Joyce Cary

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Joyce Cary Growing Up
Joyce Cary was an English writer who lived from 1888 to 1957. Several of his novels deal with the gradual change in the social and political structure of modern England.

Growing Up
Glossary primeval langour languid Paleface iodine from the earliest ages dreamy relaxation, laziness lacking energy or enthusiasm the native American term for a white man a type of disinfectant

Read and revise

Read the whole story through once, focusing on the way Roberts feelings about his daughters change. 1 Robert is unhappy about a number of things in his life. The first of these things is suggested in the first paragraph. What is it, and how do you know? Throughout the story things do not happen as Robert expects. What is the first indication of this, in the second paragraph? The next five paragraphs, up to Hullo, hullo, children (line 25), are all about the garden, which suggests that it is important in the story in some way. The garden is described as a wilderness. Look through the five paragraphs, and pick out the things that are wild in the garden. The parents hoped that the children should do what they liked in the garden. How does this relate to the rest of the story? Quick prefers the wild garden to the shaved and combed gardens of his neighbours? Think about the end of the story, and what Quick seems to prefer by then. Read again from It had come to seem, for him (line 17) to the end of line 25. What words and ideas in these lines suggest that Roberts view of the nature of the garden is imaginary rather than realistic? What might this have to do with the view he has of his children, and how that view changes in the story?

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English Literature: Prose

Robert sees the garden as free nature. Which two words in the last of these paragraphs connect with this word? What do you think Robert wants to be free from? Robert likes the idea that the garden has the suggestion of primeval forests. What primeval instincts are released in the garden later, and how does Robert respond to them?

The next six paragraphs, from There was no answer (line 26) to He was home again (line 57) describe Roberts meeting with the children, and his thoughts and feelings. They also prepare the reader for what is to happen. In the first three short paragraphs here, what things come as a surprise to Robert? What words does the writer use to signal Roberts disappointment? What indications are there in these paragraphs that the girls have changed? Pick out the words and phrases that tell you this. What feelings does Robert have here? There are several different feelings. The girls are described as impulsive and affectionate and Jenny as exciting, strong in all her feelings, intelligent, reflective, and as having moods of passionate devotion. Which of these attributes do the girls show in what follows, and which are shown in ways that Robert does not expect? In the last of these paragraphs, Robert feels that he has lost most of his illusions (line 53). Has he? Think about the words children ... never pretend and the mere presence of the children was a pleasure. Nothing could deprive him of that. He was home again. What happens in the rest of the story to dispel these ideas and feelings? How does he feel at the end?

The action of the story takes place over the next 55 lines from Jenny had got up and wandered away (line 58) to burst out again into helpless giggles (line 112). Its these actions that shatter Roberts illusions. Robert thought that children never pretend. Look at the words the girls use in these lines. What are they pretending here, and why is Robert shocked? Look at the paragraph beginning The bitch, startled (line 72). How are Snorts reactions the same as Roberts? Why has the writer shown the dogs reactions?

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Look at the paragraph beginning They tore at the man (line 92). What feelings does Robert have here? What has changed? The next paragraph is the most violent. How does the writer suggest violence by the words and phrases he uses?

Joyce Cary Growing Up

Look at the two paragraphs beginning Robert picked himself up (line 113). What is Robert deeply shocked by? What else does he feel? What has changed? Robert thinks of their world as a primitive, brutal world (line 119). Think about the description of the garden at the beginning. How does the action of straightening his tie reject the childrens world? How has Robert himself changed from the beginning, therefore? What game do the children play with him next? Pick out the evidence. Robert thinks this is more like a game (line 130), though. What does he mean, do you think? When Mrs Quick and her friend arrive, they also have roles to play. What roles? Their attitude of All you children amusing yourselves (line 139) is plainly wrong in one sense. Robert is hardly amused. But can you see any way in which they are all children?

10 In the paragraph beginning Kate and Jenny were sent to wash (line 141) the girls take on another set of roles. What? Where does their father belong in this game? 11 In the next paragraph, And now (line 147), Robert tries to adjust to a changed role for himself. How? 12 Why has the writer mentioned the case of the fourteen-yearold boy, in the next paragraph? What has it to do with what is happening? 13 Robert wants to escape (line 155). From what? Find the evidence. What does he want to escape to? Think about his attitude to the garden at the beginning. How has he changed? 14 When Jenny is on the wall at the end, she is in a superior position (line 172). She is, of course, higher up than Robert what else? Why is this new? 15 Look at the last two paragraphs of the story. How does the writer show that Robert is uncertain about his daughter now? 223

English Literature: Prose

The child frowned. She was also struck by something new and unexpected (lines 175176). Which of Jennys characteristics (listed in Question 4) are you reminded of here? What do you think the new and unexpected thing is that she is struck by? Shes growing up and so am I (lines 178179). How is Jenny growing up, and how is Robert growing up, do you think?

Final thoughts
Roberts mood changes several times during the story. What do you think it is at the end? There are a lot of references to games in the story. How have Robert and Jenny been forced to examine their roles in each others lives during the story? How are these roles changing?

Questions
Foundation Tier
Compare the ways relationships between young and older people are shown in Growing Up and Superman and Paula Browns New Snowsuit. You should write about: the relationships in each story what the young people realise about the older people in each story what each writer wants readers to think about the young people and the older people in each story how the writers show the young and the older people through the ways that they write about them.

Higher Tier
In Growing Up and Flight the main characters learn things about themselves and others. What different things do they learn? You should compare: what they learn about themselves and others the attitudes and feelings of the main characters how the writers structure their stories the language that the writers choose to use.

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