Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Jeanette Winterson
Exodus
• The snail episode – what does it portend?
• J’s Mother and her attitude towards schooling. Why J is being
enrolled unwillingly. – p21
• J’s deafness. – Churches’ reaction and reality
• What does this episode highlight? Confused mind is a
questioning mind?
• J in hospital and Mother’s actions and reaction – What do we
learn about Mrs. Winterson’s role as a mother
• Oranges, adults, J and what can we learn from this episode
Exodus
• Hospital episode – fear, loneliness and neglect
• Mrs. Winterson’s priorities and mission in life
• Role of Elsie Norris & Miss Jewsbury in Jeanette’s life
• “It’s all in the mind.” – p30
• Congregation’s perception of Mrs Jewsbury & Elsie
• Elsie/Mrs. Jewsbury vs. Mrs. Winterson – comparisons
• J’s life at school: - Bullying, intimidation, escape & ‘revenge’
Exodus
• The Summer camp and what it tells us about the congregation
and CMMC
• Minor revelation of J’s Father’s past, Mrs. Winterson’s past & her
relationships
• Trouble @ school and the struggle to fit in and being good at
things
• Mrs. Virtue, Spencer & Sparrow . Meeting with Mrs. Vole
• Letter to Mother & mother’s reaction, “We are called to be apart.”
Mrs. Winterson’s life and calling?
Exodus
• The Sampler episode
• Questioning authority and notions
• Mrs. Virtue vs. Elsie Norris
• Frustrated again @ school
• The Pillar of Fog & The Pillar of Fire
• The story of emperor Tetrahedron
• “No emotion is the final one”
• The inevitability of change.
Exodus
• Orange & it’s many manifestations throughout this chapter
• How do you think J views her mother now after this episode?
• The Biblical Exodus vs J’s exodus
• The author’s narrative comments & tone
• What are our feelings towards J?
• What does fragmentation here suggest?