Ian McEwan Trivia

1. How old is Briony at the start of the book?

From Quiz Atonement

Answer: 13

Briony Tallis lives with her sister Cecilia, her mother Emily and her father, Jack.

From Quiz "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Answer: Briony Tallis

We discover that Briony Tallis is the author of "Atonement" at the end of part three of the book, where her initials and the words London, 1999 appear. She is 13 years old at the beginning of the story, a dramatic and introspective young girl. She relates the events of a day or so, and then tells how those events affect everyone who was there at the time, over the course of many years. She became a famous author, and as an old, sick woman Briony reveals that she has written several versions of the book over a 59 year period. She explains that she regarded it as her responsibility to record the events "as a matter of historical duty."

From Quiz Ian McEwan: 'Atonement'

Answer: Briony, Cecilia, Robbie, Emily

If you remember, we get the voices of all of these characters in part one of the novel. Part two is told from Robbie's perspective alone, and the final part from Briony's.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love"

Answer: Hot Air Balloon

This is how the book begins. Ian McEwan was originally going to start it with the restaurant shooting.

From Quiz Chapters Of "The Cement Garden"

Answer: Tulip

Although he had planted marigolds around the lawn, it is later mentioned that tulips were his favourite.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Saturday"

Answer: Neurosurgery

Perowne's work with damaged brains informs much of his view of life, making him acutely aware of the fragility of human life. The parallel is drawn between the destruction of a single life through disease or trauma, and the damage done with a single brief act of violence whether in war, through terrorism or on the streets.

From Quiz "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Answer: Lola Quincey

Lola was actually assaulted twice, once in her bedroom and again outdoors in the dark. The second attack was witnessed by Briony who gave evidence against the attacker, sending him to prison. Emily Tallis is Briony's mother, a lady prone to migraines, and Grace Turner is a family employee, mother of Robbie. The twins who disappeared were Lola's brothers, who ran off and were found and returned safely by Robbie Turner.

From Quiz Ian McEwan: 'Atonement'

Answer: Thirteen

She is ten when Robbie takes her swimming in the river; Lola is fifteen at the beginning of the book; Briony is eighteen when we begin to follow her nursing career.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love"

Answer: Common-law wife

Common-law means because they've been together so long they are recognised as a married couple, although they aren't.

From Quiz Chapters Of "The Cement Garden"

Answer: 8

Being one of four children, he did not get to spend much time alone with his mother.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Saturday"

Answer: The anti-Iraq war march for peace

The demonstration is the backdrop to the novel. Perowne's views on the march are expressed at several points throughout the narrative, most particularly when he acts as devil's advocate in an argument with Daisy after she has taken part in the march. Henry is torn between the desire to see the violent regime of Saddam Hussein ended and his unease with the motives of the political leaders who seek to do just that.

From Quiz Atonement

Answer: She tries on two dresses

She starts in a black crepe de Chine dress then changes into a moire silk dress before settling on the dark green bias-cut backless evening gown.

From Quiz "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Answer: Their parents are separated and will probably divorce.

Emily Tallis is aunt to 15 year old Lola and the nine year old twins, Jackson and Pierrot. Emily's sister Hermione and her husband Cecil have separated and will probably divorce. Lola reminds Emily of Hermione in that both mother and daughter have a way of showing off and "taking center stage" no matter what else is going on. Emily recalls that when she was a child of eleven and cut her hand severely, it was nine year old Hermione who got all the attention by having a screaming attack. When Lola discovers that her brothers have run off she upstages them by running away herself.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love"

Answer: Rose, Parry, Mellon

Joe Rose, Jed Parry and Clarissa Mellon.

From Quiz Atonement

Answer: An envelope

It is because Briony foolishly opens and reads the letter before giving it to Cecilia. It contains an explicit word starting with 'c'.

From Quiz "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Answer: chocolate

Paul Marshall owns a chocolate factory that manufactures Amo bars and he plans to supply every soldier with one of his bars, called Army Amo. Paul becomes very wealthy and runs the Marshall Foundation which grants funds to worthy causes.

From Quiz Ian McEwan: 'Atonement'

Answer: The Trials of Arabella

She writes the play at the age of thirteen, but it is not performed until her 77th birthday - right at the end of the novel. It is a very touching moment.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love"

Answer: John Logan

His widow Jean, whom Joe and Clarissa befriend, suspected him of having an affair. When in fact he was just giving another professor and his girlfriend a lift into town.

From Quiz Chapters Of "The Cement Garden"

Answer: A Girl

He thinks girls don't get beaten up. He spends a lot of time later in the book dressed up as a girl.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Saturday"

Answer: They have a minor car accident

Perowne had been waved through a police cordon so that he could get to the gym for his squash match. As he drives down the street Baxter, who Perowne had just seen leaving a lap-dancing club, pulls out from a side street and drives his car into the side of Perowne's Mercedes.

From Quiz "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Answer: She said that Robbie assaulted Lola.

Briony's lie about Robbie is the pivotal event of the novel. The repercussions of her lie affect the lives of everyone in her household. Robbie and Cecelia, Lola and Paul, her parents, and Briony herself are all changed forever. Paul is the actual guilty person.

From Quiz Ian McEwan: 'Atonement'

Answer: Paul Marshall

Lola marries her rapist five years later, putting paid to Briony's hopes of finally acccusing him - Lola would be sure to cover for him. This has the implication that she will never be forgiven by Robbie, as she would not have been able to clear his name.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love"

Answer: Scientific journalist

It is a fact Joe does go on a bit about his science. He wants to get back to 'real science', which is teaching science. Personally, I'd rather sit at home all day writing randomly!

From Quiz Chapters Of "The Cement Garden"

Answer: Sue

She told a joke. Julie did a handstand, Tom turned cartwheels, and Jack sang Greensleeves.

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Saturday"

Answer: Huntington's disease

Perowne sees that Baxter's hand is trembling and that he can barely control his movements and instantly diagnoses that he is suffering from Huntington's Disease, a degenerative brain disorder that affects motor skills and behaviour and can make the sufferer unpredictable and aggressive. As he begins to explain the illness to Baxter, his companions are sent away so that the illness is kept secret from them. Perowne is uneasy about his actions as he wonders whether he overstepped the mark and abused his position of authority, but given the nature of Baxter's condition, and the size of the bruise on his sternum from the one blow he does receive, his actions are excusable.

From Quiz Atonement

Answer: Robbie

Robbie walks up the driveway with one twin on his shoulders and another holding his hand, right before he is convicted of sexually assaulting Lola.

From Quiz "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Answer: Robbie and Cecelia were reunited.

In the first ending, Robbie and Cecelia are still in love and have been reunited, although Robbie is still in the army. Briony visits them and they agree on the terms by which Briony will confess her lie and try to make amends.

From Quiz Ian McEwan: 'Atonement'

Answer: Dunkirk & Dunkerque

The 'strategic withdrawal' to the chaos of the beaches at Dunkirk is considered as one of history's greatest failures - at least, it is in Britain. Although the Allied armies were completely surrounded and isolated on the coast of northern France with the German army pressing in on all sides, they still managed to evacuate their entire expeditionary force across the Channel to safety. Much of the success of this narrow escape is due to private boat owners and fishermen from the south coast of England who risked their lives(and often lost them) by sailing across to Dunkirk and picking up soldiers from the beaches. It was also due to efficient command on the part of the Allies, and the inexplicable fact that just when victory was in sight, the Germans paused instead of annihilating their enemy. The dramatic retreat is seen through the eyes of Robbie, who is serving as a private (his prison history prevented him enlisting as an officer).

From Quiz Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love"

Answer: Christian

A devout Christian if ever there was one. He is convinced that God has sent him to convert Joe's anti-Christian opinion.

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