Coming of Age as a Writer

The Propaganda exhibit at the British Library taught us that propaganda intentionally had one meaning and one meaning only.  It, like Briony, is controlling.  The purpose of propaganda is to convince you to believe in something and view it a certain way.  Briony is similar with her play.  She had an image in her head of what it would be like and when it goes wrong she calls it quits.  

The HMS Belfast is a ship that shows the challenges that come with being a soldier during the war.  Robbie goes into WWII having a literary background, a quality that made him shine as a leader to his peers.  Though Robbie wasn't a commanding officer, people are naturally drawn to him because of his extensive vocabulary and accent.  As we learn about Coming of Age as a Writer, we looked to Robbie as an example of someone who used their literary knowledge towards their everyday life and help serve those around him.

While onboard the HMS Belfast, one of the biggest challenges for soldiers was the lack of communication with the outside world.  Soldiers, like Robbie and Cecila, relied on letters to keep in contact with family members and loved ones.  Robbie would read and re-read his letters to Cecilia as a way to cope with boredom and stay sane. 

Florence Nightingale was one of the most influential women in Victorian Britain and it's empire, second to the Queen.  Florence, like many writers, believed in something that was atypical for her as a higher class woman.  Florence had a passion for people and nursing, just as Briony had a passion for writing. 

Florence Nightingale wrote some 200 books, pamphlets, articles, and over 14,000 letters.  Briony and Florence were similar in that they both loved to write.  Being organized and bossy they both fought for what they wanted, sometimes even being a bit demanding.  However, this characteristic is what made Florence the hero that she is. Briony wrote to clear her conscious while Florence wrote to educate the public and morn the loss of soldiers.  Both Florence and Briony grew as writers as they fought social standards and family struggles. 

Coming of Age as a Skeptic [and Believer]

On Tuesday we went to Oxford as a class and were able to visit Christ Chapel College, also referred to as "The House".  Christ Chapel is where Sebastian went to school, though neither Charles or Sebastian made it through Oxford's programs.  Christ Church is also the only college that has its own Cathedral.

After going to Christ Chapel, we went punting as a class.  This was one of the funniest moments we've experienced together so far.  Though we were all skeptical at first, we grew as a group to figure out how to navigate the punts and enjoy ourselves.  This would have been something that Charles and Sebastian would have done on a nice summer day while enjoying strawberries and drinking champaign. 

Eltham Palace was home to Henry VIII and is comprised of three different styles: Medieval, Art Deco, and Baroque.  Three prevalent values of this time were faith in religion, wealth, and the nation.  Stephen Courtauld, a man of new money, remade Eltham Palace to fit an art deco style to prove himself and make his mark in history.  Similarly, Brideshead was remade in an art deco style for Lady Marchman. 

This is a picture of the Entrance Hall at the Eltham Palace.  The Australian black bean wall veneers and exotic timbers, glass cutout dome are key features that show how the palace was made with an art deco style. 

Walking Around by Millennium Bridge