Lorna Doone section summaries - Read-Only File

[SarahC]

Hi, I will be adding section summaries so that all can keep track of what is included in the break out of our Lorna Doone discussion threads. This may be a helpful reminder to all since it is a long novel, but may help particularly the E-readers, who may not have access to all the chapter titles, volume numbering, etc.

So as we approach each discussion section, I will add a summary.

I will place them in Hide Spoiler commands, so you won't be faced with a plot spoiler if you dont want one.

Please simply read this thread of section summaries and add your comments about the book in the actual discussion threads! Thanks

[SarahC]

Summary of the story Vol. One, Chapters 1-15 (our first discussion thread).

(view spoiler)[Young John Ridd of Plover's Barrows, an ancient farm near Oare, Devon, in the West Country of England, begins his story. The time period is 1683 and Charles II is king. This thread of our group discussion includes the description of his father's death by the hands of the Doones, a large family of outlaws who live in a secluded valley. John secretly explores Doone Glen and meets Lorna, the young heir to the primary Doone line. He is 14 and she is 8.

Six or seven years pass during this section of the novel. Cousin Tom Faggus visits Plover's Barrows. We learn of his unstable history and his current life as a Robin Hood-like character. John's mother's uncle Reuben Huckaback is robbed on the road by the Doones on New Year's Eve.

Chapter 15 ends this section, and is titled "Master Huckaback Fails of Warrant": Uncle Reuben attempts to file a charge against the Doones with the Justice of the King's Peace, Hugh De Whichehalse. As John and Unce Ben look out over Doone Glen from a distance, John is overcome and has a revelation that his fate will be connected with Lorna Doone. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Summary of the story Vol. One, Chapters 16-23 (our second discussion thread).

(view spoiler)[Chap 16-23 Summary
John, at age 21, reintroduces himself to Lorna Doone. There is a recurring mention of a distinctive, strange, startling noise in the neighborhood, untraceable “as if from the very heart of the earth.” John seeks advice about Lorna from a old wise woman, Mother Melldrum. He also witnesses a battle between a goat and a sheep for rights to a grazing area, which seems to foretell a sad ending to a story.

On further visits to Lorna, he learns of her past -- her sheltered upbringing amidst corruption, her reflective nature, her saving of the poor Cornish maid Gwenny Carfax, and finally of her discovery of the nature of the Doone family as they murdered her maternal cousin Alan Brandir.

Love becomes apparent between Tom Faggus and Annie Ridd, and we learn that Tom is now living a “quiet and godly life.” Annie also has the attention, although discouraged, of Squire Marwood de Whichehalse. The de Whichehalse family is in decline and their property is under heavy mortgage.

The cocky Jeremy Stickles arrives at the Ridd farm. Stickles, officer of the Court of King’s Bench, calls John to London. Stickles tarries at Plover Barrows before the return journey, enjoying the feasts of the farm. John doesn’t mind the delay, as he is hoping to see Lorna again before he departs for London. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Summary of the story Vol One, Chap 24-28 (our third discussion thread)

(view spoiler)[On the trip to London, due to the people’s love of Tom Faggus, John and Jeremy Stickles are met with open doors all down the road. The politics of the time have an immediate effect on John’s progress in London. The Court and the City of London contend over the city’s rights and authority. Conspiracy and cases of treason delay the courts. John’s expenses increase as his stay in London lengthens, so he demands a hearing.

While waiting to go into court, he outsmarts a lawyer trying to take advantage of him. John is presented to Chief Justice Jeffreys, a difficult man, who takes a liking to him. He orders the court clerk Spank to reimburse John’s expenses immediately. Spank seems unethical and perhaps has designs to keep the expense money himself if not distributed to those summoned to court. Jeffreys questions John concerning the Doones, the de Whichehalse’s, and Tom Faggus, whom he recommends becoming a parson so he can’t be hanged. In parting, Jeffrey says to John that he "meant to use thee as a tool, but see thou art too honest and simple,” because of his concern of conspirators in Devonshire.

John returns home and professes to Lorna that her loves her. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Section Summary of the story Vol Two, Chap 1-7 (our fourth discussion thread)

(view spoiler)[Plover’s Barrows enjoys a greatly successful harvest. Annie and John confide to each other their love affairs. Uncle Ruben has been staying with the Ridds and is believed by John Fry to be involved in something undercover in the area. John knows there must be something underfoot in the community as he hears of arms being landed, the nighttime tramp of men, and secret signals being passed at the marketplace. He wonders if Ruben and the Doones are involved.

Ruth, Ruben’s daughter, visits the Ridds and Mrs. Ridd tries to match her with John. He hears secret word through his servant Betty that Lorna can no longer meet him at night as she is being watched by the Doones more than ever. He continues his secret visits in morning and Lorna confesses her love for him and gives him a ring but inside she feels their being together will never be a reality.

Tom Faggus bravely says he will form a band to defeat the Doones. John and Annie tell Mrs. Ridd of their love affairs. Mrs. Ridd accepts this news well and begins to plot to remove Lorna from the dangerous Doone Glen, and also says, within Ruth’s hearing, that she is glad John has chosen Lorna and not Ruth. Ruth leaves offended. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Section Summary of the story Vol Two, Chap 8-16 (our fourth discussion thread).


(view spoiler)[Jeremy Stickles arrives and tells John that he returns to watch a secret plot against the royal succession. John tells Stickles about suspicions of Reuben Huckaback.

Alarmingly, Lorna’s secret signals to John cease. John sneaks through the Doone Gate into Doone Valley to secretly talk with Lorna. Her grandfather is near death, and the Counselor has taken control and is confining Lorna to her house. New signals are devised involving Gwenny.

Stickles needs to form more troops as he means to overtake Doone Valley. John speaks of the complicated view of the Doones. He and other residents fear that without the Doones, random rogue marauders would commit crimes. He also fears the soldiers themselves who could cause mischief. Finally, he does not believe the Doones killed his father in cold blood, which matters to him.

Tom Faggus tricks a posse waiting to capture him, robs this group of “lords” and gives the takings to the poor who are watching. We learn that he had been given an official pardon, but this action may jeopardize that.

As Lorna’s grandfather is dying, John and Lorna refuse his censor of their union. John leaves, but during horrible winter weather, he returns to rescue Lorna and Gwenny and brings them to Plover’s Barrows. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Section Summary of the story Vol Two, Chap 17-24 (our fifth discussion thread).

(view spoiler)[Lorna adapts well to life at the Ridd farm. The hard winter at the farm is spent saving the cattle. Tom Faggus returns doing well as a squire of his own horse farm. His success has been aided by his own trained pony who attracts the forest ponies to the farm and freely adds to Tom’s stock. Tom identifies an heirloom necklace of Lorna’s as one he has seen in the past and surely valued at a hundred thousand pounds.

Spring arrives and Stickles suffers with his new job as agent, spy, and militia leader as the regular king’s troops cannot join him from their current mission on the coast. Carver Doone draws in just across the stream from the Ridd farm and shoots menacingly at Lorna as a threat. Lorna tells John that Stickles’ men could attack Glen Doone more easily because it is sure to be flooded after the winter of terrible snows. The Doones, however, quickly return and attack Plover’s Barrows. John confronts Carver face to face, rebukes him for his lack of honor, and throws him to the ground. Upon this, many of the Doones retreat, but some are captured and Jeremy insists on punishment. These men are later hanged. John knows this has all been a blow to the Doone supremacy and decides not to attack Glen Doone until the floods go down.

Mrs. Ridd declares that Lorna is too young to marry and wishes her to convert to Protestantism. Lorna has no intention of this, but does make a striking figure as a “lady Doone come to church” with the Ridds. Mrs. Ridd feels sympathy after previous bad feelings toward Ruth Huckaback, wishes she should not be lost to the family, and so persuades John to go visit. Ruth is ultimately disappointed when she realizes he is to marry Lorna.

The Counselor of the Doones, Carver’s father, visits the Ridds and cunningly informs John and Lorna that their fathers killed each other in the long-ago incident. The couple dismisses him by saying that, if it is true, then their own generation will make amends. Mrs. Ridd is angered but then charmed by the Counselor’s high bred courtesy. All the while, he has tricked Annie, who has allowed him to take Lorna’s valuable necklace. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Section Summary of the story Vol Three, Chap 1-7 (our sixth discussion thread).

(view spoiler)[We learn of Lorna’s true origin from a discovery of Jeremy, which also ties into some early memories of John. A small regular army and local volunteers join Jeremy and John in an unsuccessful attack on Doone Valley. Jeremy suffers significant injuries, and relating Lorna’s true story to her is delayed until two men from Chancery arrive with writs and news that Lorna is to come under custody of the king.

Anne and Tom marry. Uncle Ben allows John to know the secret of the gold mines. The history of Gwenny Carfax and her father Simon is also discovered. During a short trip away from home, Lorna is taken away by her great uncle, who was appointed guardian by the Court of Chancery until she reaches age 21. (hide spoiler)]

[SarahC]

Sorry I have fallen behind on creating the section summaries. I will conclude them ASAP for anyone still reading along and for anyone who may pick up the discussion a little later.

[SarahC]

Section Summary of the story Vol Three, Chap 8-15 (our seventh discussion thread).

(view spoiler)[John visits Annie and Tom Faggus, and when speaking against Tom’s bragging ways, he causes a rift between them and himself. John stops in Dulverton to visit Ruth and his horse attacks her. Uncle Ben compliments him and credits her for saving Ruth from worse injury. Ruth gives wise advise that Lorna will never give John up regardless of her new higher station in life (now living in London). Ruth tells him to go to London.

Charles II dies. John is now church warden of Oare parish. No message still from Lorna. Little John Faggus is born and named in honor of John. James becomes king but rebellion begins. Annie arrives to announce that Tom has joined the rebellion and begs John to bring him back. Annie has already gained a promise from Counselor Doone to leave Plover’s Barrows alone while John in gone.

John rescues Tom and is, in turn, rescued by Jeremy from a group of savage soldiers. Jeremy fears John will not safely make it back home, so they go to London to receive a protective order for John from Lord Churchill. John gains news of Lorna, who is in favor of their Majesties, particularly since she is Catholic nobility who will attend mass with them. John and Lorna reunite, but his introduction to the Earl Brandir, her great uncle, is yet to come. (hide spoiler)]