Part/Chapter Summary
Part 1 Chapter 1 Briony is introduced, she prepares for The Trials of
Arabella. Lola, Jackson and Pierrot are introduced
as they come to stay due to their parents’ divorce.
Briony gets them involved in her play, but is upset
when Lola takes the role of Arabella (which Briony
wanted).
Part 1 Chapter 2 Cecilia is introduced, alongside Robbie and her
awkward feelings towards him. She puts owers
into Uncle Clem’s vase, lling it in the fountain.
Robbie tries to help, she resists, the vase breaks.
She dives into the fountain to retrieve it, barely
clothed and ignoring him despite previous irting.
Part 1 Chapter 3 Briony struggles to retain control over her play. She
watches the fountain scene play out, imagining
Robbie commanded Cecilia to remove her clothes
and retrieve the vase - misunderstanding due to her
age/immaturity.
Part 1 Chapter 4 Cecilia repairs the vase and comforts an upset
Briony. Leon and Paul Marshall are introduced,
Cecilia converses with them, then Leon reveals he
asked Robbie to join them all for dinner. Cecilia is
annoyed by this.
Part 1 Chapter 5 The Trials of Arabella rehearsals are cancelled by
Briony, the twins tell Lola how unhappy they are
being away from their parents. Paul Marshall
introduces himself to the trio, particularly taking
interest in Lola.
Part 1 Chapter 6 Emily is properly introduced, re ecting on her
children, almost idolising Briony - she believes
Briony is mistreated by Lola, who reminds Emily of
her own sister (whom she seems to resent).
Part 1 Chapter 7 Briony hits the nettles, looking at the decaying
island temple. Leon passes by, yet she ignores him
to continue swatting the plants.
Part 1 Chapter 8 Robbie sits in the bath, has lustful fantasies about
Cecilia in the fountain. He imagines their varied
social standings have made their interactions
awkward. Jack helped to pay his Cambridge tuition.
Robbie types a letter to Cecilia, rst an explicit one,
then an apology. He prepares for dinner and takes
the envelope, giving it to Briony to pass on as he
considers his love for Cecilia. He realises he
mistakenly put the vulgar letter in the envelope, but
could not catch up to Briony.
Part 1 Chapter 9 Cecilia tries on various out ts, before helping the
twins clean their room. She longs to leave but feels
trapped in her mother-like role. She discusses
dinner with Betty and Emily, before going on a walk
with Leon. Briony hands her the unsealed letter,
Cecilia questions if she had read it but Briony
avoids the question. Cecilia realises her love for
Robbie. Paul o ers everyone a cocktail.
ff fi fi flfi fl fl
Part 1 Chapter 1 Briony is introduced, she prepares for The Trials of
Arabella. Lola, Jackson and Pierrot are introduced
as they come to stay due to their parents’ divorce.
Briony gets them involved in her play, but is upset
when Lola takes the role of Arabella (which Briony
wanted).
Part 1 Chapter 2 Cecilia is introduced, alongside Robbie and her
awkward feelings towards him. She puts owers
into Uncle Clem’s vase, lling it in the fountain.
Robbie tries to help, she resists, the vase breaks.
She dives into the fountain to retrieve it, barely
clothed and ignoring him despite previous irting.
Part 1 Chapter 3 Briony struggles to retain control over her play. She
watches the fountain scene play out, imagining
Robbie commanded Cecilia to remove her clothes
and retrieve the vase - misunderstanding due to her
age/immaturity.
Part 1 Chapter 4 Cecilia repairs the vase and comforts an upset
Briony. Leon and Paul Marshall are introduced,
Cecilia converses with them, then Leon reveals he
asked Robbie to join them all for dinner. Cecilia is
annoyed by this.
Part 1 Chapter 5 The Trials of Arabella rehearsals are cancelled by
Briony, the twins tell Lola how unhappy they are
being away from their parents. Paul Marshall
introduces himself to the trio, particularly taking
interest in Lola.
Part 1 Chapter 6 Emily is properly introduced, re ecting on her
children, almost idolising Briony - she believes
Briony is mistreated by Lola, who reminds Emily of
her own sister (whom she seems to resent).
Part 1 Chapter 7 Briony hits the nettles, looking at the decaying
island temple. Leon passes by, yet she ignores him
to continue swatting the plants.
Part 1 Chapter 8 Robbie sits in the bath, has lustful fantasies about
Cecilia in the fountain. He imagines their varied
social standings have made their interactions
awkward. Jack helped to pay his Cambridge tuition.
Robbie types a letter to Cecilia, rst an explicit one,
then an apology. He prepares for dinner and takes
the envelope, giving it to Briony to pass on as he
considers his love for Cecilia. He realises he
mistakenly put the vulgar letter in the envelope, but
could not catch up to Briony.
Part 1 Chapter 9 Cecilia tries on various out ts, before helping the
twins clean their room. She longs to leave but feels
trapped in her mother-like role. She discusses
dinner with Betty and Emily, before going on a walk
with Leon. Briony hands her the unsealed letter,
Cecilia questions if she had read it but Briony
avoids the question. Cecilia realises her love for
Robbie. Paul o ers everyone a cocktail.
ff fi fi flfi fl fl
