This Side of Paradise for A level English Literature coursework

The plot in six lines

Raised by his wealthy mother, Beatrice Blaine, Amory learns to admire himself, but boarding school teaches him that other boys do not automatically value his charm.

At Princeton, Amory pursues popularity, discovers poetry through his friends, and neglects his studies, while Monsignor Thayer Darcy offers guidance beyond social ambition.

Amory's courtship with Isabelle Borgé turns romance into a game of admiration, while the death of Dick Humbird in a car accident shakes his faith in appearances.

After serving in the army during the First World War, Amory returns to New York and takes an advertising job that gives him income but no purpose.

Amory falls in love with Rosalind Connage, but her need for financial security conflicts with his small income, while his family wealth proves less secure than he expects.

Alone and nearly penniless, having lost Rosalind and Darcy's guidance, Amory walks toward Princeton without his old hopes of greatness, but with a clearer knowledge of himself.

Themes

Identity: Amory repeatedly performs versions of himself, then questions whether admiration and social success reveal who he really is.

Money and love: Rosalind's fear of poverty exposes the tension between romantic passion and the financial security her world expects.

Ambition: Amory's confidence in his talent meets repeated disappointments, revealing the gap between wanting greatness and finding a purpose.

Faith and conscience: Monsignor Thayer Darcy offers moral guidance, but Amory cannot reconcile his attraction to faith with his desire for worldly pleasures.

Generational change: The aftermath of war leaves Amory's generation distrustful of older beliefs and uncertain about what should replace them.

Characters

• Amory BlaineA handsome, clever, vain young man from the Midwest who wants greatness and admiration but does not yet know what to do with himself.
• Beatrice BlaineAmory's wealthy, theatrical mother, who raises him on charm and self-regard and gives him a taste for drama and travel.
• Monsignor Thayer DarcyA learned and witty Catholic priest and family friend who sees Amory clearly and offers him guidance and a measure of faith.
• Rosalind ConnageA beautiful, quick-witted New York woman who loves Amory but fears poverty and wants security as well as passion.
• Tom D'InvilliersAmory's poet friend at Princeton, shabby and sharp, who loves books and sets a standard of honest taste.
• Alec ConnageA smooth, easygoing Princeton friend of Amory and brother of Rosalind, at home in the world of parties and pleasure.

From the boards' own documents (the specifications and coursework guidance listed under Sources), read on 24 October 2026. Your school chooses the coursework texts: ask your teacher before you start.

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