Learning Intention;

I can take detailed notes to aid my study of a text

The Title (Prior Knowledge)

● PLOUGHING PLOUGHING Why does a farmer plough? What is he

preparing the land for? What does this suggest about Chris and her

maturity? -Chris is not yet mature/her character is not yet fully formed- We are told of her background so that we can be aware of the influences that might shape her

“...but she was no more than ploughed land still, the furrows went criss and cross, you wanted this and you wanted that, books and the finesses of them no more than an empy gabble sometimes, and then the sharn and the snapping that sickened you and drove you back to books”

Structure

Chris lying at the Standing

StonesEarly life and

move to Kinraddie

Experiences at Kinraddie up to present

time

Chris being called back

down to Blawearie

FLASHBACK

Influences on Chris

Focus more on Chris

Important Points; Weather

Weather “brought more heat than cold” – sign of thundery (ominous) weather

Weather breaks at the end of the chapter and mirrors the news Chris is about to hear

Important Points; John Guthrie

Chris’ view of her father often seems contradictory

She admires his skills in farming and attitude to land but hates

his harsh and cruel nature and quick temper

John Guthrie is proud of what he is and what he does and will

stand up for himself and his land when necessary.

Important Points; John & Jean GuthrieMarriage of John and Jean beings in a romantic way but Jean Guthrie becomes increasingly bitter and tired

This is down to John’s insistence to follow “God’s will” when it comes to having children.

Conflict between parents is something that fascinates Chris but at the beginning of the chapter she only dimly recognises the sexual side of her father’s nature

Important Points; Sex and RelationshipsGibson was concerned with creating a realist portrayal of Scottish people and so took a realistic view of people’s relationships and sex lives.

He shows the consequences of having sex for women (the birth of the twins) He sees male desire as being destructive and threatening to women and female desire is sympathetically portrayed and seen as “natural”

Important Points; Religion

In this chapter Kinraddie needs a new minister and so invites three ministers to preach.

Two ministers make an impression but it is the Reverend Gibson (note the name) who the community choose and this is Gibson’s first comment on organised religion.

It is significant that Chris and her father both vote for Reverend Colquhoun

Important Points; Ending

The chapter ends back in the present day

Chris is called back home to hear some news – she (and we) don’t know what yet

The drought breaks in a dramatic storm – a sign for the trouble ahead

“They were crying her name excitedly, it sounded like the lowing of calves that had lost their mother, she went slow to tease them till she saw their faces”

Hints at the awful news Chris will hear when she reaches Blawearie

Reading the TextSection Summary Focus on.....

“Below and...”“much same as before”

Chris at the Standing Stones. Drought at Blawearie

Standing Stones as a symbolImportance of LandDangers of technology and changeMistrust of the gentry