Presentation

1. THE DEER DRIVE
“A key incident that provides insight into the characters
and themes prevalent throughout the novel.”

2. Characters
• Duror-
• He doesn't seem himself with his rough appearance, unusual to his
heathy state “unshaven, slack mouthed, mumbling, rather glaikit”
Allowing other characters to suspect he’s drunk. Durors slurring and
dazed due to the confusion of reality and his hallucination.
• The way in which Duror slaughters the deer is significant as he didn’t
triumphant in glory but mourned over it, as if the deer itself was
Peggy. ”Peggy? he asked. Whats happened to Peggy” Thinking he
had killed his wife.
• Others around him see Duror as a deluded berserk man “seemed to
be laughing in some kind of berserk joy” Giving us a first insight to
Duror’s state of mind.

3. • His hatred towards Calum is immensely strong and only now does he
realise why when he “threw a glance of hatred”. It was Durors very
life being personified- Calums “face was mild, peaceful and beautiful”
however “this misbegotten creature” is “savage, brutal and ugly”
Describing his situation greatly as Durors life before was beautiful and
joyous however now is seen as a burden.
• Calum-
• Calum and the deer are alike as both are innocent and sensitive to
the “apprehensive of the human silence.”
• Calum also connects with the deer and feels a tight bond as the deer
itself is “marvellous grace and agility over the rough ground” similar
to Calum in the treetops. “Calum no longer was one of the beaters;
he too was a deer hunted by remorseless men” Evoking both
admiration and sympathy.

4. • Roderick-
• Roderick surprises me in this chapter as he defends Calum,
disagreeing and kicking a fuss with his mother, embarrassing her
while demanding justice, foreshadowing what is come.
• Tulloch-
• “Though he loved them he loved justice to” Implying that he is a
superior figure of justice and just as Roderick does, defends the cone
gatherers.

5. Setting
• Jenkins uses the setting to foreshadow the slaughter of the deer by
using techniques such a similes…
• “The dead ash clawed at the sky with branches white as bone”
Comparing the branches to bones suggesting evil is to come but also
setting a tense atmosphere.
• The setting of Duror’s hallucination disrupts the peaceful scenery as
he “staggers about as if he was drunk..” quickly appalling everyone.
This hallucination itself is a nightmare about Peggy and her
“monstrous slugs” as legs being attacked while Duror is unable to
rescue her, waking up confused as “he tried to shake off the
hallucination”. Duror was terrified it may stay forever while everyone
surrounding him was shocked, getting a glimpse of his psychological
state.

6. Themes
• Jenkins explores the theme good vs evil through characters such as
Calum and Duror, achieving this through detailed descriptive events
allowing us to dive into the depths of the characters state of mind.
• Illustrating Calums beautiful innocence clashing with Durors twisted
darkness.
• The theme of innocence has been destroyed through the slaughter of
the deer as before hand I felt there was a sense of innocence with
Duros character due to his sympathetic nature.
• Class Conflict is also slightly explored at the end of the chapter
between Lady Runice Campbell and the cone gatheres.

7. This chapter is significant as…
• Duror’s twisted psychological state is revealed to the other characters.
• His evoking destruction towards Calum highlighted when “If the
crooked little imbecile was sent back now to the forest at Ardmore,
he would live happily there whilst here in the wood Duror’s own
torment continued. His going therefore, must be a destruction, an
agony, a crucifixion” Pg95
• Emphasises his ability for violence.
• Reinforces Calum’s innocence.
• Insight towards the reasons as to why Duror feels the way he does
towards the cone gatherers.
• Changes our views on Duror as before we sympathised with him
however after question his intentions.

8. The deer drive is considered a turning point as…
• The innocence has been lost not only with Duror but the overall
book.
• This chapter illustrates the social clash between Lady Runice Campbell
and the cone gatherers indicating an unamendable divide.
• The reason behind Duror’s hatred towards Calum has been revealed
and are continuing to grow darker.