Theme 1 Critical worth of Patriotism and loyalty
TOPIC: "An author is usually inspired to write a novel because of a personal, social or political concern. Justify your answer."
In Cue for Treason, Trease's social concerns:
political concerns:
Considering this task from Geoffrey Trease's point of view:
Essay topic: Trease writes from a social, political or personal concern. He employs the virtues of the past to deal with the crises of the present.
|
Trease as |
Concern |
Theme |
Tool, device used |
|
writer |
social |
nostalgia, integrity |
celebratory descriptions |
|
citizen, patriot |
political |
patriotism, heroism |
Peter as role model |
|
critic |
personal |
courage, resourcefulness |
lift morale |
Through intelligence and integrity
It is true that an author is usually inspired to write a novel because of a personal, social or political concern. In the dark days of the 1940s when Cue for Treason was written, Geoffrey Trease's concern was that the war with Germany would be lost, resulting in the destruction of the English nation with its long and proud English history and literature. Like many of Shakespeare's plays particularly the Histories, Cue for Treason was written to give his uncertain audience a sense of pride in their own culture and to show them how their society dealt with issues and problems in the past. Similarly now in war-torn Britain, Trease demonstrates his main theme that tyranny can be overcome by intelligence and integrity. He achieved that goal eminently well.
The characters in this novel provide a broad, colourful and necessarily simplistic view of the Elizabethan era. In it, Trease has literally moulded a character out of every station in life. The rural farming sector is represented by Peter, at a glance a simple boy, but naturally smart, quick to learn and very resourceful. Naturally in propaganda like this, as the reader finds out as the plot unfolds, he is unquestionably a royalist, intensely loyal to his Queen. The aristocracy is represented by Kit, a girl physically small but a giant at heart, who seems out of place in her time. With strong ideals and an anachronistic feminine heroism, she evades an arranged marriage with the hateful Sir Philip Morton. Believing that she is at least a man's equal, she typifies a gender equality not even achieved in Trease's time. In the story, she masquerades as a boy to escape the unwelcome marriage against her will. These two central characters embody the intelligence and integrity needed to overcome the tyranny of Morton and, by implication, of Hitler.
The traitor comes in the form of Sir Philip Morton who conspires to overthrow Elizabeth I. In his own lands, he is a tyrant and in this conspiracy he embodies all the forces of opposition to legitimate rule then and symbolically Britain's national sovereignty now in 1940. Encroaching on traditional common lands, he has all the making of a tyrant. He is eventually revealed and overcome by Kit and Peter, who almost single-handedly bring him to justice, demonstrating that tyranny can be overcome by intelligence and integrity.
Trease's settings hold real and symbolic meanings too and give the reader an insight into the life and times of a 14 year old in Elizabethan England. The intrigue, excitement and fear in political life is barely contained within the pages. This is poignantly shown when Peter goes to see the chief of Her Majesty's Secret Service Sir Robert Cecil under cover of night in great secrecy (p. 21). It is all secret and exciting. By use their intelligence and bulwarked by integrity, Kit and Peter claim a scalp in this traitor and tyrant. The symbolic applications to life in a nation at war are obvious.
The English countryside is also lovingly celebrated in the novel as Peter and Kit endure rain and cold bravely and breathe in the merriment of London's famous Globe Theatre. Peter's Cumberland is graphically described as are the chase, capture and miraculous rescue from the island where Peter is bullied and forsaken. Settings in Cue for Treason are integral to its overall theme of celebrating England's natural beauty, its people's intelligence, and its wartime cause's integrity. Even on home ground, intelligence and integrity win the day for Peter and for its most famous Queen.
In Cue for Treason, Trease has presented heroic and successful characters who triumph over tyranny and conspiracy. Their foul deeds contrast strongly with England's natural beauty, its sense of fair play and its long liberal traditions. Characters, settings and themes combine here to show that tyranny can be overcome by intelligence and integrity, a theme that would have given the English who perceived Hitler and his forces as tyrannical, the hope and the will to endure and to fight on for their homeland - one that was historically and proudly and naturally theirs by right of inheritance. Trease has not immortalised himself in this classic novel, but he has definitely given his readers a book that even we in 1999 can enjoy as a good read and a model of effective wartime propaganda. # by R. E. with edits
Second sample exam answer by D Y. 1999:
Cue for Treason inspires and reassures an uncertain nation
The historical fiction Cue for Treason set in the turbulent times of Elizabeth I, favourably portrays her reign as a golden age for England. Written in the late 1930s by Geoffrey Trease, this novel addresses many of the issues found in war-torn Britain. Loyalty is particular is highlighted through the main characters, Peter and Kit, who risk their lives to save the Queen when they uncover Sir Philip Morton's treasonous conspiracy. One of Trease's main goals in writing the novel must surely have been to boost the morale of the bomb-struck population.
The foremost theme in Cue for Treason is loyalty to monarch and country to try to reassure the British people that their country was not infested with Nazi spies. Peter and Kit are the main embodiments of this theme as they are burdened with the discovery of this secret conspiracy and have a moral decision to make - whether to endanger themselves further and attempt to prevent the assassination or to try to escape from Sir Philip Morton, riding to London to inform Sir Robert Cecil of the plot by Sir Philip.
Cue for Treason also celebrates the deeply rooted English heritage. Many literary sayings and phrases are included in the text. The novel served to remind the people of England of their long and glorious history as a kingdom. Trease has written a novel to inspire his readers to defend their country and be proud of their glorious past. He also spotlights the era of Elizabeth I as a golden age of history and looks back upon it favourably. He also points out that England has defended itself from invasion before, and can again.
Geoffrey Trease's writing style reveals the intended audience of his novel. The novel's easily-read text is suitable to be read by anyone, as the brilliant style makes the novel enjoyable for all people of all reading abilities. Trease has however portrayed only a selection of life in Elizabethan England. Almost none of the negative aspects of the times was addressed, and it seems that the main characters cannot put a foot wrong. This adds to the unrealistic nature of the plot, although the actual aspects of the era are wholly accurate.
Peter and Kit, the main characters, are the source of most of the themes. Both are portrayed as very intelligent and resourceful and also quite young. Such characters break most of the hero stereotypes as being quite young adds a tension of inexperience and vulnerability. Having his main characters as young teenagers, Trease can show readers unique aspects of Elizabethan age such as females not being allowed to act in the play houses and the huge class gap in feudal society, where the Lord is basically the law and there is nothing the ordinary people can do about it, such as when Sir Philip takes the common land for himself. Although his could have been expressed through an adult's eyes, Trease does have a teenage narrator who adds tremendously to the adventure plot.
Geoffrey Trease's novel Cue for Treason was written to lift English morale during the dark days of early World War II. In it, he celebrates the rich heritage of their English culture and the golden age of the Elizabethan era, the glorious reign of Elizabeth I. The loyalty and patriotism he shows through Kit and Peter are aimed at reassuring England that there were no spies waiting round every corner, or at least that they would be weeded out quickly through the good will of ordinary people. Some might argue that Cue for Treason is almost propaganda, as it is not at all critical of Elizabeth or her society, so one-sided is its view. Trease wrote Cue for Treason to inspire his readers, to remind them of their past glories and to reassure them that their national security rested ultimately with the honesty and intelligence of its ordinary people, # 669 words
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23 March 1999. addition 10/3/00 revised 18 December 2002 Author G Smith Brisbane Australia