Dole – Questions on Book 3

 

3-7

 

We learn that the working class can be divided against its own – a comparison with the treatment of SB in HT is possible. Larry loses his patience it’s driving me barmy to have to live amongst such idiotic folk….won’t do anything  to help themselves.

 

-summarise Larry’s lesson on the workings of capitalism

 

3-8

We see the forces of privilege – represented by Sam Grundy – recruiting the worst sort of ignorant bully into the ranks of the police – Ned Narkey.

 

-explain how this comes about and its significance in the moral scheme and political message of the book

 

3-9

In contrast with Narkey’s fortune, we see the consequences on Larry of unemployment:

 

He stook staring at the floor; felt himself diminishing in stature; felt a helpless fool, utterly negligible

 

-summarise the doubts which are racking Larry’s brain

 

3-10

Harry is knocked off the dole and again Greenwood lets us understand how it is that people in his vulnerable position always assume that it will be the other person who will suffer and not them

 

nobody had believed that they themselves would fall victim. To them all it had concerned others than themselves

 

-what stage has Harry  now reached in his journey to an awareness of the realities of the world? (NB can we compare his journey with Gradgrind’s?)

 

 All feel dismay and dismay was made the more complete by the knowledge of their own impotence

Finally, the demonstration with the deputation to see the city officials is turned away by the police, so that even a voice is denied to the now dole-less demonstrators. We are given a  sympathetic picture of how the violent outcome of the demonstration is a result of the emotions of the crowd meeting the intransigence of the police.

 

Larry’s assault and his collapse is symbolic of the collapse of any effective protest against their lot by the claimants.

-in what sense can Larry’s speech be interpreted in a conservative or democratic light as contrasted with that of the previous speaker? Comment on the significance of this.

-explain the symbolic appropriateness of Larry’s declining health at this point in the novel.

 

3-11

 

We are implicitly invited to understand that it is the poverty and unemployment which have driven Bill Simmons and Tom Hare to crime.

 

-explain Helen’s reaction to the realisation that Haarry had been involved in the demonstration.

 

3-12

 

-          in what ways is the hospital ward a reflection of life outside in Hanky Park?

 

3-13

 

-how are the poor  exploited even in  death?

-explain what leads Sally to approach Grundy for a loan.

 

3-14

-          comment on the description and circumstances of the wedding, contrasting  it with earlier hopes and dreams

-          comment on the significance of Mrs Dorbell’s  dream of finding Mrs Nattle  as a corpse.

 

3-15

 

-explain why what Harry learns in this chapter must add to his fear and moral  confusion.

 

3-16

 

-are Mrs Dorbell’s actions right or wrong? Why?

 

3-17

 

-is it temptation  /  evil or realism which drives Sally out of the house?

 

3-18

 

-summarise Hardcastle’s thoughts in this chapter

-comment on the ending of the novel and its relationship to chap 1

-compare and contrast the outcome of the novel  with the outcome of HT.

 

 

I Curr 2002