Possession A Romance… Claudia Tomasello & Nicolò Zentilin

Chapter One  Function: The function of the first chapter is to introduce the reader to the situation; Roland Michell, a post- doctoral researcher, investigates about Sir. Randolph Henry Ash, who is a Victorian poet. During his research he found Ash’s letters addressed to an unidentified woman.  Characters: Roland Michell, Randolph Henry Ash.  Setting Time: one day of September It was 10 o’clock when Roland is in the London Library, and at he found the letters. Place : reading room of the London Library.

Chapter Two  Function: The function of the second chapter is to present to the reader Roland Michell, his life and in particular his relationship with Val.  Characters: Roland Michell, Val; Mortier Cropper and Blackadder are mentioned.  Setting One……Setting Two Time: Rolan’s life from secondary school, up to now. Place: in the neighbourhood of London. Time: Roland has just come back home from the London Library. Place: Roland and Val’s house.

Chapter Three  Function: In this chapter Roland is aware of Crabb Robinson’s diary: he supposed Christabel La Motte, another Victorian poet, to be the unidentified woman. In addition he is informed about Maud, who is a researcher of La Motte.  Characters: Roland Michell, Professor Blackadder, Fergus Wolff and Crabb Robinson.  Setting: Time: Roland has just gone out from his house. 1.Roland’s old College; a machine copied the letters. 2.Dr.Williams Library; Roland read Crabb’s diary 3.British Museum; Roland met Blackadder and Fergus Places :

Chapter Four  Function: Roland visits Maud Bailey in Lincoln. Roland tells her about the two letters. After that Roland reads Blanche Glover’s journal about her relationship with Christabel. Maud offers Roland to visit Seal Court, where Christabel lived her last years. So the research continues…  Characters: Roland Michell, Maud Bailey; Christabel La Motte, Blanche Glover, Randolph Henry Ash.  Setting In The Present… Setting In The Past Time: After the conversation with Fergus Places: 1)Lincoln, 2)Lincoln University, 3)Lincoln Library, 4)Maud’s home. Time: May, 1858 Place: Blanche and Christabel’s home.

Chapter Five  Function: Maud and Roland visit the area of Seal Court. They go to Sir George and Joan Bailey’s home to explore Christabel’s room. In her room, they try a packet of letters of Christabel La Motte and Randolph Henry Ash.  Characters: Rolan Michell, Maud Bailey; Sir George and Joan Bailey. Randolph Henry Ash and Christabel La Motte are mentioned.  Setting: Time: When Roland and Maud go to Seal Court to visit where Christabel lived. Places: Seal Court, in St Etheldreda’s churchyard; Sir George and Joan’s home, Christabel’s room.

Chapter Six  Function: This chapter draws attention to the figure of Mortier Cropper and to his interest in Randolph Henry Ash… Infact he represents Cropper’s profit.  Characters: Professor Mortier Cropper, Mrs Wapshatt, Beatrice Nest. Randolph Henry Ash, Blackadder and Ellen Ash are mentioned.  Setting: Time: one day in In the morning. Place: Mortier Cropper is in Bonnet’s Hotel.

Chapter Seven  Function: The narrator introduces us the character of Beatrice Nest who is a researcher of Ellen Ash, Mr. Ash’s wife. So Roland visits her to know about Ellen. In a second moment, Beatrice Nest meets Professor Cropper.  Characters: Beatrice Nest, Roland Michell, Professor Cropper, Val and Evan MacIntyre.  Setting: Time: the day after. Place: Roland goes to Ash Factory (to meet Beatrice), after that, he comes back home.

Chapter Eight  Function: Roland and Maud go over the letters in Sir George’s library. They remain at Seal Court and Roland seems to be attracted to Maud.  Characters: Roland Michell, Maud Bailey; Sir George and Joan Bailey.  Setting: They are in Sir George’s LIBRARY, and in a second time Maud goes in her FLAT.

Chapter Nine …Christabel La Motte’s The Treshold is quoted…

Chapter Ten Roland and Maud go on reading THE CORRISPONDENCE beetwen Randolph Henry Ash & Christabel La Motte

Chapter Eleven … Randolph Henry Ash’s Swammerdam is quoted..

Chapter Twelve  Function: Maud suspects that Christabel accompanied Randolph to Yorkshire in In this chapter the letters that Randolph wrote for his wife during this trip are quoted. Maud and Roland discover that Blanche died in 1860: after her death there is no information about Christabel.  Characters: Roland Michell, Maud Bailey and Beatrice Nest; Christabel La Motte, Sir Ash, Blanche Glover and Ellen Ash.  Setting in the PRESENT… & in the PAST: Time: April 1986 Place: Caffè, Roland’s home, and “Oodles”  In 1850, Christabel and Randolph went to Yorkshire.  In 1859, Ellen wrote her diary.  in 1860, Blanche drowned herself. She jumped from the Bridge at Putney.

Chapter Thirteen  Function: Maud and Roland go to Yorkshire seaside.  Characters: Maud Bailey and Roland Michell.  Setting: Time: Maud and Roland go to Yorkshire for five days. Places: The Hofflunn Spout Hotel, Whitby harbour and Flauboroungh.

Chapter Fourteen  Function: Maud and Roland visit the creeks and pools of the area. They go to Boggle Hole.  Characters: Maud Bailey, Rolan Michell  Setting: Roland and Maud visit the area of Yorkshire, in particular they go to GOATHLAND, MALLAYAN SPOUT, THOMASON FOSS, BECK HOLE,

Chapter Fifteen  Function: It tells about Ash and LaMotte’s journey to Yorkshire.  Characters: Randolph Henry Ash, Christabel LaMotte  Setting: Yorkshire.

Chapter Sixteen Christabel La Motte’s Fairy Melusine is quotated

Chapter Seventeen  Function: the chapter introduces Fergus and Cropper’s intentions. There are lots of characters and curiosity about the possible discovery made by Roland.  Characters: James Blackadder, Fergus Wolff, Val, Mortimer Cropper  Setting: Ash’s factory,Val’s home, Soho.

Chapter Eighteen  Function: it provides the development of researches and of story lines.  Characters: –James Blackadder –Maud Bailey –Leonora Stern –Mortimer Cropper –Roland Michell –Sir George Bailey  Setting: Women’s Studies Resource Centre and Maud’s house (Lincoln), Seal Court.

Chapter Nineteen  Function: It tells about LaMotte’s journey to Brittany and there is the read of Sabine’s journal from October  Characters:  Christabel LaMotte  Sabine De Kercoz  Maud Bailey  Ariane Le Minier  Setting: Brittany.

Chapter Twenty  Function: Letters' discovery is public and there is the spiritual moment that is at the centre of attention.  Characters: Mortimer Cropper, James Blackadder, Leonora Stern.  Setting: Television Studio

Chapter Twenty-one Randolph Henry Ash’s Mummy Possest is quotated.

Chapter Twenty-two  Function: It makes clear that everyone wants the documents. Val and Euan are joined by Toby Byng.  Characters: Val, Euan MacIntyre, Toby Byng.  Setting: Newmarket

Chapter Twenty-three  Function: It explains about Ash and La Motte's love relationship and they speak about the destiny of Christabel’s child.  Characters: Maud Bailey Roland Michell Leonora Stern James Blackadder Mortimer Cropper  Setting: Baie des Tréspassés (Brittany)

Chapter Twenty-four  Function: There is the discussion of how La Motte wanted all her books. The copyright should go to Maia Thomasine Bailey: the letters belong to Maud as the ownership of the letters.  Characters: –Maud Bailey –Roland Michel –Val –Euan MacIntyre –Toby Byng (Sir George’s lawyer) –Beatrice Nest  Setting: Lincoln.

Chapter Twenty-five  Function: The Chapter shows the point of view of Ellen about her relationship with Ash.  Characters: –Ellen Ash –Christabel LaMotte –Randolph Henry Ash –Blanche Glover  Setting: Ash’s house.

Chapter Twenty-six  Function: There is Roland’s success: he gets a job offered from Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Barcelona. Blackadder sends him an important letter.  Characters: Roland Michell  Setting: Roland’s house.

Chapter Twenty-seven  Function: Roland’s ideas: he feels possessed.  Characters: –Roland Michell –Maud Bailey –Val –Euan MacIntyre –Beatrice Nest –James Blackadder –Leonora Stern  Setting: Beatrice Nest’s house.

Chapter Twenty-eight Function: There is the conclusion of the story: the grave was opened by Cropper. He is caught by Roland, Maud, leonora, Blackadder and Nest. Everybody wants to learn the end of the story. Characters: –Roland Michell –Maud Bailey –Beatrice Nest –James Blackadder –Leonora Stern –Mortimer Cropper –Hildebrand Ash Setting: Hodershall