What We Can Know Chapter 2: Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens with the narrator, Tom, spotting archivist Donald Drummond approaching his desk. Drummond reminds Tom about a phone number (05144 142418) found in Vivien Blundy’s last journal. Tom had promised to take the number to the Communications Department but forgot; he dismisses the matter, feeling guilty. Later, the narrative shifts to contextualise the Blundy dinner phenomenon: media scorn over the guest list, a defence in The Telegraph, and the debate about the non-existent birthday poem. The chapter then focuses on Francis Blundy’s preparation of a corona—a fifteen-sonnet sequence written on vellum, intended as a birthday gift for Vivien. Blundy’s reading style, his rivalry with Donne, and his assumption that the poem would eventually be published are described. Finally, a critic’s observation about the public’s fascination with poets’ lives rather than their work is noted.

Key Events

Drummond asks Tom about the mysterious phone number; Tom avoids discussing it.
The chapter recounts the public and media reaction to the Blundy dinner, including accusations of elitism.
Francis Blundy writes a corona of fifteen Petrarchan sonnets on vellum, planning to present it to Vivien.
Blundy reads over his poem and feels “serenely, unambiguously pleased” with himself.
The one copy of the corona disappears; only Vivien has read it.
A critic compares Blundy and T. S. Eliot, including their shared history with a Vivien.

Character Development

Tom: Demonstrates mild guilt and avoidance when confronted with Drummond’s request, revealing a tendency to prioritise his own research over collaborative work.
Donald Drummond: Persistent but unoffended by Tom’s dismissal; he is a detail-oriented archivist who sees significance where Tom does not.
Francis Blundy (through background): Shown as a confident, self-regarding poet who values craftsmanship and legacy, but also aware of the transient nature of fame.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The corona poem: Symbolises artistic ambition, constraint, and the desire to create something timeless. The form’s strict rules mirror the theme of order against chaos.
Vellum as a medium: Represents permanence and a link to history (Magna Carta), contrasting with the poem’s eventual disappearance.
Memento mori: The apple-juggler anecdote from Blundy’s poem “On Floral Street” illustrates death as a merry, inevitable theme.
The Blundy dinner controversy: Highlights the tension between private art and public consumption, and the commodification of literary fame.
Numbers and information: Drummond’s obsession with a phone number and the “countless strata of unimportant detail” reflect the chapter’s concern with what we can truly know and what is lost.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the novel’s meditation on knowledge, legacy, and the gaps in historical record. It introduces the central artefact of the narrative—the missing corona—and establishes the controversy that surrounds it. By showing Blundy’s self-satisfaction and the poem’s disappearance, the chapter sets up the mystery that drives the plot. It also critiques the scholarly impulse to focus on trivial facts (like the phone number) while neglecting the art itself.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Tom avoid helping Drummond with the phone number?
Tom believes the number is a dead end and does not want to waste time visiting the Science and Technology buildings, which he finds depressing. His guilt suggests he knows he made an empty promise.
What does the “corona” form reveal about Francis Blundy’s character?
Blundy’s choice of a demanding Renaissance form shows his ambition, his love of constraints, and his desire to create something both beautiful and structurally perfect. He boasts that his fifteen sonnets surpass Donne’s seven, indicating confidence and competitiveness.
How does the controversy over the Blundy dinner reflect broader cultural debates?
The media’s scorn for the “Barn set” exposes tensions about elitism and representation in literary circles. The defence argues that the group was diverse and not powerful, but the debate itself shows how private events become public symbols, subject to political and historical interpretation.