Kenilworth by Walter Scott- An Analysis

Kenilworth

-by Walter Scott

Important Places and Characters

·         The village of Cumnnor

·         Bony Black Bear Inn

·         Giles Gosling- keeper of Bony Black Bear Inn

·         Cicely- daughter of Giles Gosling

·         Michael Lomborne- nephew of Giles Gosling

·         Laurence Goldthread- mercer (a merchant dealing in fabrics especially silks and other fine clothes

·         Edmund Tressilian of Cornwall- Lord Deputy of Ireland- agent of Monseiur – Duke of Medina

·         Anthony Forster- one who takes care of Amy in Abbot Residence

·         Janet- daughter of Anthony Forster

·         Abbot Residence- Once it was a monastry

·         Amy Robsart- Robert Dudley’s wife and daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart

·         Sir Hugh Robsart- Son of Old Roger Robsart

·         Devonshire- native place of Sir Hugh Robsart

·         Richard Varney- trusted assistant of Earl of Leicester

·         Dudley, Earl of Leicester- Queen’s favourite and husband of Amy

·         Wayland Smith- Trusted assistant of Edmund Tressilian

·         Doctor Doboobie @ Alasco- Demetrius

·         Michael Mumblazon- one who gives 300 pounds for filing the case against Earl of Leicester

·         Ratcliff, Earl of Sussex

·         Walter Raleigh

·         Blount- Knighted at Kenilworth

·         Staple

·         July 9, 1575

·         Master Domine Holiday- one who takes Tressilian to Wayland Smith.

·         Walter Raleigh- one who throws his cloak in front of the queen on the mud for the queen to walk.

Short Summary

The novel opens in Bony Black Bear Inn owned by Giles Gosling. He just welcomes his mischievous nephew Michael Lambourne on his return from Flanders. He boasts his services in the army. A party is arranged to celebrate the return of Lambourne. He invites the Cornishman, Tressilian, and other guests to drink with them. During the party Lambourne comes to know about a certain young lady under the steward Foster's charge at Cumnor Place. It was owned by the Earl of Leicester.  Tressilian and Lambourne visit the place. On arriving there Tressilian finds out that this lady is his former lady-love, Amy. He offers to take her home, but she refuses. As he is leaving, he quarrels with Richard Varney, the earl's squire. Varney announces the arrival of the Earl. He hands over Amy the gift sent by the Earl. During the visit of the Earl, Amy pleads to make their marriage public but he refuses the resentment of Elizabeth.

Varney employs Lambourne to spy Tressilian. Warned by his host, Tressilian leaves Cumnor by night and reaches the residence of Sir Hugh Robsart, Amy's father. Returning to London, Tressilian befriends Wayland Smith who cures the Earl of Sussex of a dangerous illness. They plan to bring Amy's case before the queen. When the case is brought in front of the queen, she asks both the Earl of Leicester and Earl of Sussex to forget their enmity and become friends. When Tressilian brings the case of Amy, Varney claims that Amy is his wife and saves Earl of Leicester

Wayland Smith manages to meet Amy informs her about the arrival of Elizabeth to Kenilworth and the rumour about the marriage between the queen and Leicester.  The queen commands Varney to be present in Kenilworth along with his wife Amy. Realizing the danger Varney informs the queen that Amy is unwell and produces medical certificate. By the mean time, Amy escapes with the help of Wayland Smith and reaches Kenilworth.

Amy writes a letter to the Earl in which she explains the situation which led her to come to Kenilworth and presents the evil motives of Varney. Unfortunately Wayland Smith misses that letter. By that time the Earl of Leicester proposes to marry the queen which is rejected by her. Receiving no reply to her note, Amy presents herself in front of the queen and seeks protection from Varney. Also, she claims that the Earl knows everything.  When the Earl is in danger, Varney rescues him by saying that she is mentally ill. The queen orders a medical examination by the royal physician.
         Both Leicester and Varney realize the possible danger. Varney influences the Earl and obtains permission to take Amy away from Kenilworth. The next witnesses the duel between Tressilian and the Earl. It was interrupted and the missing letter of Amy is given to the Earl. Now, the Earl understands the schemes of Varney and cries. He confesses to the queen about his secret marriage with Amy and seeks forgiveness. The queen orders to rescue Amy from the hands of Varney immediately. Sir Walter Raleigh and Tressilian proceed to Cumnor to save Amy.

Varney reaches Cumnor place first and sets a trap to kill Amy with the help of Anthony Forster. But Forster warns her not to come out of the room until the Earl comes. In the following evening when she hears whistle like the earl's signal, she tries to come out of the room. It unhooks the trap and she is killed in the mishap. The death of Amy halts all the celebrations in Kenilworth. Varney dies in prison by consuming poison. Amy’s father Sir Hugh Robsart settles all his properties to Tressilian and dies very soon after his daughter. Leicester is recalled to the court after a short break. Walter Raleigh rises in rank and power. Tressilian looks very dejected and looks older than his age. He goes to Virginia in America along with Walter Raleigh and dies young. Wayland Smith marries Janet and lives happily. Anthony Forster’s skeleton was found in the secret room found nearby Amy’s room after several years. He had gold bars in his hands.

Historical Aspects

·         The novel is set against the time of Queen Elizabeth.

·         Scott uses historical characters but meddles with the facts.

·         But he presents the spirit of the age effectively and portrays them realistically.

·         There are many inaccuracies in the facts presented in the novel.

·         Amy was married by the Earl openly. It was not a secret marriage as presented in the novel.

·         Critics say: “Scott always treated history with perfect disregard of inconvenient facts and dates.

·         A Spanish ambassador of that time records: “Lord Robert Dudley’s wife had a breast cancer and the queen only waits till she dies to marry him”.

·         Some other critics claim that Amy was not ill and she struggled hard to protect herself from being poisoned.

·         In reality, Varney and Anthony Forster are very good friends.

·         There was no person named Wayland Smith in history. It was just a legend.

       Power Conflicts in Kenilworth

·         The queen is the ultimate authority of the country. So, the queen decides everything in the country.

·         Queen Elizabeth keeps the Lords at equal distance. Scot claims that Earl of Sussex was very dear to the Queen whereas Leicester very dear to the woman. She follows divide and rule policy.  “The Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable to the queen, while Leicester was most dear to the woman” (132).

·         Varney’s view on the queen: “...God when he gave her the heart of a woman, gave her the head of a man to control its follies” (184).

·         “Queen Elizabeth had a character strangely compounded of the strongest masculine sense, with those foibles which are chiefly supposed proper to the female sex...She was the nursing mother of her people, but she was also a true daughter of Henry VIII” (210).

·         The queen sustains the enmity between the Earls secretly in order to have better control over them.

·         She encourages Leicester to propose to her but snubs him when he does it and says “I must be the mother of my people...Elizabeth must be the wife and mother of England alone” (317).

·         But when Leicester confesses of his secret marriage with Amy, the queen tells him “My Lord of Leicester’s stolen marriage has cost me a husband, and England a King. His Lordship is patriarchal in his tastes – one wife at a tiem was insufficient , and he designed Us the honour of his left hand” (375-76).

·         Varney and Tressilian are at permanent conflict. The former is with Sussex and the latter is with Leicester.

Varney

·         “This man was highly qualified by nature to discharge the part in which he found himself placed, being discreet and cautious on one hand, and on the other, quick, keen witted, an imaginative” (62).

·         Janet says about Varney: “Only the convenient cloak of his master’s pleasures” (235).

The Boy Comes Home by A. A. Milne- An Analysis

The Boy Comes Home

by A. A. Milne

The play “The Boy Comes Home” is a comedy by A.A. Milne. It discusses the generation gap in a lighter vein. The old generation thinks that the young generation is immature. It should obey the old generation. But, the young generation thinks that it is mature enough to take the right decision. In this play, Mr. James represents the old generation whereas Philip stands for the young generation.

The play opens in the house of Mr. James. In his house, nobody can have breakfast after 8.00. But Philip who has just returned from war wants his breakfast after 10 a.m. He asks Mary, the servant, to get him something to eat. At that time, Aunt Emily enters and showers love and affection on Philip. She asks about his experiences of war. Philip does not like his uncle James because of his strict rules and regulations. Uncle James is the patron of Philip and he insists that Philip should work.

Uncle James waits for Philip at the dining table and falls asleep. In his dream, Philip has come to meet him. In the dream, Philip is very rude with his uncle. He demands his money. But the uncle refuses to give him the money saying that he is just 23 and immature. Rather he asks his nephew to join him in his jam business. But, Philip wants to learn some profession. Uncle James thinks that Philip is just like a schoolboy and he cannot choose a career for himself. He threatens to use the power of the purse. Consequently, Philip takes out a revolver and a bomb out of his pocket and frightens his uncle. Philip says, "we use force to put down force".

When James wakes up from his sleep, Philip enters the room with the breakfast.  James realizes that it was a dream. He is much terrified but he hides his fear. When James asks him to work with him in his office, Philip readily agrees. Philip does not demand anything as Uncle James saw in the dream. The closing part of the play proclaims the attitude of the younger generation. Because Philip prefers to bring his revolver to the work place to deal with the manager if anything goes wrong. Though it provokes laughter, it clearly exposes the generation gap in which the youngsters try to dictate their own terms. Also, the playwright records that these two generations will never share the same interest.

The Ant and the Grasshopper by Somerset Maugham- An Analysis

The Ant and the Grasshopper

by Somerset Maugham

Somerset Maugham is one of the well-known English writers. His short story “The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a striking example of life’s little ironies. In this story, the writer reverses the moral of the traditional fable. In the fable, the ant gathers food during the summer whereas the grasshopper wastes time. When the rainy season comes, the grasshopper begs the ant for food. But the writer is very sceptical about the moral of this fable and presents a different situation in his story.   

The story is narrated by an unnamed narrator. George Ramsey is a hardworking person. He saves money for his peaceful retired life. But his brother Tom is a different personality. He does not go to job and prefers to enjoy life. He abandons his wife and children. He borrows money from many persons and Ramsey settles some of the debts in order to save the reputation of the family. He expects his brother Tom to have an unpredictable future since he has no savings.

However Tom is engaged to an old woman who is old enough to be his mother. The lady dies suddenly from whom he inherits half a million pounds. Referring to this incident, Ramsey feels as though there has been an injustice done.  It is very much like the ant (George) versus the grasshopper (Tom). As the grasshopper made no provisions for the winter, Tom too made no provisions for his future. But in real life, Tom enjoys life better than his brother and well-settled in life.

When George is sharing about the new fortune of his brother, the narrator laughs heartily. His reaction to Tom’s success in life mirrors the attitude of the society also. In modern times, the society does not care for the means of someone’s success. This story records the truth that all those who work hard do not gain success. Though this story presents the darker side of life, it discloses the drastic changes that take place in the minds of the people regarding life.

A Day's Wait by Ernest Hemingway -An Analysis

A Day’s Wait

"A Day's Wait" (1936) is a brief story by Ernest Hemingway that conveys the seemingly tragic outcome of miscommunication between a boy and his father. Schatz is a nine-year-old boy who becomes sick. The doctor conveys that Schatz has contracted the flu and has a high fever. It is considered only a mild case, and the doctor leaves medicine for the boy. The boy overhears the physician tell the father that the temperature is 102 degrees. It is this information that causes the perceived conflict and misunderstanding between the boy and his father.

Schatz is put to bed, and his father maintains a steady watch over him, reading from a book about pirates. But Schatz seems unusually detached and when his father suggests he get some sleep, the boy refuses. The father reads to himself for a while, but the boy remains awake. He tells the father to leave if it bothers him. Thinking that the boy is simply a bit light-headed, the father leaves the room and takes the family dog for a walk along the frozen creek.

When the father returns, Schatz is still white-faced at the foot of the bed. After the father takes Schatz's temperature, the boy demands to know what it was. His temperature is 102 degree.  The boy suddenly asks, "About what time do you think I'm going to die?". The stunned father tells him all will be okay, and calls it silly talk. But then Schatz explains: "At school in France the boys told me you can't live with forty-four degrees." The father explains the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius thermometers, comparing them to miles and kilometers. Then the boy slowly relaxes.

This story deals with the familiar Hemingway theme of heroic fatalism or fatalistic heroism, namely courage in the face of certain death which is exhibited by the boy.   

The Road Not Taken- An Analysis

The Road Not Taken

-          Robert Frost

                Robert Frost is one of the important American poets. He is highly regarded for his realistic depiction of rural life. “The Road Not Taken” is a simple poem which has a philosophical insight about making choices in life.

In this poem, the poet shares an incident that happened in his life. Once the poet goes into the woods and stands in front of the two divergent road. This poem itself is a metaphor. It is about the journey of life. Similar situation occurs in everyone’s life. He is sorry that he could not travel in both the roads. In this poem, the poet says that one road is travelled by many and it is very clean whereas the other one is grassy. Only few people might have used it. If one road is chosen, there is no choice for a return. The poet stands for a long time wondering which way to choose. After considering different prospects, the poet chooses the road that is less travelled. He reserves the other road for another day.

Though this poem seems to be very simple, it conveys a deeper message to the human beings. Everyone experiences similar dilemma different stages of life. Whatever decision is taken at a crucial time, the individual becomes responsible for it. Moreover, this poem showcases the adventurous attitude of the poet. Because, he does not take the road which is very clean and travelled by many. Whereas, he takes risk by choosing the road that is less travelled.

This poem hints at the personal experiences of the poet also. Because, at the beginning of his career, Frost involved himself in different vocation. Later, he tried his hand in writing and became very successful. The poem ends with a sigh of relief. The poet acknowledges that his decision was right.

“I took the one less travelled by,

 And that has made all the difference”.

Though many critics accept that this poem has an autobiographical touch, some claim that he wrote this poem to make fun of a friend who used to procrastinate at the crossroads. “The Road Not Taken” consists of four stanzas of five lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAAB.

Two Gentle Man of Verona- Essay

Two Gentlemen of Verona

- A.J.Cronin

A.J. Cronin’s short story “Two Gentlemen of Verona” illustrates selfless help and dedication towards relationship. The story revolves around two young boys named Nicola and Jacapo. The story begins with the author’s visit to the city of Verona. His car was stopped by two small boys who were selling strawberries. They were shabbily dressed. The driver cautioned the author against purchasing the fruits. The boys were very skinny but their eyes were sincere. So, the author took an instant liking for these boys and bought a basket of strawberries.

Next morning, the author noticed those two boys polishing shoes. The boys smiled and told him that they do many other kinds of jobs, like escorting tourists around the city. The author discovered that the boys were very friendly and innocent. However, beneath their cheerful smiles,he could recognize seriousness and sadness. He was struck by their interest to do more and more work. But he was surprised to see their poor clothes and bad food habit. 

Before leaving the city, the author asked if he could do something for them. Nicola, the elder one refused, but the younger one requested to drive them to Poleta, 30 kms away. As a last gesture of goodwill, the author volunteered to drive the boys himself.  The following afternoon, they all drove to the tiny village, near a hill. The author was surprised to halt beside a villa. The boys leapt out and asked the author to pick them up from the same place, after an hour. Out of curiosity, he went in and was greeted by a nurse. Through a glass partition, the author saw that the boys were seated beside a girl aged 20, who appeared to be their sister.

The author didn’t wish to interrupt a happy family reunion. So he did not enter the room. The nurse revealed that the children’s father had been killed in a war, and a bomb had destroyed their house. Since the Germans ruled the city for many years, the children had to undergo a lot of suffering. Their sister, Lucia, who wanted to be a singer, couldn’t bear the cold and starvation, and contracted tuberculosis of the spine. The boys brought Lucia there, and every week, they brought enough money for her treatment.

Later, the author was rejoined by the boys and they drove back to the city. The boys remained tight-lipped, and the author also decided to remain quiet. Because he respected their privacy. The author left the city filled with admiration, at the courage and relentless effort of two young boys who remained determined despite the setbacks of the war.

The Village School Master- An Analysis

The Village School Master

            "The Village Schoolmaster" by Oliver Goldsmith is an extract from  “The Deserted Village”. The poet returns to the village and finds it deserted. This poem is a lighthearted reflection of his village school master Mr. Thomas Paddy Byrne. As the poet himself was a pupil of this school master, he is able to create an authentic picture of him. 

            The village school master’s little school was situated next to the damaged fence. Goldsmith recalls the characteristics of the master with a mixed feeling of fear, respect and humour. He was known as a strict person. He was familiar to all the truants in the village because they had endured the master’s rage. When he cracks jokes, the children used to burst out in “counterfeited” laughter in order to avoid punishment.

            The trembling pupils were curious to know the day’s misfortunes on his face. If they observe a frown, they circulate the gloomy news throughout the class. Though he was stern, he was kind hearted too. He had an intense love for learning also.

            The villagers admired the school master’s knowledge. He was able to read and write well. He was good at arithmetic also. He could also survey land, forecast weather and tides. The village parson approved of his skills in debate. He was able to continue his argument even after losing a debate. He won the arguments with his thundering voice.

            The poem ends on a note of humour. The villagers gaze at him whenever they pass the school. They wonder how his small head could keep that enormous hoard of knowledge. Thus the poet describes the characteristics of the village school master.