Chapter 25

1. How is Queenie and Bernard’s relationship

conveyed?
2. Why is their relationship made to be so awful?
3. Queenie’s view of being a housewife at this stage?
4. What does the house symbolize here?

Chapter 26

A) Break the chapter into sections. Give each

section a subtitle.

B) Answer the questions below (notes and

discussion):

1.What atmosphere is created at the beginning of the

chapter and how?
2.How is the pace of the chapter sped up and a sense of
action conveyed? Any humour?
3.P.265: “With the door open…. safety of the tree.”
Comment on Queenie’s thoughts here.
4.P.266: find a quote that shows Queenie’s attitude to
the war. Has she good reason to feel this? (re: plot)
5.P.266 – what is the significance of the story about Mr
Plant? (re: themes of the novel). (His name?)
6. Queenie’s feelings on p.268?
7.Effects of the episode about the bombed-out Cockney
family? (p.269) (themes; characterization)
8. Effects of the episode in the shelter? (p.271-274)
(characterization; impact on reader)
9. Effects of episode of Mrs Newman’s house being
bombed and the aftermath? (p.274-277) (themes,
characterization, tension).
10.Overall character development of Queenie in this
chapter?