Spies essay

I'm writing an essay for Spies and my last essay wasn't too great. I'm an AS' student. The passage I have to use is page 168 from 'And now everything has changed...' to '...silence under the elders' at the start of page 169. If anyone could give me any tips, I would really appreciate it. This is my introduction, with essay title. I have the first paragraph which I may also post as well if my essay is really bad!

-Thanks.

‘An important theme in “Spies” is that of sexual awakening. Discuss using the passage below’

In this passage, Stephen’s sexual awakening is very central and prominent. The reoccurrence of sexual awakening in this novel has accumulated meanings clustered around this leitmotif. This theme, therefore, has connections with other parts of the novel. The scene is of Stephen and Barbara Berrill in the privet bush. This part of the story reveals “Lamorna” to be linked to Stephen growing sexually aware – it is this memory which partly evokes what troubles the narrator at the beginning of the book; making this theme a poignant aspect in “Spies”. These memories of the narrator are recollected, often punctuated by pauses, corrections and digressions. Michael Frayn often does this to create the effect that the narrator is having difficulty remembering precisely what happened. In the passage, the narrator writes of the past events in first person, describing, as the events unfold, of the scene between Stephen and Barbara. There are no conceits used in the passage indicating the memory is clear and also the language is lucid. As readers, the immediacy of the scene – from being in present tense – creates dramatic tension therefore we get more involved in the events of Stephen.

Adolescence is usually associated with sexual awakening; a personal experience from which the transition from child to adult occurs. It is one certain aspect of life which a child has to go through alone; there is no possibility of simply following someone else. For the narrator, this memory in the passage seems to be the one which is most important in his development, it is written in first person implying that the narrator is not having difficulty remembering the events; this is supported by Michael Frayn’s narrator omitting conceits – ellipsis have been used, as mentioned before to indicate a lapse in memory. “Lamorna” seems to have a liberating experience on narrator, causing him to have images of a ‘distant land across the sea, blue on the blue horizon. The sighing of the trees.’ This feeling of euphoria is represented earlier in the chapter as a ‘soaring sensation’ giving readers an image of flight, perhaps even a bird, reinforced by Stephen feeling a ‘sense of freedom.’ He continues ‘I’m longer bound by the rules and restrictions of childhood.’ This inextricably links with the event in the tunnel in the previous chapter which marks the beginning of the end of his childhood and chapter eight develops the start of his sexual awakening with Barbara Berrill. However, for Stefan, it brings about ‘a little of the terror of the Lanes in it…and the silence of the elders.’ The Lanes, for Stephen, appears, to be a place out of bounds, it is outside of the Close and outside of his comfort zone. To go there – especially alone – is something he fears and dreads. The image of the Close is one where there is a circle: a continuous, protective shield, representing a never-ending childhood, where Stephen has to break out of to experience adulthood. However, for Stephen to get through into the Lanes, he has to first go into the tunnel. At the end of chapter seven, Stephen decides to go towards the Barns. He collides with Mrs Hayward as he enters the tunnel his ‘face (is) buried in a soft confusion of bosoms, and (they) dance precarious tango together…’ The tunnel and Stephen’s interaction - the physical contact between Mrs Hayward and Stephen - could be the narrator’s understanding of sexual experience. Afterwards, her dress is ‘streaked with green slime.’ She ends chapter eight thanking Stephen ‘humbly’ indicating that Stephen is no longer a child but an adolescent

Reply 1

mollymustard

Talk about sexual awakening further.
eg.
Stephen and Barbara
Stephen and his Mrs Hayward fantasy's
What he notices about other couples
Other awakenings, eg. Smoking etc

Explain how he feels, how he is awakened by it and how the language shows this.

I would try and help you further, but the thought of having to look over Spies makes me shiver in horror.
Its the worst exam text I have ever read, and everyone in my school got B or below in the paper.
Also, Stephen is the most irritating character and his obsession with slime and germs is laughable.
I don't know how Michael Frayn managed to make it so boring.

Reply 2

x_emmzy_x

I think that you're giving away too much in your introduction. Expand on the points that you've made, but in separate paragraphs perhaps and support your arguments with references from elsewhere in the novel.

Sorry, this probably wasn't very helpful :rolleyes:

Reply 3

Tickety Boo

Thanks very much for the speedy reply. I'll take note of that. I think my opening paragraph may go off the point a bit....
Do you think so?

Reply 4

mollymustard

Yes, try and use the introduction to outline how stephen as a child becoming accustomed to the adult world goes through a period of sexual awakening.
Explain how as a writer Frayn uses techniques such as imagery, language and narrative to show this.

Then break the theme into paragraphs (like I did above) and go through them systematically followed by a conclusion.

I remember doing this essay last year sometime...

Reply 5

Tickety Boo

Ah...I feel I'm doing it wrong now. I've put the next paragraph in.

-I look at the text in the passage then link it back. I suppose this isn't the best way to write this essay, should I completely change my essay structure now?

Reply 6

mollymustard

It doesnt really matter if you've already started it like that but its easier to go through the thematic questions point by point refering to the extract when necessary.
Don't forget to quote outside those pages as well, you need to show you have good knowledge of the book as a whole.

Reply 7

Tickety Boo

Thanks.

As for my intro and first paragraph, are they any good? I'm seriously losing self-confidence, my last English essay got 11/20. I thought this was very poor. Can anyone suggest where I am going wrong?

Reply 8

Tickety Boo

Hooray! Result back for the essay: 19/20, band 4!

Very happy. Also got 18/20, band 4 for a timed essay on Spies.

A bit better than the 11/20 I got a while ago.

Reply 9

rachel_hp

Hey Tickety congrats on the marks, im pretty much in the situation you were in.
Use to get A's now getting 12/20 help!
Could you possibly, send me both your essays? i need to know where im going wrong, an incompetent teacher does not help :P

Reply 10

rachel_hp

Bump

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