How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Now a recorder, you know, isn't like a flute, though it's the flute's immediate ancestor, of course […] A present-day flute's played what's know as traverse, in other words you blow across a hole instead of…" (1.5)
We meet Professor Welch as he's animatedly describing to Jim the differences between a flute and a recorder. This does a pretty good job of immediately establishing just how boring the old man is, and how trivial Jim thinks his musical interests are. It's Jim's first shot in his war against culture—at least the first we see.
Quote #2
She ticked the items off on her fingers. "Part-songs. A play-reading. Demonstration of some sword-dance steps. Recitations. A chamber concert. There's something else, too, but I've forgotten it. I'll remember in a minute." She went on laughing. (2.30)
Margaret knows that her description of the weekend at the Welches' will make Jim cringe.
Quote #3
[…] "a chap from the Third Programme promised to turn up." (2.32)
Shmoop is sure you all know—we'll just remind you—that The Third Programme was a radio show on the BBC in the 1950s that offered "serious" programming like classical music, Shakespearean plays, discussions with intellectuals and authors. It was introduced to balance out The Light Programme, which had more popular music. Kind of like NPR vs. the Easy Listening stations. Amis's mention of the program was another way of showing us the "highbrow" aspirations of the Professor's musical weekend.