Coming of Age as a Writer

This photo shows the mail room at the Belfast.  One of the many hardships they faced while aboard was having to wait to send and receive mail from their loved ones, just like Robbie and Cecilia did in the novel.

At the Florence Nightingale Museum, we learned about her upbringing and life as a nurse and how her coming of age related to Briony.  Both were very similiar but different.  They shared a passion for literature and nursing.

In the Propaganda exhibit at the British Library, we analyzed the propaganda of today.  My favorite part was this giant screen. In the middle it showed a controversial topic then all around it listed positive, negative and neutral feedback on the topic.  It touched into pathos because it really appealed to your emotional side.  Propaganda is a big part of coming of age as a writer because as a writer, like Briony, one must write with an open mind.

Just like Briony, Florence was also had an older sister.  They both were very similar in personality.  Both had an imaginative side, while remained more reserved than their sisters.  

Florence and Briony both experienced first hand coming of age as a writer.  This photograph symbolized all the letters and books she had written while laying in bed.   

Coming of Age as a Believer

At Oxford, we toured Christ Church, which is where Sebastian went to school and followed in his father's footsteps.  Oxford is one of the oldest universities with Christ Church being one of the largest.  It is the only college with its own cathedral, showing its prestige over the other colleges. 

 This is a picture of the dining hall at Christ Church.  It was the inspiration for the hall in Harry Potter and displays art of famous people around the room.  One outside of the college had to be invited in by a member to have a meal.  Faculty sat at the front of the room while students ate at the long tables.

At Eltham Palace we observed the Art Deco style inside the house compared to the Baroque.  The geometric shapes such as seen on the rug were very Art Deco.  

Eltham Palace had beautiful grounds surrounding the estate, including a moat.  Although the home was bombed they were able to restore.

Coming of Age as a Traveller

 At the John Soane Museum, we walked around his old home and observed different artifacts he collected during his Grand Tour.  Soane was also an artist and drew pictures of his visions for London; just as Lucy had her visions of Italy.

In the National Gallery, we critiqued different artworks and how we felt they related to Lucy and her travels.  One in particular was the Combat of Love and Chastity. It represented Lucy's purity being taken away from her.

These two paintings, we found at the Tate Britain, done by Turner relate to Lucy and her travels.  The top piece was Turner's first painting and showed his original view of Venice.  As his views changed so did his art.  The bottom painting is another piece he did later on of Italy that he yet to finish.  Just like Lucy, Turner had a different view of the country after his travels.

After a short boat ride we went to the Millennium Bridge and experienced our own views of London.

Week 1

This photo shows a typical governess' room in the 19th century.  

At the Tate Britain we observed art showing the struggles of femininity.

This is one of the paintings we analyzed at Tate Britain.  It shows a woman lying on the ground exposed in the public covered in the white snow and doves.

At the Geffrye we observed the interiors design of typical rooms during the time our book was set.  We also had a discussion about the roles women played, such as Jane.