E.M. Forster His life and work
Early life Born in 1879 in London Edward Morgan Forster Father was an architect Died before Edward was 2 Raised by women - mother and aunts Used money from great aunt to travel and write later in life
Forster as a child, 1890
Childhood home, Rooksnest
College Life Attended King’s College of Cambridge Member of Apostles Discussion group Later became Bloomsbury Group Virginia Woolf also a member Enjoyed freedom of intellectual discussions and focus on personal relationships
After graduation Traveled with his mother to Italy and Greece Gave him material to use later Satire of British tourists Feared anything “foreign” Wrote essays and stories for liberal Independent Review
Forster with mother
Tutoring tutored in Germany for a Countess’s son tutored Syed Ross Masood Indian Muslim patriot Grew fond of him
Forster, 1915
Forster with Masood, 1911
Written work Where Angels Fear to Tread The Longest Journey A Room with a View Howard’s End Clash between business and art Maurice Homosexual theme
Personal life Kept personal life hidden and out of discussion involved in a relationship with a London policeman Also friends with his wife Maurice published posthumously
Travel and work traveled to India with Masood worked for National Gallery in London WWI - worked for Red Cross in Egypt Wrote poetry while there returned to India Worked as private secretary to Maharajah of Dewas
India A Passage to India Started writing it before WWI Published 1924 About India under British rule Published nonfiction work about India
E. M. Forster
A Passage to India (1984 directed by David Lean ) Plot Summary: novel filmnovelfilm
A Passage to India Published in 1924, the last completed novel that Forster published during his lifetime. Major Characters in the novel: 1. Dr. Aziz: 2. Cyril Fielding 3. Adela Quested 4. Mrs. Moore 5. Professor Narayan Godbole 6. Ronny Heaslop
A Passage to India (1984 directed by David Lean ) Themes: 1. the difficulty of friendship between an Englishman (the colonist) and an Indian (the colonized) 2. the racism and oppression of the British who rule India 3. the “muddle” of Indian civilization and psychology, and the oneness (and perhaps sameness) of all life
Death and reputation Died in 1970 Known for being critical of Victorian middle class attitudes and British colonialism Explores class differences and sexuality Used characters to critique issues
Sources Sharpe, Jenny. “The Unspeakable Limits of Civility:A Passage to India.” Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993.