HELLO!

WELCOME TO THE
THIRD TUTORING
SESSION
SHAVING
BY LESLIE NORRIS

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Let’s solve the following puzzle!

What can you see after solving the

puzzle?

By looking at the title and the picture,

what do you think the story is going to
be about?

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READING TIME!

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1.
SUMMARY
Let’s continue with a brief recapitulation of the story.
What is the story about?
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SUMMARY
In “Shaving” by Leslie Norris, a seventeen-year-old rugby
player, Barry, changes and accepts the inevitability of his
father’s death. Not only his personality, but also his maturity
are changed as he deals with the emotional crisis before him
The author uses Barry’s physical description, nature, and the
ritual of shaving to reinforce Barry’s transition from boyhood
to the responsibilities of manhood.

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2.
AUTHOR
Do you know this author?
Have you read any of his stories?

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LESLIE NORRIS (21 May 1921 – 6 April 2006)
George Leslie Norris was a prize-winning Welsh poet and short story
writer. Up to 1974 he earned his living as a college lecturer, teacher
and headmaster. From 1974 he combined full-time writing with
residencies at academic institutions in Britain and the United States.
Today he is considered one of the most important Welsh writers of
the post-war period. His collections of stories and poems have won
many prizes, among them the David Higham Memorial Prize and the
Welsh Arts Council Senior Fiction Award.

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3.
SETTING
Where and when does this story take place?

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SETTING
The short story
“Shaving” by Leslie
Norris takes place in
April, in Spring.

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4.
CHARACTERS
Who are the main and minor characters of the story?
How does the author describe them? Look for evidence in
the text.
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BARRY STANFORD
In “Shaving”, Leslie Norris portrays Barry, the protagonist, as
a mature and strong youngster who is ready to become the
patriarch of the family since his hopelessly ill father is slowly
slipping away.
Barry is characterized as being tall, athletic, strongly made,
and feet were adult-like and heavy.

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MINOR CHARACTERS
Barry’s father
He is terminally ill. He
remains inert in bed with his
eyes closed and his breath
irregular and shallow. He has
let go all his authority. He is
proud of his son.
Barry’s mother
She cares about her husband
and supports Barry with the
idea of shaving his father.
Jackie & Sue
They are Barry’s friends.
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5.
QUESTIONS
Let’s talk about plot…

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QUESTIONS
◈ Which sport does Barry play? Is his physical appearance
affected by this sport?
◈ What did he use to look like as a boy?
◈ What about his personality?
◈ How has Barry changed now?
◈ Why did he refuse to have a cup of coffee with Jackie and
Sue?
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QUESTIONS
◈ Why was Barry’s father’s head “scarcely denting the
pillow”?
◈ Why did Barry feel humble and ashamed although he had
played so well?
◈ How is Barry’s razor and its case described?
◈ And the shaving mug?

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QUESTIONS
◈ How did Barry get prepared to shave his father? What did
he do?

◈ Why didn’t Barry use his electric razor, which would have
been easier?

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
In groups, discuss the
following questions.

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QUESTIONS
◈ Why do you think the writer includes so many details
about the razor, its case, and the mug?
◈ Why is the phrase “the window was full in the beam if the
dying sunlight” so significant?
◈ “And Barry stood…illuminated in its golden warmth…”
Why is the significance of this phrase?

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QUESTIONS
◈ When the writer tells us “…knowing it would soon be
gone” he is not really referring to the sunlight. What is he
anticipating?
◈ What season is the story set in? Why is this symbolic?
◈ If we associate the beard with age and experience, what
does Barry’s shaving his father’s beard mean?

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6.
THEMES
What are the main topics of the story?

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THEMES OF THE STORY

COMING OF AGE

SUCCESSION OF LEADERSHIP

FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP

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DID YOU LIKE
THE STORY?
WHY? WHY
NOT?

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THANKS!