KEY: O= quotations O= refers especially to the audience O= motifs
O= analysis and importance O=literacy techniques O = symbols
ENGLISH LIT , JOURNEY’S END
Analysis of quotations/ themes and character analysis
CAPTAIN (DENNIS) STANHOPE (21)
He is first introduced through Hardy and Osborne’s conversation at the start of the play.
The first impression we gain of him is of ‘a heavy drinker’ – ‘a freak show’ due to the fact
that ‘he drink[s] like a fish.’
● This makes the audience aware of how hard the conditions of war were
Alcohol was used as a coping mechanism for Stanhope, he believes his needs come second
to the company so he ‘works so frightfully hard’ and ‘hardly ever sleeps’ ‘because of the
responsibility.’ Here Stanhope is being much harder on himself than the others.
The theme of friendship is an important aspect of the play. It portrays the sympathy the
soldiers had for each other and how they would mutually look out for each other. When the
play starts his friend (Osborne) protects Stanhope's reputation from the accusations of
being a ‘drunkard’. Osborne defends him by saying – ‘He’s a long way the best company
commander we’ve got’ and ‘He’s stuck it till his nerves have got battered to bits, he’s called
a drunkard’ The fact that he has not taken proper leave in three years indicates his attitude
to duty and his strength of character
When he first appears the stage directions state that: ‘Although tanned by months
in the open air, there is pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes’ He
later admits that the reason why he has not been home since the ‘battle at Vimy
Ridge’ is because he does not wish ‘Madge’(Raleigh's sister) to see him as he has
become, he (and many other soldiers during the war) were scared to be called
cowards during the war, and felt ashamed by it.
Sheriff shows Stanhope’s paranoia by having him over react when Raleigh won't
hand over his letter. Stanhope says ‘You’re not at school’ D’you understand and
order? Give me that letter!’ Stanhope’s anger with Raleigh’s naivety reveals to the
1
,audience his sadness at how much he has changed (until Raleigh arrived) and now
he defends his drinking habits by saying it is ‘To forget you little fool to forget’.
(Stanhope addressing Raleigh after Osborne's death)‘Without being doped with
whiskey- I’d go mad in a fright Stanhope admits that he has a drinking problem and
notices that Raleigh admires him but since he is paranoid and insecure of his
weaknesses (being a coward) he doesn't want to be seen as this figure he says :‘Yes
I’m his hero. Small boys at school generally have their heroes. It often goes on all
through life’ (to Osborne) Stanhope's view is that officers in the trenches should
have put their schooldays behind them. Since Stanhope has such a low opinion of
himself he feels that Raleigh will soon come to despise him.
Stanhope is convincing Hibbert to stay even though of his ‘beastly neuralgia’ and
says ‘It's the only thing a decent man can do’ recognising the theme of duty. Ironic
because the Colonel manipulates Stanhope with the feeling of duty and Stanhope
does the same with Hibbert
Contrasting between characters: It is impossible for Stanhope to admit that Hibbert
is right in trying to escape these horrors (like many did) even though his words
mirror Hibberts behavior : stanhope says he wishes ‘[he] could just lie down in this
bed and pretend [he] was paralyzed’
At the end of the play Stanhope says :‘Sure! I’ll bring a candle and get another
blanket’ to Raleigh. Here it's the first time he leaves all his paranoia and aggression
and respects Raleigh as a friend. Symbolism of candles. Whilst Raleigh is about to
die and Stanhope is helping him, the enemy is attacking the trench. He is reluctant
to leave Raleigh when he says ‘All right Broughton, I'm coming.’ This also
emphasizes how death is everywhere during war and the soldiers can't be affected
by it and need to carry on. Check page 9-10z (Raleigh and Stanhopes relationship)
2
, SECOND LIEUTENANT (JIMMY) RALEIGH (18)
Raleigh arrives in the trenches extremely naive to what war has to offer, seeming
excited that he is at the front line. Sheriff describes Raleigh as a ‘healthy looking’
and ‘a youngster straight from school’ emphasizing his innocence. This makes the
audience reflect how many young men were sent to die at the war. The mood of
innocence is suppressed after the raid during which Osborne is killed. There is a
turning point in Raleigh’s character.
● Before :Green, naive, young boy ~> Then: solemn,war beaten soldier
(youth/innocence stripped away from him) Symbolism of Raleigh.
● Before: not confident, very new ‘boyish voice’ and hesitant speech
When Raleigh arrives at the company he asks Osborne :‘You don’t think Dennis’ll
mind my-sort of- forcing myself into his company? It foreshadows the rest of the
play and how Stanhope will feel about Raleigh. The use of ‘Dennis’ portrays how
they were childhood friends and he still doesn't know the etiquette of war.
Contrasting between characters: When Raleigh is told about the raid, he speaks
‘frightfully excit[ed]’ about the extremely dangerous task. ‘How topping if we both
get the M.C’ Contrasting from Hibberts and ‘ this neuralgia of [his]’ how ‘[he] can’t
stick it any longer’. Even when Raleigh is injured he wants to help fight but Hibbet
’must go down to see the doctor’. There’s a big difference between cowards and
heroes, because of Hibbert the heroic moments are valued higher.
At the end of the play when Raleigh has gotten injured and can't move he still
‘Feel[s] rotten lying here-everybody else-up there’ this shows how he is prepared to
do his duty even on his deathbed. Other officers come to view Raleigh with
admiration. Hibbert says ‘he is too keen on his duty.’ The audience is reminded of
Hibberts own inadequacies in this area.
3
O= analysis and importance O=literacy techniques O = symbols
ENGLISH LIT , JOURNEY’S END
Analysis of quotations/ themes and character analysis
CAPTAIN (DENNIS) STANHOPE (21)
He is first introduced through Hardy and Osborne’s conversation at the start of the play.
The first impression we gain of him is of ‘a heavy drinker’ – ‘a freak show’ due to the fact
that ‘he drink[s] like a fish.’
● This makes the audience aware of how hard the conditions of war were
Alcohol was used as a coping mechanism for Stanhope, he believes his needs come second
to the company so he ‘works so frightfully hard’ and ‘hardly ever sleeps’ ‘because of the
responsibility.’ Here Stanhope is being much harder on himself than the others.
The theme of friendship is an important aspect of the play. It portrays the sympathy the
soldiers had for each other and how they would mutually look out for each other. When the
play starts his friend (Osborne) protects Stanhope's reputation from the accusations of
being a ‘drunkard’. Osborne defends him by saying – ‘He’s a long way the best company
commander we’ve got’ and ‘He’s stuck it till his nerves have got battered to bits, he’s called
a drunkard’ The fact that he has not taken proper leave in three years indicates his attitude
to duty and his strength of character
When he first appears the stage directions state that: ‘Although tanned by months
in the open air, there is pallor under his skin and dark shadows under his eyes’ He
later admits that the reason why he has not been home since the ‘battle at Vimy
Ridge’ is because he does not wish ‘Madge’(Raleigh's sister) to see him as he has
become, he (and many other soldiers during the war) were scared to be called
cowards during the war, and felt ashamed by it.
Sheriff shows Stanhope’s paranoia by having him over react when Raleigh won't
hand over his letter. Stanhope says ‘You’re not at school’ D’you understand and
order? Give me that letter!’ Stanhope’s anger with Raleigh’s naivety reveals to the
1
,audience his sadness at how much he has changed (until Raleigh arrived) and now
he defends his drinking habits by saying it is ‘To forget you little fool to forget’.
(Stanhope addressing Raleigh after Osborne's death)‘Without being doped with
whiskey- I’d go mad in a fright Stanhope admits that he has a drinking problem and
notices that Raleigh admires him but since he is paranoid and insecure of his
weaknesses (being a coward) he doesn't want to be seen as this figure he says :‘Yes
I’m his hero. Small boys at school generally have their heroes. It often goes on all
through life’ (to Osborne) Stanhope's view is that officers in the trenches should
have put their schooldays behind them. Since Stanhope has such a low opinion of
himself he feels that Raleigh will soon come to despise him.
Stanhope is convincing Hibbert to stay even though of his ‘beastly neuralgia’ and
says ‘It's the only thing a decent man can do’ recognising the theme of duty. Ironic
because the Colonel manipulates Stanhope with the feeling of duty and Stanhope
does the same with Hibbert
Contrasting between characters: It is impossible for Stanhope to admit that Hibbert
is right in trying to escape these horrors (like many did) even though his words
mirror Hibberts behavior : stanhope says he wishes ‘[he] could just lie down in this
bed and pretend [he] was paralyzed’
At the end of the play Stanhope says :‘Sure! I’ll bring a candle and get another
blanket’ to Raleigh. Here it's the first time he leaves all his paranoia and aggression
and respects Raleigh as a friend. Symbolism of candles. Whilst Raleigh is about to
die and Stanhope is helping him, the enemy is attacking the trench. He is reluctant
to leave Raleigh when he says ‘All right Broughton, I'm coming.’ This also
emphasizes how death is everywhere during war and the soldiers can't be affected
by it and need to carry on. Check page 9-10z (Raleigh and Stanhopes relationship)
2
, SECOND LIEUTENANT (JIMMY) RALEIGH (18)
Raleigh arrives in the trenches extremely naive to what war has to offer, seeming
excited that he is at the front line. Sheriff describes Raleigh as a ‘healthy looking’
and ‘a youngster straight from school’ emphasizing his innocence. This makes the
audience reflect how many young men were sent to die at the war. The mood of
innocence is suppressed after the raid during which Osborne is killed. There is a
turning point in Raleigh’s character.
● Before :Green, naive, young boy ~> Then: solemn,war beaten soldier
(youth/innocence stripped away from him) Symbolism of Raleigh.
● Before: not confident, very new ‘boyish voice’ and hesitant speech
When Raleigh arrives at the company he asks Osborne :‘You don’t think Dennis’ll
mind my-sort of- forcing myself into his company? It foreshadows the rest of the
play and how Stanhope will feel about Raleigh. The use of ‘Dennis’ portrays how
they were childhood friends and he still doesn't know the etiquette of war.
Contrasting between characters: When Raleigh is told about the raid, he speaks
‘frightfully excit[ed]’ about the extremely dangerous task. ‘How topping if we both
get the M.C’ Contrasting from Hibberts and ‘ this neuralgia of [his]’ how ‘[he] can’t
stick it any longer’. Even when Raleigh is injured he wants to help fight but Hibbet
’must go down to see the doctor’. There’s a big difference between cowards and
heroes, because of Hibbert the heroic moments are valued higher.
At the end of the play when Raleigh has gotten injured and can't move he still
‘Feel[s] rotten lying here-everybody else-up there’ this shows how he is prepared to
do his duty even on his deathbed. Other officers come to view Raleigh with
admiration. Hibbert says ‘he is too keen on his duty.’ The audience is reminded of
Hibberts own inadequacies in this area.
3
