Hello!
This blog is a response to a task assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad as a part of thinking activity under Paper 207: Contemporary Literatures in English, unit named The Only Story( a novel) by Julian Barnes. We were given some worksheets among them we had to submit one worksheet answers in the form of blog post.
Introduction: Julian Barnes, born in 1946, is an esteemed English writer celebrated for his insightful exploration of human emotions and relationships. With a career spanning decades, Barnes has gained renown for his novels, essays, and short stories, delving into themes of memory, identity, and mortality.
Raised in Leicester, England, Barnes studied modern languages at Oxford before embarking on a career in journalism and writing. His literary journey began with detective novels under the pseudonym Dan Kavanagh before he gained recognition for his introspective and intellectually engaging works.
Barnes' writing is known for its sharp wit and philosophical depth, often delving into the complexities of human experience. His acclaimed novel "The Sense of an Ending" (2011) won the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, solidifying his reputation as a literary heavyweight.
In addition to novels, Barnes has penned essays, short stories, and non-fiction works, showcasing his versatility and intellectual breadth. His elegant prose and empathetic portrayal of characters resonate with readers worldwide, affirming his status as a preeminent literary voice.
"The Only Story" is a poignant novel by Julian Barnes, published in 2018. Set in England during the 1960s, it follows the life of its protagonist, Paul, as he reflects on a transformative relationship that shapes the course of his life.
The novel begins with Paul reminiscing about his youth and his first love affair with Susan, a woman significantly older than him. As the narrative unfolds, Barnes delves into the complexities of love, memory, and the passage of time. He explores the profound impact that love can have on individuals, as well as the ways in which relationships evolve and change over the years.
Here is the worksheet:
Here are the answers of questions given in the novel
1, and 2. Analyze the context of the following quote: "Why do you cheat at crosswords?"
a. Who is the speaker and to whom is this question addressed?
Paul is the speaker and the question is addressed to Joan.
b. What is the response given by the recipient?
The following answer is given by Joan “You cheeky bugger. I suppose Susan told you. Well, it is a fair question, and one I can answer. She took another pull of her gin. ‘You see – I hope you never get there yourself – but some of us get to the point in life where we realize that nothing matters. And one of the few side-benefits of that is you know you’re not going to go to hell for filling in the wrong answers in the crossword. Because you’ve been to hell and back already and you know all too well what it’s like.’
'But the answers are in the back of the book.’ ‘Ah, but you see, to me that would be cheating.’
c. Is the reference to "cheating at crosswords" repeated in the novel?
Yes the reference to “Cheating at crosswords” has repeatedly came in the novel
d. What inferences can be drawn from this reference?
A symbol is anything that hints at something else, usually something abstract, such as an idea or belief. A literary symbol is an object, a person, a situation, or an action that has a literal meaning in a story but suggests or represents other meanings.
In 'The Only Story,' Julian Barnes skillfully portrays the intricacies of social life in 20th century England. The significance of crosswords as a traditional British pastime is evident throughout the novel, with multiple characters engaging meaningfully with this activity. Crossword puzzles are known to offer various benefits, including:
- They can strengthen social bonds. Completing a crossword puzzle on your own is impressive, but you should never feel bad if you need to ask for help....
- They improve your vocabulary....
- They increase your knowledge base....
- They can relieve stress....
- They boost your mood.
- The desire to reduce the chaos of the universe to a small, comprehensible grid of black-and-white squares;
Further addition: 1a) a successful means of taking your mind off the question of love, which is all that counts in the world. The underlying belief that everything in life could, in the end, be solved;
2b) the further belief that once you have solved something in life, you will be able to solve it again, and the solution will be exactly the same the second time around, thus offering assurance that you have reached a pitch of maturity and wisdom. The confirmation that existence was essentially a ludic activity;
3b) false confirmation that you are more intelligent than some give you credit for. and the hope that this activity would keep at bay the existential pain of our brief sublunary transit from birth to death. That seemed to cover it!
4). To begin: ‘the hope that this boring activity would keep …’.” the desire to reduce the chaos of the universe to a small, comprehensible grid of black-and-white squares; the underlying belief that everything in life could, in the end, be solved; the confirmation that existence was essentially a ludic activity; and the hope that this activity would keep at bay the existential pain of our brief sublunary transit from birth to death.
Apart from Joan, it is Gordon Macleod who is found doing crosswords in the novel. On two occasions, he is found solving the crosswords with Paul Roberts. The answers to the puzzle are ‘Taunton’ – a name of a town – meaning continue mocking at – and - ‘TREFOIL, REF – arbiter – in the middle of TOIL – work.’ If we read these words in context of the relations between Paul and Gordon we may find it symbolically significant. Taunton – making mockery of something/somebody and Trefoil – a popular warning symbol signifies triangular relation among Paul – Susan – Gordon. Both these words in the crossword puzzle seem to signify a taunt on Paul’s middling in between Susan and Gordon’s not-so-happy married life.
2. Analyze the following quote in the context of the novel: "The point of the story is 'safe and capable.'"
a. Identify the speaker and the person to whom the quote is addressed.
Speaker of the dialogue is Susan and she is addressing that to Paul
b. Describe the significance of this quote within the context of the story.
the dialogue by Paul "Susan Then Jack turned to me and said, “I’m sorry our acquaintance has been so brief, my dear. It’s been wonderful knowing you. I’m aware that Gordon can be a difficult row to hoe, but I’ll die happy knowing that I leave him in your safe and capable hands.” And then I kissed him and left the room.’ ‘You mean, the doctor killed him?’ ‘He gave him enough morphine to put him to sleep, yes.’ ‘But he didn’t wake up?’ ‘No. Doctors used to do that in the old days, especially among themselves. Or with a patient they’d known a long time, where there was trust. Easing the suffering is a good idea. It’s a terrible disease.’ ‘Even so. I’m not sure I’d want to be killed.’ ‘Well, wait and see, Paul. But that’s not the point of the story.’ ‘Sorry.’ ‘The point of the story is “safe and capable”.’
3. Evaluate the use of the phrase "moviemaker's bromide" in the novel "The Only Story."
a. How many times is the phrase used in the novel?
In the novel the phrase "moviemaker's bromide" is used two times in the end part of the novel.
b. What is the situation when this phrase appears in the novel?
Paul has came to meet Susan at her death bed and the situation was of Paul being unable to response in a way which movies show at the death of any character and remaining characters.
c. What does it signify within the context of the story?
The romantic scenes and specially the end in movies are mostly dealing with dramatic events, which rarely happens in the real life and Julian Barnes is making a critique of that practice with the help of his famous philosophical broodings.
She didn’t react, except to continue with her frown, and the obstinate jut of her jaw. Well, that was fair enough. I hadn’t come with, or for, any message, let alone for any forgiveness. From love’s absolutism to love’s absolution? No: I don’t believe in the cozy narratives of life some find necessary, just as I choke on comforting words like redemption and closure. Death is the only closure I believe in; and the wound will stay open until that final shutting of the doors. As for redemption, it’s far too neat, a moviemaker’s bromide; and beyond that, it feels like something grand, which human beings are too imperfect to deserve, much less bestow upon themselves. I wondered if I should kiss her goodbye. Another moviemaker’s bromide. And, no doubt, in that film, she would stir slightly in response, her frown lines increase, and her jaw relax. And then I would indeed lift back her hair, and whisper into her delicately helixed ear a final ‘Goodbye, Susan.’ At which she would stir slightly, and offer the trace of a smile. Then, with the tears unwiped from my cheeks, I would rise slowly and leave her.
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