extrait 18 the laughing girl p. 256-259

Excerpt 18  teacher’s version

interpretation line	either character-based: Nathan’s evolution in the novel. or Aurora’s rescue:the key to Lucy’s presence in Nathan’s life. so a story-based presentation. Unlike what her brother Tom said about her former behaviour, she is not the bad mother the reader could expect. also it might be theme-based around prejudice: so appearances / reality in Aurora ’s part/ between her husband’s acts and words/ What Tom thought she had done and the real situation. One shouldn’t judge too fast.
situation	After her telephone call, Nathan understands that Rory is in danger and decides to find her. He eventually finds where she lives. The scene takes place in her house, a moment of stasis preceding action: as the narrator puts it: Minor is flabbergasted. The stasis is provoked by Nathan’s unexpected arrival. But it doesn’t last.  Nathan understands that Aurora is her husband’s hostage, and he has to free her. (irony: the knight image) a mix of dialogues and narrator’s comments 25 Evolution in Nathan’s character from the beginning of the novel: from the dying man he has become first the justice dispenser and he gets to the status of saviour. It emphasizes his pivotal role in the novel but one which implies a total reversal. He is now taking decisions to help the others.
words	stasis: inactivity. flabbergasted: surprised. skirt: pass around and near.
characters	Minor seen by Nathan:  a sententious man: “what constituted a good and proper marriage” 4 with tiresome principles. ”he no longer had my full attention” 4 seen by Rory: “you know what’s best, don’t you” “David thinks I’ll die if I don’t do everything he says”...34” without your approval” 32 he is tyrannical Aurora seen by Nathan physical description: 18-21 Nathan “My knight in shining armour” 22: Nathan is rescuing her from her husband’s hands. (Both ironic and at face value, he is about to abduct her.) So Aurora is both serious and ironic about Nathan’s function in the excerpt. Usually it’s rather the lover than the uncle who frees the “belle” (An inconsistency, a discrepancy, an incongruity in the situation? Or what?), and she immediately evokes her daughter re-establishing a balance. Nathan is trying to undo the spell (of the Hawthorn(e) manuscript and legacy of falsehood. Lucy: mentioned but not named “my baby” “my little girl” 23
tone	sarcastic for Aurora when she addresses Minor.  “sarcasm” 34 sarcasm turning into anger (evidenced by the vulgar words: fucking repeated several time.. 37, 39,40;,41) accusation towards Minor “your pure thoughts ..tongue.” 40,41. she means the exact opposite.(=sarcasm) Mr Holy 41 opposed to “the vermin” 40 she is supposed to be in Minor’s opinion. Nathan is compared to a “knight in a shining armor” 22. So Aurora is both serious and ironic about Nathan’s function in the excerpt. (see above) she immediately puts herself in her part as a mother.
lexical field of time	before/ no longer/ momentarily: the narrator describes himself facing the situation. A lot of elements, the one to describe the course of action. Nathan constantly reassesses the situation. “since the start of my visit” 6; Some elements are analeptic: so many years / an hour ago 27; others refer to a future (proleptic) in a couple of days 30; it’s time repeated 8 (by Nathan), by Aurora 39 and 40; ; before the sun comes up tomorrow morning 43; before her husband knew 48. In fact time is on their side if they take advantage of the situation. But  even Minor too is trying to gain time for his own benefit: “come back in the middle of the week “ 15; “he can come back in a couple of days” 30 So all characters use time to their advantage.
tenses	Minor desperately clings to the present. Present is stability and order: “ it is not good.. 27 or the near past: “just half an hour ago” 27; but also imperative: “calm down” 36 using modals to give advice, allowing  or as a means of maintaining or restoring stability “you should” 26 “he can come back”
adverbs	always: used to characterise Minor.  aim: to show his efforts to maintain stability, a rigid attitude.
coincidence/ surprise/ trying to understand	Hawthorne / whether it was the manuscript or the street, is synonymous of thorns, difficulties and dangers. (a wink to the reader) The influence of famous names after their death (more philosophical, they attract greed, but can still punish). The quarrel on the name (previously: to tell the student: does it make a difference to add an “e” or not? Hawthorn(e)? Explain the wordplay. .excerpt 17 the legacy from the past (Hawthorn himself changed the spelling of his name. Nathan is trying to undo the spell
echoes	from excerpt 17. Nathan is trying to undo the spell
action	from the idea of rescuing Aurora to its realization.
lexical field of vision, point of view	I looked past.. 1,5, 7, 18 / the corner of my eye 2/ identify 3/ I had seen 5, 24, 28 / catch a glimpse 14; (hide 34/ vanish ) luminous 21
lexical field of appreciation	a good and proper marriage 4/ (probably )
lexical field of dissimulation	eavesdropping 6/ the corner of my eye 2/ catch a glimpse 14/
repetitions	smile21 smilingX2smile
lexical field of advice	you should, it isn’t good 26-27/

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