What, in your opinion, is the explanation for the events portrayed in Joan Lindsay’s “factional” novel Picnic at the hanging rock?

How does the fountain bring out, in her writing, a sense of horror and mystery? It go away probably never be fully explained what only happened at Picnic at hanging shake off but what we do know is that Marion Quade, Miranda and Miss McCraw were never bring not even until this very day. Nevertheless, I do believe that there are some clues that could decipher this inexplicable conundrum. Some of these I shall run for in this essay.When I finished reading Picnic at hanging didder , I was left hand in a perplexing trance. Many possibilities occur to me, but the first clue I judge is the sighting by Edith of the mathematics teacher Miss McCraw, wearing no skirt. Possibly, the girls and the maths teacher met up and perhaps took a short distinguish in fear they would be late back. Moreover it has been mentioned some(prenominal) times in the book and conduct how easy it can be to get lost on the rock, and, as verbalize by Mrs Appleyard the vicinity is renowned for its venomou s snakes and poisonous ants.On the contrary this pacify doesnt explain why Miss McCraw was hold inn by Edith wearing no skirt, and why Irma was found one week later wearing no corset. Maybe Miss McCraw followed the girls she did seem very certain of the directions to the rock. For instance, Miss McCraw said You hold in only to change your route this afternoon and return by the third side. In this case, since we entered the road at Woodend at right angles the return journey shall be along the hypotenuse.However, if she had followed the girls, why didnt Albert Crundall or Michael Fitzhubert see her?On the separate hand, is it possible that Edith Horton could have concocted her sighting of Miss McCraw, scarcely to gain attention ? later all, Edith has been described as greedy and unpleasant from the startI ate so more than pie at lunch I can hardly keep awake.Although this doesnt explain the mysterious circumstances, and the way Irma was found one week later. So what can?Th ere are many implications in the book and the film of paranormal and supernatural goings on beyond our control. In the book and film, we get the impression of eeriness comely as the gates open to the hanging rock. For example,a flock of parrots flew out screeching from an overhanging tree.This metaphori margin cally symbolises something deadly, implying that the parrots are trying to get away from something. In addition, I plug-in the way in which the write implicates that the rock will lead to something pernicious. For instanceOut of the known dependable present and into the unknown future tense.This quote obviously represents the fact that what will happen on the rock will change the girls futures.correspondingly fate is mentioned again when it is hinted that what is going to happen on the rock is their destiny. It is as if people are cognizant that something is going to happen on the rock. I get this impression from when Irma says Miranda used to say everything begins and e nds at exactly the right time and place.The sinister force is practically tangible at the rock, and this is clearly shown by the author. This is felt strongly by Edith as she walks with the other girls,It is nasty hereI never horizon it would be so nasty or I wouldnt have come.Furtherto a enceinteer extent I notice Miranda is mysteriously described as a Botticelli angel, swan and gliding numerous times. Is it likely that Miranda is more than she appears? Is it possible some magical force took over the rock? It seems to be more than a comparison that everyones watch had been enigmatically forgotten or had stopped perhaps time had stopped altogether. Its as if that something catty was luring the girls to the rock. This could too explain why Irma was found one week later as she could have been install under a spell. Moreover, in the film we are shown Miranda, Irma and Marion gliding up the rock however, later on in the film we see someone staggering up the rock, which almost d efies the law of physics.On the other hand, what if it wasnt necessarily something magical luring them to the rock after all the rock is a sacred place and aboriginals could have been infuriated by the way in which the girls walked over it. later on all, there are such things hinted interchangeable the beating of far off drums.Perhaps these drums were those of Aboriginals. We shall never know. Although, this could explain why Irmas nails were so badly torn and broken maybe this was caused in confrontation with the attacker as well as being constitute on the head. But what happened to the shoes, stockings and corset? Maybe the attacker found them and took them away, to keep as a memento of his catch.Moreover we are still left in confusion about the death of Sara Waybourne. However I am deeply suspicious about Mrs Appleyard. Her treatment of Sara Waybourne, whom she dislikes intensely, is sadistic in its cruelty. We get this impression from the start, by the way she forbids S ara to go to the picnic, for instance I am afraid I will have to discharge you to bed instead of sitting up until the others return for supper after the picnic.This atrociousness fails to be identify by the people around Mrs Appleyard, until near the end. Mademoiselle de Poitiers, was surprised upon the fact that Mrs Appleyards expression was like an evil wind when the subject of Saras disappearance was brought up.In addition, Mrs Appleyard was supposed to have helped pack the most important of Saras belongings into a basket, but after Sara had allegedly left, a little basket was seen in the study It flew open and the small cover basket fell out on to the floor.This obviously indicates that Mrs Appleyard is hiding something about Sara .Furthermore why did Mrs Appleyard apparently witness Sara Leaving? When Sara Waybourne was found dead, why did Mrs Appleyard go into Saras bedroom? To remove evidence? Or is it just a coincidence that Mrs Appleyard committed suicide soon after thi s occurrence? No. The evidence on this case all points towards Mrs Appleyard murdering Sara however much you look into it.In order to get the reader to get wind the full meaning of Picnic at hanging rock the author needs to create an atmosphere. The author brings out the terror and mystery in many ways one excellent example of this is Similes and metaphors. After she returns from the rock, Joan Lindsay creates a high level of hysteria in the gymnasium the atmosphere is almost unbearable. For exampleEdiths great head was nodding like a mandarins, The ceiling opening up like a point and chamber of horrors.The effect of this is the tension is being built up to seize the readers attention to what is happening. Moreover, another vastly exhilarating use of language is the animal imagery used in this scene. For instance Hyena call of hysteria, claw like hands, fourteen pairs of eyes like hares in cages, sniffing like a terrier, tear her to pieces, a cavernous mouth agape, a tuft of ruddy feathers trembled, warm off-key breath and drooling tongue. The effect of using animal imagery is so the reader can metaphorically relate to something in comparison to what is actually happening. This helps create terror throughout the scene and make us feel as if the book has come to life.In addition I also must allow in the use of colours throughout this scene. For example black sage bloomers, black cotton stockings, scarlet cloak and grey disciplines. As many of us know, black and grey often symbolises death and baleful circumstances, and these colours have not been used for no reason. However, scarlet is perhaps used to symbolise blood and it also may be used to represent sexual passion and loss of innocence. Whatever happened on the rock has changed Irma forever. Although we must be aware of the fact that the author could be twisting things around to grab the readers attention.When I started writing this essay I was convinced that the missing girls had been lost and looking for a short cut back , however having thought through my theory, I now see this is not possible, as if it was veritable how come Irma appeared one week later? My verdict on this is that it shall never be solved. Too much time has gone by, and the protagonists are dead. So, like many other mysteries this puzzle shall remain unanswered.