Done by: Archana and Aditi

Anna Levin (the protagonist) Kolya (Anna’s younger brother) Mikhail(Anna’s father) Marina Petrovna (an actress and a close friend of Mikhail)

Elizaveta Antonovna (The head of the nursery where Anna

works)

Lyuba (who works at the nursery)

As Anna reluctantly makes her way to Marina Petrovna dacha to paint a portrait of her, readers get to know more about her life as she thinks of her work in the nursery where she waits on kids all day long just so that she can take care of her little brother, kolya and her unemployed father. She shares with the readers her feelings on her father. She is making her way to marina petrovna’s house just to please her father who seems to feel inferior about not being able to take care of the family and having to depend on his daughter to care of him and kolya . Anna is not confident about her talent. She feels that she is an amateur artist and that she isn't good enough to draw marina . Secretly she just wishes to get out of drawing a portrait of marina as she knows that her mother never used to like the actress. She is so reluctant to meet marina that she almost cycles right past her house!

Pg 23

The wall is crumbling (, para 3 line 2)

You could shut your eyes (para 4, last line )

Never gets enough sleep (last para, line 1)

Ther isnt enough time (last para, line 2)

Pg 24

Feels as if she’s abandoning him (first para, line 2)

Pg 25

Never meant her to find the place (para 3, line 2)

Much more of her wages than they could afford (para 3, line 4)

He was too conscious (para 3, line 7)

Praise and encouragement that sounded false in her years(para 3, line 9)

Getting hold of an extra hundred grammes of sausage (para 4)

Pg 26

I can’t even afford materials (para 2, line 2)

Everyone knows and no one talks about (last para,line 3)

This chapter focuses on Anna’s encounter with Marina Petrovna. Dunmore highlights one of Anna’s many abilities which is art. She creates a paradox by displaying Anna’s humble nature and how she refuses to take pride in her drawings but showing the readers how Anna knows exactly how to sketch Marina and in what position. The other highlight of the chapter would be the deterioration of Marina’s image and fame. Dunmore points out how she went from the peak of her fame, beauty and wealth to a rather anxious woman who smokes and lives in isolation but still carries her discomfort at being given directions in life.

ANNA

Anna is portrayed as a humble and talented woman in this chapter. Her artistic thoughts and abilities are brought to the surface during her encounter with Marina Petrovna. Readers also notice how Anna’s artistic sense allows her to envision the drawings in her mind and adjusts the surroundings accordingly. Anna’s keen observation is evident as she analyzes Marina’s situation and compares it to her previous status.

MARINA

In this chapter, readers are introduced to Marina Petrovna. Marina is portrayed as a fragile and lonely woman who lives in complete isolation. Despite her image, in this chapter, Dunmore presents Anna’s interpretation and descriptions of the scenario in a way that almost allows the readers to sympathize with her.

Page 28

• She might never reach it at all

• Prickling with excitement

Page 29

• Her beauty is cool, not warm

Page 30

• Neither cruel nor kind, but accurate

Page 31

• This is your idea, not mine

• You’re a threat to her private world

Page 32

• She can get free only by drawing her way out of it

• The arm of a swimmer doing the butterfly stroke. It looks easy, but how the arm aches afterwards