1. The Role of Science
What kind of Science is Joe Interested in?
Objective: begin to investigate the role of
Science in the narrative of Enduring Love.

2. • Re-read page 48, beginning with this passage: ‘In three
hours I could break the back of my piece on narrative in
science. I already had the outlines of a theory ...’.
• In pairs, write a list of Joe’s thoughts, and identify any
ideas that you find difficult to understand or explain.
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3. • Now consider McEwan’s use of oxymorons,
metaphors, symbolism, contrast and diction
on this page. What do you find interesting
about Joe’s reflections? Create a map of
techniques below, remembering to include
quotes:

4. • Now read the passage on page 50 beginning:
‘What I had written wasn’t true. It wasn’t
written in the pursuit of truth, it wasn’t
science ...’
• Using details from pages 49 and 50, what, for
Joe, is the key difference between science and
storytelling? Write a list of key word quotes to
show the differences between the two. A
couple of examples have been done for you:
Science Storytelling

5. Re-read the passages on pp.69–70, which explain
neo-Darwinism.
• 4. Summarise neo-Darwinism in your own words
from Joe’s information
• 5. Why do you think that neo-Darwinism is so
attractive for Joe?

6. Areas of social science
McEwan
Links
“Pathological uses Joe’s
character between
Extensions to explore
both of humanity
these
of Love” and
animality

7. ‘The Pathological Extensions of Love’
• 1994 – Mullen and Pathe
• Parts of their report are quoted by McEwan in the narrative (Enduring Love was published in 1997)
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clarification is still required of the nature of pathological love.
METHOD A series is presented of 16 personally assessed cases with pathologies of
love (erotomania).
RESULTS The pathologies of love usually involve a mixture of morbid infatuation and a
morbid belief in being loved. They occur both in a symptomatic form, as part of an
underlying mental illness, as well as in a pure form, where their emergence is to some
extent understandable in a vulnerable personality. These disorders often go
unrecognised to the detriment of clinical management.
CONCLUSIONS Pathologies of love create distress and disruption to the patient, and
place the objects of their unwarranted affection at risk of at best harassment and at
worst violence. Although this series of cases, which is drawn predominantly from
forensic practice, overemphasises the risk of overt violence, the distress occasioned by
pursuit and harassment alone should not be underestimated.

8. Chapter 8
Jed keeps vigil outside the apartment. Joe reports
this 'stalking' to the police and receives 29 answer
phone messages from Jed.
• In what way is this chapter ' a starting point' in
the story?
• How has Jed's obsession developed by the end of
the chapter?
• What do we learn about Joe's career and sense of
failure? Why might this be important?

9. Chapter 9
This chapter marks a narrative shift. It is told in the
third person from Clarissa's point of view; the
narrator says, 'at least from that point as I later
construed it.' Clarissa and Joe argue about Jed.
• Why do you think McEwan has changed the
narrative style at this point in the novel?
• What does this chapter reveal about the different
viewpoints of Clarissa and Joe?
• How has Parry already begun to come between
them?
• Does this chapter alter your view of events or
change your sympathies?

10. • Humans’ simultaneous civilised distance from
and animal closeness to their evolutionary
past.
• The narrative of life on earth – one of the
goals of Enduring Love is to convey the value
of viewing human evolution and existence as
part of and in terms of the planet’s natural
world.

11. After Xmas
• Group work: presentations
• In groups, you will be exploring a significant passage from the novel. You should
consider how best to present your ideas and notes to the rest of the class.
• Group A
• Explore what your passage reveals about Joe’s perspective (pp.55–56 – Joe re-
analyses
• the accident).
• Group B
• Explore what your passage contributes to the development of the plot as a whole
• (pp.75–77 – Joe tells the story of his career).
• Group C
• Explore what your passage reveals about the benefits or disadvantages of looking
at the
• world ‘scientifically’ (pp. 163–165 – the discussion about genetics in the
restaurant).