Lorna Doone · Chapter
Lorna Ends Her Story explained
Lorna recounts her childhood in the Doone valley, the protection of Sir Ensor Doone, and a fateful encounter with her self-proclaimed guardian, Lord Alan Brandir, who reveals their kinship and attempts to persuade her to leave the Doones.
What happens
Lorna recounts her childhood in the Doone valley, the protection of Sir Ensor Doone, and a fateful encounter with her self-proclaimed guardian, Lord Alan Brandir, who reveals their kinship and attempts to persuade her to leave the Doones.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Loyalty
Lorna's loyalty to her grandfather Sir Ensor is contrasted with Lord Alan's claim of kinship and guardianship, highlighting conflicting family ties.
Gender Roles and Independence
Lorna's initial dismissal of Lord Alan as a 'doll' reflects her perception of gender and strength, while his role as guardian challenges her autonomy.
Characters to notice
- Lorna Doone
Narrates her past, describing her sheltered childhood and her meeting with Lord Alan Brandir.
- Sir Ensor Doone
Mentioned as Lorna's grandfather who gave strict orders to protect her innocence and maintain order in the valley.
- Lord Alan Brandir
Appears as Lorna's self-proclaimed guardian and cousin, a young Scottish lord who reveals their kinship and tries to convince her to leave.
Key passages
“It is not a twelvemonth yet, although it seems ten years agone, since I blew the downy globe to learn the time of day, or set beneath my chin the veinings of the varnished buttercup, or fired the foxglove cannonade, or made a captive of myself with dandelion fetters; for then I had not very much to trouble me in earnest, but went about, romancing gravely, playing at bo-peep with fear, making for myself strong heroes of gray rock or fir-tree, adding to my own importance, as the children love to do.”
Lorna reflects on her childhood innocence less than a year ago, when she played carefree games and imagined heroes, before the troubles of her life began.
Lorna contrasts her past simplicity with her present awareness of the Doones' evil.
“My grandfather, Sir Ensor Doone, had given strictest order, as I discovered afterwards, that in my presence all should be seemly, kind, and vigilant.”
Lorna later learned that Sir Ensor had commanded everyone to behave properly and kindly around her.
Highlights Sir Ensor's protective role and the hidden violence of the Doones.
“At a sudden turn of the narrow path, where it stopped again to the river, a man leaped out from behind a tree, and stopped me, and seized hold of me. I tried to shriek, but my voice was still; I could only hear my heart.”
A man suddenly jumped out from behind a tree on the path, grabbed Lorna, and she was too frightened to scream.
Describes the tense moment when Lord Alan first confronts Lorna.