Reading+the+story


 * The first page **

Look at the extract from Annus Mirabilis on the first page. Define Annus Mirabilis. What happened in 1666? Why is the poem called Year of Wonders?

O let it be enough what thou hast done, When spotted deaths ran arm'd through every street, With poison'd darts, which not the good could shun, The speedy could outfly, or valiant meet.

The living few, and frequent funerals then, Proclaim'd thy wrath on this forsaken place: And now those few who are return'd agen Thy searching judgments to their dwellings trace.

- From [|//Annus Mirabilis, The Year of Wonders, 1666//] by John Dryden

media type="custom" key="12225096"

Play the students the video of the Queen’s Speech in 1992 []

Read out and examine this extract from the Queen, “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'. I suspect that I am not alone in thinking it so. Indeed, I suspect that there are very few people or institutions unaffected by these last months of worldwide turmoil and uncertainty. This generosity and whole-hearted kindness of the Corporation of the City to Prince Philip and me would be welcome at any time, but at this particular moment, in the aftermath of Friday's tragic fire at Windsor, it is especially so.”

What happened to the Queen and the Royal Family and England in 1992? Why did she refer to it as Annus Horribilis?

Think about a year in your lives. Has there been one year that was the best year of your life? What happened? Did you get a bike or move to a house with a swimming pool? Did your Mother have a new baby? Or have you ever had a really terrible year, with a Grandparent or beloved pet dying? Looking back is there any part of that terrible year that turned out to be a positive? Did you learn something about yourself that you didn’t know? Did you become closer to someone who has proved to be a dear friend?

** Chapter One – Apple picking time ** Why is this chapter called Apple-picking Time? What part of the story does this chapter discuss? It is at the beginning or near the end of the story? Who is the narrator? What has happened to her husband? What impression do you get of what she thinks about her husband? What is the relationship between the narrator and the Rector? What does Anna think about Mrs Mompellion? Are they good friends or enemies? What makes you think that? Why is Anna so kind to the horse?

** Chapter Two – Ring of Roses ** What does the title mean? What kind of clue does this give the reader as to what is to follow? Who is George Vickers and what is his occupation? What does George bring into Anna’s life? Can you see a change in Anna with the arrival of George into her home? Describe what Elinor Mompellion looks like when Anna first sees her. What do we learn about herb knowledge? What does Anna think happens to women who partake in it? What role does Mem Gowdie play in the village? Describe what happens to George Vickers – what happens to his face and body? What impression do you have of the Rectorand his horse?

** Chapter Three - The Thunder of His Voice ** What does the title mean? Whose voice does it refer to? What does Anys do? How does she help the villagers? Describe and draw a picture of the Gowdies’ cottage and garden. How did you feel when you read of what George’s intentions were for Anna? If you felt sad for her, why? Why does Anys not want to marry? What did the Puritans consider to be dark and light? Is Anys good or bad? When is the Plague first mentioned? What is the Rector’s response to the idea of running from the Plague? What role does God play in his belief? Would you run from the plague? How would you describe Anna? Forthright or docile?

** Chapter Four - Rat-fall ** What does the title mean? Describe how Anna feels about her children on pages 66 and 67. Why has the author written about the children so tenderly? What do you think is going to happen? What does Mem think of the barber-surgeon? Does the barber-surgeon provide relief for Edward? Does Anna do something that she hasn’t done before? What happens to Tom? How did you feel reading about what happened to Tom? Why?

** Chapter Five – Sign of a Witch ** What does the title suggest is going to happen? Who manages to provide relief to Jamie? What does Anna think about Anys Gowdie’s herbal remedies? Do you think she is beginning to question the existence of God? How did you feel when Jamie died? Describe in detail his final day. What has the author done to make you feel sad when Jamie dies? Do you agree that “in the midst of life, we are in Death?” Does Anna defend Mem? Why does she come to her aid? Were the villagers justified in their belief that the Gowdies are witches? What does the Rector do? Why is he called Michael Mompellion in the last pages of this chapter? Who is right and who is wrong? What is the significance of the last sentence?

** Chapter Six – Venom in the Blood ** What is the snow a metaphor for? What does the village lose when Mem and Anys are gone? Why do you think the Rector suggests that this is the time to quarantine themselves? What role does the killing of Anys have? What arguments does he present? What role does Mr Stanley have in persuading the villagers? Why do the Bradford’s depart? Why does Anna decide to stay? Why do the villagers listen to the Rector?

** Chapter Seven - Wide Green Prison ** What arguments does the Rector put forward for the Bradford’s to stay? What does Colonel Bradford argue? What does Anna think? Why does she stay? Why is the Rector so furious with the actions of the Bradford family when they decide to leave the village before the quarantine is put into place? Is his anger justified? Why do Maggie and Brand leave? What is Anna asked to do, that she has never done before? Whose knowledge does she draw upon? Why does she start calling Mrs Mompellion, Elinor Mompellion? Why does she take the phial of poppy? What does the birth of a newborn symbolise?

What does the return of Maggie and Brand show? What do the actions of Joss Bont make Anna think? What is happening to Anna’s faith in God by the end of the chapter?
 * Chapter Eight - So Soon to Be Dust **

Why doesn’t Anna return the poppy? Why is there so much focus on death in this chapter? What is happening to the villagers? What is the signficance of Anna going to the Gowdie’s cottage? Why does Elinor insist that Anna call her Elinor? What kind of relationship do Elinor and Anna have? Why does Elinor reveal her past to Anna? How does it make you feel about Elinor, Michael and Anna? What does the poppy symbolise in this chapter?
 * Chapter Nine - The Poppies of Lethe **

How has Anna changed from before the Plague? Why is digging graves an important job? What kind of work does Anna do? What is the significance of the Church closing? Has God left the village of Eyam? Why do Elinor and Anna help Merry? How do they help Merry? Were women permitted to work in mines in the 1600s? Why does Anna find some peace in helping Merry?
 * Chapter Ten - Among Those That Go Down to the Pit **

Do you think what Bont is doing is wrong? If so, why? Why do the villagers turn against him? Why do you think Brooks’ included this as part of the story? What happens to Anna as a result of the actions of her Father? What do you think the break she has with her Father symbolises? Why doesn’t she save him?
 * Chapter Eleven - The Body of the Mine **

Why does Anna cry for her Father? Why do some of the villagers turn to magic? What is the difference between what the villagers are doing and Anna and Elinor’s work? How does Anna feel about the role of God in her life? What happens to the villagers as they deal with the enormous death toll? What is flagellation? What does the Rector do and how would you characterise his behaviour? Why is Anna jealous? Why does she smash the dishes? Is she in love? With whom?
 * Chapter Twelve - The Press of Their Ghosts **

Describe the relationship between Elinor and Anna. Do you agree with Elinor that the year was a year of Wonders? Why does the Rector want everything burnt? What did Elinor mean about Anna being a friend to Michael?
 * Chapter Thirteen – A Great Burning **

As Elinor has survived the Plague, is that a symbol of the community surviving? What made Aphra go mad? Why did the Rector think it was not time to remove the quarantine? What is ironic about Elinor’s death?
 * Chapter Fourteen – Deliverance **

Why is Aphra buried on the moors? What is the significance of Anna riding Anteros? What do you think Anteros symbolises? Are Michael and Anna in love? Why are Anna and the baby in danger? After the death of Elinor, the Rector reveals the truth about his marriage. How does it make you feel about him?
 * Chapter Fifteen - Apple-picking Time **

What does Anna learn to become? Was it a Year of Wonders? Was the Plague God’s wrath made manifest?
 * Epilogue – The Waves, Like Ridges of Plough’d Land**