Captain Corelli's Mandolin

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  • Created by: Kirsty
  • Created on: 09-04-14 13:42
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  • Captain Corelli's Mandolin
    • Form and Structure
      • Epistolary form when letters are send to Mandras at the front.
        • Creates a strong link between the two lovers but also shows how different they are.
      • There is an intertwining narrative.
        • Different characters stories are intertwined.
          • The main two- Pelagia and the Captain.
      • Switches between first and third person narrative.
        • Creates the intimacy with the readers and the characters with the 1st person narrative.
        • Shows a neutral sided view on the war and the characters.
          • We see a sad and weaker side to Mandras in chapter 22 where Madras is seduced in 'Pelagia's' form by the witch.
      • Chapter 11 is where the readers are shown the differnces between Pelagia and Mandras
        • Pelagia really over-thinks and worries, yet shows more signs of intelligence then madras does.
          • She asks more questions than Mandras, always wanting to know the answers, for example, 'why do clouds travel more slowly than the wind that drives them?
        • Mandras' thoughts are relatively simple. Thoughts of the fish and the ocean.
          • Mandras is more calm and simple. 'let me catch a bream for my mother, and a seabass and a fine big octopus'
          • Maybe there will be a smile for me amongst the numberless smiles of waves
    • About the book itself
      • de Bernieres is a modern writer, yet his novel is based on WW2
        • Greeks on the island said 'it distorts our history'.
          • Greeks offended because they felt they had more of an impact and gave more of a fight.
      • The author visited the island himself to gain inspiration.
    • Critics and readings of the novel
      • Marxism
        • The chapter 'The Good Nazi' connotes that Naiz's can have views that are seen as wrong yet some of their actions can be right.
        • Some say that de Bernieres doesn't take a specific viewpoint.
      • Historicism
        • The historical context plays a massive part in the novel. both at the beginning and the end of the novel the history of the island is mentioned.
    • Themes and Language
      • Love
        • Heterosexual
          • Pelagia and Captain Antonio.
            • 'Their idea of making love was to kiss in the dark
          • Mandras and Pelagia.
          • Ianis and his late wife
        • Homosexal
          • Carlo and Francesco
            • 'Love will make men dare to die for their beloved- Love alone.'
          • Carlo's love for the Captain
        • Comrades
          • They love one another, die for one another and die with each other.
            • 'Regardless of the matters of sex, soldiers grow to love each other'
        • Parental
          • Iannis' love for his daughter.
          • Drosoula's love fades for Mandras the more he is away from her.
      • Music
        • Something that connects people together.
          • The Captain's singing and playing of Antonia captivates Pelagia
          • Antonia is what draws the Captain to find Pelagia again.
      • Key Quotations
        • 'Every day, all the time, I was thinking of you, talking to you... I fought for you more than I fought for Greece.' -Mandras. Page 157
        • I'll love you, I'll love you forever, after the war' -
        • 'Stupefied by an act of love incomprehenceable and ineffable' -page 400
        • When the door was suddenly kicked open just as it was getting dark, Pelagia's first thought was that it was the Germans. She knew all the Italians were dead.' -page 407
        • 'He strode up to her and struck her across the face' page 449

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