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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > English > Spies - Michael Frayn
Thematic Questions – Ideas
- Opening Chapter
- Mystery and Adventure
- Transition from Childhood to Adulthood, Conflict between adult world / child’s world
- Love and Relationships
- Memory and imagination
- Reality and Fantasy
- Family/Friendship
- Secrecy/ Lies
Character Questions
Role and importance of:
- Stephen
- Keith
- Keith’s father
- Barbara Berril
- Uncle Peter
Chapter 3
1. Make a list of the different emotions Stephen registers (after being told that Keith’s mum’s a German Spy) and explain why he says that he feels like this:
- Surprised – at yet another one of Keith’s announcements
- Excited at the prospect of an adventure/ heroic journey
- Regret – that it is Keith’s mother. She seemed very kind and generous to Stephen.
- “Admiring jealousy” for Keith, as Stephen’s family seems mundane in comparison. “good fortune”
- Relief- that it is not Keith’s father. Spying on him does not feel like a game.
2. What effect does Frayn’s insistence on charting these differing emotions have? How is it intended to make the reader feel about Stephen?
That Stephen appears far more interested in his friend’s family than his. Stephen’s childish perception on the situation had it been real shows humour- admiring someone for having German spies as parents is a ludicrous suggestion.
3. How does Frayn create a feeling of tension as the boys continue to spy on Mrs Hayward?
- Use of ellipses – emphasises their excitement and emphasises the pace, and the ‘unhurried’, seamless way in which Mrs Hayward conducts her daily activities. Makes reader feel more suspicious.
- “watching us with alien eyes” suggests that she does not belong there, in Stephen’s eyes. Foregrounding their suspicion that she is a spy, betraying her country.
4. Notice the photograph described by Stephen of ‘three laughing figures in tennis whites’ What do you think is the significance of this photograph?
- Shows the divide between Keith’s mum and dad
- Repetition of ‘ironic’ smile suggests something sinister about Keith’s father. Establishes him as a fearful character.
- Also acts as a relic of their past life. Reminds the reader of the war.
- Shows Uncle Peter as a playful character, in the middle of the two sisters. Ironic.
5. Look carefully at the paragraph that describes the den… How does Frayn create an atmosphere of secrecy here?
Not only an atmosphere of secrecy, but safety and protection as well.
“Secret chamber that we’ve hacked out…”
“Even when it rains it hardly penetrates this far”9
6. Look how Frayn brings to life for the reader the idea of nocturnal spying. How does he do this?
Frayn introduces the idea of Mrs. Hayward coming out on the ‘dark of the moon.’ The boys are shown to take their game more seriously, as they discuss spying on Keith’s mother after school; sneaking out of the house at night.
Chapter 4
1. Stephen’s father takes a quiet but intense interest in his son’s school life, testing him on what he has learned. How does Frayn show Stephen’s preoccupation as his father questions him?
Stephen answers with ‘no ‘ and ‘nothing’ to his father’s questions, showing his annoyance. He then questions his father in his mind, comparing him to his perceived status of Keith’s parents:
- “What I want to know though… is why my father has never killed any Germans”
Frayn shows Stephen’s insecurity, presenting him to the reader as the atypical protagonist.
2. As Stephen emerges from his house he bumps into Keith’s mother. What is different about her presentation here?
- “Good heavens, Stephen” – Mrs. Hayward isn’t anymore presented as the calm, collected and distant character the reader was introduced to. There is a lack of composure, and a sudden manifestation of emotions.
3. Look at Frayn’s use of humour here and how it is used to entertain the reader even as it demonstrates the boys’ boredom. What examples can you see here?
Frayn shows an uneventful morning, what Stephen described as ‘serious observation’ and the first time him and Keith actually start spying.
- The biggest event of the morning is the arrival of the milk float.” - sarcasm
- “1048- milkman departs” – Use of military time demonstrates how much the boys are taking the game seriously, whilst also highlighting their youth and naivety.
- “The sun comes out. The sun goes in.” –Nothing happens but is made engaging by Frayn through the use of humour.
4. As he follows his story through in his mind to its tragic conclusion, Stephen says, “I feel a lump coming to my throat, I’m so sorry for Uncle Peter, I’m so sorry for Milly.” What does this tell us about Stephen’s imagination?
Here Frayn demonstrates Stephen’s excited imagination as he thinks of Auntie Dee as a German spy. His subtle intelligence is also displayed, anticipating what may happen because of there intervening.
Stephen is shown as running away with his imagination and dictating the story in his mind. Contrast from what normally happens, when he plays with Keith, acting as the follower. (eg when he waits for Keith to decide ‘what we’re to think and what we’re to do’)
Frayn also uses proleptic irony here, as he refers to Uncle Peter’s downfall, and his family’s too, as a result.
5. Evidence of Stephen’s sheltered existence:
- his naivety about adults.
“There’s only one way to go when you get to the end of the Close, and that’s left… if you go right the road peters out into a rough track that disappears through the undergrowth into a dark, disused tunnel…”
Frayn uses the tunnel as an extended metaphor- the journey that Keith’s mother goes through is a choice. It does not cross Stephen’s mind that Mrs Hayward might just choose the path that is dangerous, because to him, adults are sensible and would choose the logical path.
6. How does Frayn create a vivid image in his description of Uncle Peter?
- Uses the colours of his RAF badge and uniform to establish an iconic image of a heroic man.
- The eagle on his hat described as ‘spreading its gilt wings protectively’ over the children of the Close.
- This image is to be later destroyed by Frayn as he reveals Uncle Peter as an adulterer who has betrayed his country.
7. Notice how Frayn humorously highlights the difference in the status of Keith and Stephen as they watch Mrs. Hayward. How does Frayn employ humour here?
- He doesn’t like the fact that I had the latest mysterious experience when he wasn’t there.
8. Look carefully at Frayn’s description of Barbara Berrill and note any clues that might hint at her later importance in the text.
- “You two are always playing in here… is this your camp?”
Attacks the boys’ den- their fortress- to burst their bubble and show them the reality outside their spying game. Refers to their ‘headquarters’ as ‘camp’ and their service to the country as a ‘game.’
Frayn demonstrates Barbara Berrill’s intelligence, introducing her as an all-knowing character who undermines what the boys think is their maturity.
- Stephen describes her with, what at first sounds like annoyance, but in hindsight can be seen as affection: “Everything about her is soft and girlish… her big brown eyes…”
9. Keith’s mother is apparently agitated at this point, due to her restlessness and impatience… Look at the clues that suggest to Stephen the real explanation as to her whereabouts. What does he deduce here and how?
- The slime she tries to get off her hands from the tunnel – Guilt (Lady Macbeth)
- Her anger at Keith for acting ‘like a child.’ – Could be because of her realisation that they’re watching her every move.
Chapter 5
1. How would you describe the tone in the opening two paragraphs?
- “Everything is as it was; and everything has changed… one final project left”
- Sense of necessity for a conclusion
- Nostalgic
- Reflective
- Disappointment- village had a sense of promise that didn’t seem to have been outlived.
2. As Stephen progresses through the Lanes to the tunnel, there is a clue that tells the reader that he was right about the destination of Mrs Hayward’s visits? What is this clue?
- “Once again I try to wipe the dark green slime off my hands”
3. How does Frayn use the senses to create an unpleasant atmosphere in the tunnel?
- I hear our uneasy cries
- Huge thunder of the train
- Unwelcoming daylight
- Awkward twist of my body
- Narrow causeway
- Dank touch of the walls
- Foul exudations
- Dark-green slime
4. Look at how Frayn defines the roles that each boy takes on again here. List the examples of Keith’s dominance.
- His silence- lack of reply to Stephen’s ideas, to remind Stephen Keith’s still the leader.
- “announces Keith” Frayn demonstrates his superiority, as if Keith’s word is law.
- Does not pay attention to Stephen, carries on with his actions, confident that Stephen will follow him.
5. Look at how Barbara effortlessly asserts her superiority over Stephen in this scene. List the examples of this that appear in their exchange.
- Her intrusion, disregard for the boys’ rules. “Anyone can come in here.”
- Her knowledge: correcting ‘privet’
- Her mocking and taunting of Stephen’s ignorance
- Her perception of the subtle changes in Stephen’s body language- “Your face has gone all squidgy” – and the reason for it- “It’s because you’re telling fibs”
- The way she feeds him information- introducing him to the adult world- to the idea of ‘boyfriends’
6. What is the real purpose of Mrs. Hayward’s visit?
- Mrs’ H is lowering herself to a child’s level- physically as well as metaphorically- in order to ask Stephen to stop their spying game. She bows to Stephen’s superiority- created by the fact that this child knows she is being deceptive.
Chapter 6
1. Explain the effects of the descriptions listed below:
Setting: Night time
a. Strange white light- adds eeriness – Light that makes him see everything differently.
b. The dull, familiar world… has been transformed – not the world of children he is familiar with anymore. The darkness is a representation of all things adult. The structure of the paragraph is similar to that at the beginning, but this time, at night- in an adult perception.
c. A background of velvet darkness – use of synaesthesia
d. Delicately brilliant and unearthly white -
e. Absolute stillness, absolute silence – creates tension, as any sound or movement is heightened
f. It’s as if the Close had become a picture of itself
2. In this new, white world, Stephen is struggling with his conscience. What are the most pressing of his concerns at this point?
That he has betrayed Keith by promising Mrs Hayward he will stop with the spying, and to keep the conversation a secret from Keith, whom Stephen as sworn loyalty to.
3. Look at the devices used by Frayn to create a feeling of rising tension on this section.
- Frayn presents this adventure to the Tunnel as a way for Stephen to compensate for his failings and prove his bravery.
- “One single heroic deed, to lay at Keith’s feet in the morning”
- The darkness and unknown- emphasised by the use of sounds to describe his surroundings- “I can hear his maleness… I can hear the size of him.” Mismatch of senses.
- Use of ellipses to track his progress on the description of the sock. –Also the fact that he does not tell the reader “I know what this is” despite having figured out what the object in the box is.
4. In the next section, examine the ways in which Frayn presents Keith. What effect do his words and actions have upon you as you read this? What impression do you get of Keith?
- “His eyelids come down again” – a sign of Keith’s disapproval of Stephen’s proposal to stop with the game, as Mrs Hayward suggested– and as Stephen rightly believed, his ‘bravery’ has ‘come to nothing’
- Threat of peers (Keith) is worse than threat of adults (Mrs Hayward)
- Keith’s reference to Stephen as ‘old bean’ is terrifying to Stephen- it is a reminder of Keith being a mini- Mr Hayward. The sense of Stephen’s constant chastisement is implicit. Stephen earns readers’ sympathy.
- In this chapter Keith’s weakness and his reliance on Stephen is also revealed: “Without me there is no one for him to be braver than.”
5. Note down as many negative images that you can find about the Lanes area.
- The rotting length of rope hanging on the sycamore tree
- The long patch of nettles, the mouldy boot, an overturned armchair, the dogs,
- The old mattresses, the dirty children.
Description shows that this is place is outside the children’s normality- it is unwelcoming and unfriendly, progressively getting worse as they go closer to the tunnel.
6. It is this coughing that also provokes Stephen into taking action. Why is this?
“He’s scared of Keith. Scared of me.” This gives Stephen a sense of power and status, something that he wants to have, being deprived of it by Keith’s overwhelming hold on him.
7. What finally stops the boys from banging on the corrugated iron?
“Not a cry, not a curse not a breath.” It is the boys’ fear that stops them- Stephen realises he does not actually enjoy this glorified sense of power. The boys are afraid that they made have killed the already ill man, from fear.
8. What is the significance of Stephen’s lone venture to the Lanes in the dark?
It is Stephen’s declaration of his independence; an important part of his transition into adulthood, enjoying the ‘strange new freedom’ the knowledge that he can ‘go anywhere and do anything’ gives him
Chapter 7
1. Examine the tone of the opening three pages of the narrative, where the story is narrated by Stephen as a mature narrator. How would you describe the tone here?
The narrator reflects upon his identity...
Comments
Originally taken from notes by jonacristel on TSR Forums.
