1. Sunset Song
Lewis Grassic Gibbon

2. Summer Homework Ploughing
Where is Chris Guthrie at the opening of this section and why has she gone there?
How does Chris feel about her life on the farm and the people she meets on the farm? (pp.32, 45–46, 47–48)
What aspects of reading and schooling does Chris enjoy and why does she enjoy them? (pp.32–33, 43–44)
In what way is Chris influenced by her mother? (pp.31, 43, 60–61)
Who or what, in your opinion, has the greatest influence on Chris during this period of her life? Explain why you think this.

3. Is it Foreshadowing or Foreboding?
Foreboding is a sense of something bad or evil about to happen.
E.g. “It was, in all, miserable weather and lowering to the spirits in the dreariest month of the year.” When Arthur Kipps leaves London at the beginning of ‘The Woman in Black’ the weather is foreboding.
Foreshadowing is a literary technique to indicate to the reader something that is to come later on in the work.
E.g. the children collecting stones at the beginning of ‘The Lottery’ hints at what is to come later in the short story.

4. Weather Look at the descriptions of weather on p.25
How does the weather indicate what is to come? Quote.
Look at the description of weather on p.62
How does the weather mirror what is happening in the novel at this point? Quote.

5. John Guthrie
Chris’ feelings about her father appear to be quite contradictory in this section of the novel.
On one hand, she admires his skill in farming and his attitude to the land. On the other, she is becoming more aware of her parents’ relationship.
TASK: find examples that you think highlight John Guthrie’s character in ‘Ploughing’.
Quote
Analysis
p.61 in his view those who work the land faithfully are ‘the salt of the earth’
He is proud of what he is and admires others who have the same manual labour jobs

6. John Guthrie Quote Analysis
p.28 when Jean said no more children to him he “thundered” at her “We’ll have what God in His mercy may send to us, woman.”
He took no concern about how child birth would affect his wife. Sticks true to the Church’s teaching on the purpose of marriage.
p.36 standing up to the woman he “roused like a lion: I’m not your man… I’d have your face scraped with a clart and then a scavenger wash it well”
He will not allow anyone to disrespect him, especially not a woman.
p.56 when the minister spoke too casually to him “cocked his red beard at the minister and glinted at him like an icicle”
He will not have anyone speak to him without the respect he feels he deserves
p.30 “if you ever take your maker’s name in vain… I’ll lib you”
John acts as a powerful, controlling influence in the family. God-fearing man

7. John and Jean Guthrie
The marriage of Chris’ parents begins in a romantic glow (pp.27-29) but constant childbirth has made Jean Guthrie tired and bitter towards her husband who will not take steps to avoid having children.
TASK: find examples that you think highlight the changing nature of the relationship between John and Jean Guthrie in ‘Ploughing’.
Quote
Analysis
p.28 “laughing up into the dour, keen face that was Guthrie’s”
The very early stages of their relationship with filled with love and laughter.

8. John and Jean Guthrie Quote Analysis
p.28 “laughing up into the dour, keen face that was Guthrie’s”
The very early stages of their relationship with filled with love and laughter.
p. 28 “she was sweet and kind to him, but he mightn’t touch her, his face would go black with rage at her because of that sweetness that tempted his soul to hell”
He stuck strongly to the church’s teachings on sex before marriage – felt tempted but fought his urges
p. 28 “dourness hardened, hard and cold, in the heart of Jean Guthrie’s man. But still the glint of her hair could rouse him”
No matter how he changed and hardened as a man, he was still attracted to his wife
p.29 “No doubt your friend Jehovah will see to it all”
Argument over more children – he believes in God’s will despite his wife’s health

9. John and Jean Guthrie Quote Analysis
p. 34 he “groaned he was a miserable sinner, God forgive him the lusts of the flesh… bonny hair… lust”
Jean suffering a terrible labour – John’s remorse
p.34 “Will said the old man was a fair beast and mother shouldn’t be having a baby… too old for that”
As a 17 year old, even Will can see his mother shouldn’t be having children – despite what John thinks/does
p.37 “Damn’t to hell, do you think I’m made of silver to put up the night at Portlethen?”
Even when his wife and children are frozen, John will not spend unnecessary money
p. 42 Will and the gun “mother grew sick of the subject and cried ‘Hold your whist, you and your gun, what harm was in Will that he used it?’”
A rare occasion that Jean appears to stand up to John – but it only made him more angry and punish Will further

10. Her maturity and understanding
Chris Guthrie
In this section, we are told of Chris’s background so we can become aware of the influences that might shape her. At this stage of her life, her personality is compared to an empty field waiting to be drilled and planted.
TASK: How do the influences in the chart shape Chris in ‘Ploughing’? (Include quotes)
Chris
Her parents
Her education
Her maturity and understanding

11. Her maturity and understanding
Chris Guthrie
Chris
Her parents
Her education
Her maturity and understanding

12. Further Analysis Make notes on:
Chae Strachan and Long Rob as ‘representatives of new ideas breaking with tradition’
Gibbon’s attitude to the Scots educated classes (pp.31-32, 43-44, 52-56)
Remember to include specific quotes from the novel.

13. Key Moments Chapter / Plot event Quote Key Theme(s)
John’s mistreatment of Will
Chris’ education in Echt – choices
 Chris’ ignorance of reality of life – birth of twins.
Two Chrisses
Death of Jean Guthrie
“If I ever hear you take your maker’s name in vain…I’ll lib (castrate) you”
 “Chris and her reading and schooling, two Chrisses there were that fought for her heart”
“What has father to do with it? Will stared… Don’t you know?”
“one was right douce and studious and the other…laughed at the antics of the teachers…and minded Blawearie…till she was sick to be home again”
“Mother below would be needing her help…They were crying her name…it sounded like the lowing of calves that had lost their mother”
John acts as a powerful, controlling influence in the family. Hints towards importance of religion.
Chris loves the land and community but feels she would like to progress as a woman and become educated.
Chris’ youth and ignorance is displayed – she will change later.
Chris’ choices reflect the choice that women had to make – commitment to the family and farming or a more self-serving desire for a career. Women leaving tradition behind.
The first example of loss that Chris faces. She is already being identified as the mother figure and her choices in life will now be restricted.