaster in the trees with Duror's death contaminating the beauty of the promontory.

THEMES

RELIGION - Religious symbolism

There are certain aspects of the Christian biblical stories that we should at least think about as we read this book.

Jesus Christ was born to a virgin; His father was not Joseph but God, according to the biblical story. He was therefore born out of wedlock in the strictly Christian sense.

Jesus was a humble man, probably a carpenter.

When he started his teaching life he was taken by the devil to a high place and tempted by power. He healed the sick and performed miracles and attracted many followers.

He loved children and called upon his followers to regain the innocence of childhood. He told them to bring the children to him because of their innocence.

He was pursued by bitter opponents who resented and feared his power yet could not understand his teaching.

He preached the 'Sermon on the Mount' in which he said that the 'meek would inherit the earth'.

The Jewish priests and leaders feared and hated him.

He was betrayed by one of his followers, Judas, who afterwards committed suicide.

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Jerusalem, who had power and could have saved him, 'washed his hands' and tried to say it was none of his business.

He had to carry his wooden cross to the place of execution. A man from the crowd was made to help him carry it when he fell. The man is usually said to have been unwilling to help.

He died on a wooden cross, hanging there throughout the day. Finally his side was pierced and he bled to death.

Through his death, Christians believe that he bought us redemption. His sacrifice was enough to cause God to forgive us our sins.

Think about the characters and events in "The Cone-Gatherers', and then write down any possible parallels between this story and the bible story. Answer these questions.

In what way does Calum resemble Christ?

In what way does he resemble those whom Christ admired?

In what way does Lady Runcie-Campbell resemble Pontius Pilate?

Who does Duror resemble?

How does Calum's death resemble the death of Christ?

Many religions have the idea that only by sacrificing something pure can we appease the anger of the gods and make up for our sins. What sins have been committed or are being committed at the time of this novel which might require a great sacrifice to buy forgiveness?

How does Lady Runcie-Campbell feel at the end of the novel?

CHRISTIANITY

The Christian Church tries to give us guidance on how we should behave. These are some of the teachings of the Church:

Protect the weak; accept all men as equal before the sight of God; believe that a rich man is as likely to enter the kingdom of heaven as it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle; love our

neighbours; obey the ten commandments one of which is "Thou shalt not kill", and forgive others the wrongs they do as we would expect them to forgive us.

Christianity is specifically mentioned in the case of Lady Runcie-Campbell and her father.

What has she learned from her father, the judge? Chap 4, Chap 8, Chap 10, end of Chap 13.

What problems does this cause her: with her husband?

with Roderick?

Roderick was very close to his grandfather. How has this affected his attitude to:

servants?

Duror?

the cone-gatherers?

Calum?

What do you think he was trying to do when he climbed the tree?

Punishment: according to the Christian Church we will be punished for our sins but if we suffer we will be rewarded in Heaven in the after life.

.

In Chapter 2 Mrs Lochie repeats a conversation she had with Mary Black. What had Mary Black suggested about Peggy's illness?

What does Mrs Lochie think of Mary Black's theory?

What does she say about Duror?

Evil is seen as the opposite of good. In what way could Duror be seen as evil?

What kind of things does he say about Calum?

How does the doll bring out the nature of evil in Chapters 14 - 15?

Faith is the ability to believe in something without necessarily having logical evidence for it. Christians believe in an after-life in which we go to Heaven or Hell.

What is the difference between Neil's attitude to their mother being in Heaven and Calum's (Chapter 11)?

What does Calum claim to have seen?

DISABILITY

Two characters in the book have a disability Peggy and Calum. Peggy became disabled as an adult; Calum was born with a disability.

Duror

What is Duror's attitude generally to disability in animals and humans?

How did he treat Peggy when they were first married?

How does he treat her now?

What do most people think of his treatment of her?

What does Mrs Lochie think of it?

What is Duror's attitude to Calum?

How does he treat him?

What would he like to do?

What does he do finally?

Peggy

Describe Peggy's appearance.

Describe her room.

How does she occupy herself? How does she behave?

What does Lady Runcie-Campbell think of her?

Calum

Why does Roderick admire him?

What is Neil's attitude to him?

What kind of person is he?

What do children and strangers think about him?

What does the soldier at the Lendrick pub realise?

Essay: Think about attitudes to disability. What does their attitude to disability tell us about the different characters in "The Cone-Gatherers? You should consider the teachings of Christianity and normal human decency in your answer.

WAR

War is in the background of all the events of the novel. None of the characters who appear in the book are eligible to fight except for Captain Forgan who is on leave before going to war, and the soldiers who appear briefly in the pub.

At the opening 2-3 pages of the novel:

What is the general impression of the scene?

What indications are there of the war taking place in the world?

What signs of violence are there in the woods?

What does Calum think of this?

What does he think of war?

Just before Calum's death there is a similar scene. Why do you think the author wrote this?

The Cone-Gatherers

What is to happen to the forest as a result of the war?

What does Calum think about this?

What are Calum and Neil doing?

What is hoped for after the war?

In Chapter 11 the cones are described as being "as precious as diamonds" Why is this?

Lady Runcie-Campbell goes down on her knees beside the "blood and spilled cones" at the end of the book. What does this symbolise?

How does the war directly affect these characters?

Lord Runcie-CampbeIl

Captain Forgan

The soldier who tells the story about the monkey

How do these characters feel about the war?

Duror

Neil

The Doctor

Lady Runcie-Campbell

Why does the author comment on the appearance of Mr Tulloch?

The novel is set on a great estate during the Second World War.

Lord Runcie-Campbell is away fighting for his country but he is clearly concerned about his son and heir, Roderick.

What kind of attitudes does Lord Runcie-Campbell want Roderick to have towards "social inferiors"?

What kind of school does he want him to attend?

What does Lady Runcie-Campbell think about her husband's views?

What did her father Lord Forgan think about Roderick?

Sheila

In what way is she different from Roderick?

Roderick and the Cone-Gatherers

What is Roderick's attitude to the Cone-Gatherers?

Write notes on his different meetings with them and explain what other people think about his behaviour and views.

The Deer Hunt

The Saturday in Lendrick

The Beech Hut

His attempted visit to give them cakes

His attempt to climb the tree for cones

Neil

What is Neil's attitude to Lady Runcie-Campbell and the class she represents?

What is his attitude to the following occasions? To what extent does he feel able to express his real feelings?

The Deer Hunt

The Meeting in Lendrick

The Beech Hut

Roderick's being stuck in the tree

Mr Tulloch

How does class influence his working conditions?

Duror

What is his attitude to class?

Lady Runcie-Campbell

How has her father's teaching given Lady Runcie-Campbell problems throughout most of the book?

The Cone Gatherers

NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The novel is set in the heart of a forest which is to be cut down to supply wood for the war. However, the cones are to be gathered so that the forest can be re-sown after the war and it will grow again in its former glory.

Look at Chapter 1 Calum and Neil's talking about the cones.

What is Calum's feeling about the trees and the cones?

What does Neil realise about them?

How does Neil connect the cones to the men killed in the war and his own life?

Look at Chapter 11

What does Neil think is more important than the cones?

What, nonetheless, does he compare them to?

Look at Chapter 12 when Mr Tulloch watches Neil picking the fallen cones. "When he caught sight of.."

What does he think of Neil's actions?

What is the problem with the cones?

What is his final comment in that paragraph about the job the men are doing?

Look at Chapters 14 - 15. Roderick's climbing the tree. What has he been studying?

Why does he go to one of the largest trees?

What is be trying to do?

What does he realise about Calum?

Look at the end of the book (Chapter 16)

What is the link between the blood of Calum and the cones?

How is this symbolically linked to the death of Christ?

Regeneration: Animals

The trapped animals. What is each of these characters' reaction to the rabbits?

Duror

Neil

Calum

The Deer Hunt: What do each of these characters think about a deer hunt?

Lady Runcie-Campbell

Captain Forgan

Duror

Roderick

Calum

The Deer Hunt

What does Calum try to do the day after the hunt?

JOURNEYS

The characters make journeys both literally and metaphorically during this novel. Metaphorically they come to some form of self-knowledge.

Literally they move from one place to another.

Think about the kind of journey each of these characters makes. Decide to what extent it is literal and to what metaphorical. Describe its stages and say whether the end of the journey was what you expected

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|Lady Runcie-Campbell | |

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|Roderick | |

|Duror | |

|Calum | |

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Graham's journey is perhaps the most literal. He suddenly becomes a much more important character than he has been throughout the book. He has to bring back Neil's message to Lady Runcie-Campbell.

How does he react when he is first told to go the Neil and Calum?

What does he realise as he tries to deliver the message? Complete the quotation and explain it: "He felt that there by the giant tree

Quote his response when he is asked to return with Lady Runcie-Campbell and explain it.

Essay: Describe a character who makes a journey to some kind of self-knowledge. Explain the nature of the journey and show how the character's knowledge of self is slowly revealed. Did you find the outcome of the journey satisfactory?

For this particular question Duror and Lady Runcie-Campbell are the best characters to choose.

Describe the character at the beginning of the novel.

Describe different problems they face and what they learn about themselves from them.

Describe what they have learnt by the end of the novel and explain whether you think this

makes a satisfactory end to the novel.

The Cone-Gatherers

STYLE

Narrative: This novel is written in the 3rd person so the author has an omniscient view of events. The author enters the minds of the characters and tells us what they are thinking and what is happening to them. We see the events from different points of view throughout the novel. The author shows us events through the eyes of Neil, Duror and Lady Runcie-Campbell most of the time. However if it suits him he will look through the eyes of a quite minor character e.g. Mrs Morton, the doctor, Baird.

Look at Chapter 1.

The focus of interest changes from Neil to Calum to Duror depending on whose thoughts are important. Write down any thoughts they have which we must understand if we are to understand the events of the novel.

Neil

Calum

Duror

Indirect observation

If the writer does not want to tell us what one character is thinking he will switch to another. So we are told (Chapter l) that Neil is looking at the big house but then we are told that Calum did not know what he was thinking. We only discover later that Neil is probably resenting the power of the landowners.

What does this tell us about Calum?

This same technique is used at the end of the novel when Lady Runcie-Campbell weeps over "the blood and the spilt cones". Baird does not understand; he is shocked but because we watch her through his eyes we are left to interpret from past actions whv she is weeping.

What does this tell us about Lady Runcie-Campbell?

Dialogue helps us by telling what the characters say.

It is assisted by the verbs used to describe the speech: "wailed", "cried" e.t.c.

Write down other examples.

I

The description of actions also adds to our understanding: "ran stumbling and whimpering"

Write down other examples.

I

Description highlights the setting and also the themes.

Look at Chapter 1 The different techniques are employed in this chapter and are used throughout the novel

How do the first two paragraphs bring out the themes of the whole book?

Calum imagines himself as the Owl. Explain how this highlights Calum' s empathy with Nature.

Look at the description of Duror as he watches the cone-gatherers. How does the part starting, "He had waited for over an hour to the end of the next paragraph to the trees about him", explain his state of

mind

The description of the cone-gatherers' hut is seen through Duror's eyes. How are its sordid aspects emphasised?

How is his character revealed as the description continues?

The Cone-Gatherers Symbolism Look back to the section on Religion where much of the biblical symbolism is looked at. Once the possible implication of many of the incidents is recognized more and more parallels are seen. e.g. old Graham carrying the deer and having no one to help could be compared with Nicodemus who was called out of the crowd to carry Christ's cross for him on the way to his death.

Write down one or two other phrases which could be seen as having a religious parallel.

Religious symbolism pervades the story, but other objects become symbolic often having different implications in different situations.

Trace the different significances attached to these objects:

Monkeys

the doll

Look at the descriptions of Duror and the trees. How are trees used to convey the growing evil in him?

The Jews and those being persecuted by the Nazis are mentioned twice. Explain the significance of each example

Chapter 1 "He had heard they were..."

Chapter 7 "They were not Jews..."

Essay: Discuss the style of a novel which you have enjoyed and explain how such features as Narrative technique, Structure, Character, Plot, and Language added to your enjoyment.

Even if a question does not make as clear as this one exactly what is required remember that all these features go to make up the style or way a novel is written. However, you must comment on the type of characters, the sort of setting, the way the themes are embedded into the plot and characters and how the language features suit the kind of story that is being told.

Plot/Structure: In this novel the plot progresses naturally from the opening to the final tragedy. It happens over a short time. We are told in Chapter 1 that Duror can hardly stop himself from shooting Calum and there is a sense in which we are expecting it all the time. It seems inevitable. The killing of the deer is a mistake which merely puts of the evil hour. We might wonder if he is going to harm Peggy also and this adds to the tension. Suspense is seen in the last chapter. The story takes place over about three days rather like a classical tragedy and this increases the intensity of the action. Look back at the section on journeys to see how each character progresses towards the final catastrophe.

Setting: Look back on the section on setting and show how the setting contributes to the themes of the story.

Characters: Look back on the characters and show how they each represent an essential part in the final tragedy. Note here how the shifting focus of attention adds to our appreciation of events but also adds to the tension.

Description: Notice how this adds to the themes especially to the background of the plot.

Symbolism: In this novel symbolism must be discussed even if you do not agree that all the objects and events can be seen as symbolic.

Finish your essay by saying what your final response is to the events, having taken into account the way they are presented to you.

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