Time Quote by Philippa Gregory
““Eyes downcast, she went past me without a glance. Dismissively her gown brushed my knees as if I should have drawn further back, out of her way, as if everyone should always step back to let Anne through. Then she was gone and as I looked up I met the Queen's eye. She looked blankly at me as I might look at a rivalry of birds fluttering in a dovecote. It was not as if it mattered. They would all be eaten in time.””
About This Quote
The passage portrays a woman’s deliberate avoidance and the narrator’s fleeting encounter with a queen, using bird imagery to suggest insignificance and inevitable consumption.
In simple terms: A fleeting, ignored encounter feels insignificant.
Key Takeaway
Notice how small moments pass unnoticed.
Themes
power
class
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
observational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- historical fiction
- court intrigue
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
literary symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do power dynamics shape personal interactions?
- What does the bird metaphor reveal about fate?
A Different Perspective
The queen’s blank stare may imply deeper political tension.
