Thinking activity on Sense of an Ending novel

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Here I share my point of view on Sense of an Ending novel according to this link Click here

The Sense of an Ending novel
Introduction-
The Sense of an Ending novel is written by Julian Barnes. Julian Patrick Barnes is an English writer. Barnes won the Man Booker Prize for his book The Sense of an Ending, and three of his earlier books had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize: Flaubert's Parrot, England, England, and Arthur & George. The Sense of an Ending is narrated by a retired man named Tony Webster, who recalls how he and his clique met Adrian Finn at school and vowed to remain friends for life.


1) History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation." How far can you agree with this definition of Adrian? Justify you answer with reference to your reading of ‘The Sense of an Ending’.

I am strongly agree with this definition of Adrian, because everyone can not remember everything at it is but every has imperfections of memory. If anyone has habit of dairy writing then according to dairy say something yet it can imperfect memory because most of people don’t write everything in the dairy. This novel is also the example of imperfections of memory because at beginning of the novel narrator told that- I remember, in no particular order. Narrator Tony didn’t remember anything  in  particular  order that's why most of incidents between his description like inadequacy. Example like Class discussion of World war 2 history, Robson suicide history, Veronica and Tony relation, Adrian death reason solve to the help Adrian's idea of philosophy so there are clues of this novel also prove that- “History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation.”  And this novel is also Tony Webster memory narration so it is definitely inadequacies of documentation.

2) You still don’t get it. You never did, and you never will. So stop even trying”. Justify with reference to the universal reality that Anthony Webster faces about seeing, perceiving and understanding events of real life in Julian Barnes’s ‘The Sense of an Ending’

Veronica told this statement to Tony, it is not only Anthony’s problem but it is universal reality of human being because everyone has habit to give sympathy to another tell like  I know your condition but anyone can not imagine or understand others condition even they behave like they know everything according to their seeing, perceiving and understanding. According to me Julian Barnes satire on human being because most of we have habit of believe on seeing and perceiving but beyond this most we didn’t try to think or understand events of real life.

3) Eros and Thanatos . . . Sex and death. . . Or love and death, if you prefer. The erotic principle, in any case, coming into conflict with the death principle. And what ensues from that conflict.” How far this statement encircles the central theme of the novel The Sense of an Ending’.

According to me sex and death also central theme of the novel because narrator most of focus of sex and death. Interwined with the two drives- Life- instinct ‘Eros’,  Death- instinct ‘Thanatos’.Eros and Thanatos words derived from the Greek mythology.Eros procreates love and sexual desire. Thanatos drives a traumatic mind to death, unconscious desire of die. Robson and Adrian Finn’s mention for both ‘Eros’ and ‘Thanatos’ – Sex and death. But both suicide reason are unfolded at the end of the novel.

4) ‘Damage’ recurs as a motif in the novel. Whom do you think is ‘damaged’ and who is the ‘damager’?

According to novel Anthony himself damaged by others and he also become damager to writing letter to Adrian and Veronica. Even he doesn’t know what he done at past then at age of sixty Sarah's letter and dairy page where he found his name at that time he become curious to know reality but he didn’t get it. And he meets Veronica to know reality but Veronica wasn’t tell reality but she gave letter which letter he wrote at the past to them. So Tony's letter become reason for several lives Veronica, Adrian, Sarah and young Adrian. So in this novel  damaged person become damager of several life.

I want to add another view also according to me no one is damager person himself/herself is reason of damage this argument prove to do character study Adrian has his own mind our his personal discussion to ready to develop relationship with Sarah Ford and Sarah Ford has also choice to ready for relation with Adrian. Everyone has personal choice therefore anyone can’t blamed others.

5) Discussion on ‘History’ in school. Write a critique on the classroom scene where teacher and students discuss ‘History’.

I am very surprised to read description of healthy discussion on History teacher ask question to student then class start with question and end with that question various answers. Old Joe Hurt ask questions ‘Who might like to offer a characterisation of the age?’ He drew his own conclusion from our averted eyes. ‘Well, Marshall, perhaps. How would you describe Henry VIII’s reign?’ then students give answer as possible of questions. So this system l like more because students can remember or own self think about it and it is interactive method of study. If I talk about my school history class period there teacher come and explain everything then lesson over by teacher as we know history different to remember,  teacher couldn’t know students outcome.  So l like classroom scene of the novel where teacher and students discuss 'History'.