Sons and Lovers Lesson Plan

Describe the sacrifice of Annie's doll. Why does Paul recommend that they sacrifice the doll? What does the sacrifice suggest about Paul's childhood and his relationship to Annie?

The scene comes after Paul accidentally breaks Annie's doll. Because Annie is the sibling to whom he is closest, Paul is overcome with guilt by the accident. On a plot level, he tells Annie to sacrifice the doll because it assuages his guilt. On the thematic level, the doll represents Annie's childhood, which is sacrificed for the sake of Paul's comfort and acceptance.

During Chapter IV, the narrator shifts focalization from Gertrude to Paul. What is significant about this switch? What does...