"The Happiest Days of Your Life" by Penelope Lively

842 Words4 Pages
The Happiest Days Of Your Life The short story “The Happiest Days Of Your Life” is written by Penelope Lively, a prolific, popular and critically acclaimed author, born in 1933. The story takes place in Sussex, which is where the preparatory school is located. Sussex is part of the more upper class society, and the school, St. Edwards, is a big luxurious mansion, with swimming pools. That indicates, that the Manders family is very wealthy, since they are considering putting their son in the school. When the Manders family arrives to the school, we hear a description of the school. “White gates and high, dark, tight-clipped hedges” This gives an impulse of the school being very well maintained, and when the family enters, they look at the beautiful view; lawns with trees and cows grassing, and it all seem like a very lovely and idyllic place, but also very expensive and luxury. The story stretched out over one day, and the story is told simultaneously with the plot. In the beginning of the story the main characters, Charles, his father and his mother, are in their car. It is mostly the parents, who are talking. Charles just sits for himself in the backseat of the car, not talking or engaging in his parents’ conversation. He is just looking at the landscape through the window. He doesn’t even touch the chocolate and comic books, which is laid by his side. Charles is a young boy with black hair flicked down smooth to his head. Ears, which are to large, and shining clothing. He seems like a very quiet and shy boy, and he doesn’t say a word throughout the whole story. He also does not answer, when asked a question. “Would you like to go there, Charles? Like Simon Wilcox? Did you see that lovely gym, and the swimming pool? And did the other boys tell you about it? The Child did not answer” He might be a bit nervous and afraid of the school, and maybe that’s the

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