...On the Historical and Philosophical Implications of Literary Devices in A Separate Peace “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled,” said Keyser Soze in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects, “was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Easily applicable to the inner struggle faced by every being, a quote such as this can be applied to any story fitting the conflict type “Man vs. himself.” Likewise, John Knowles’s now classic 1959 novel A Separate Peace provides a complex insight to the subject of inner conflict and subsequent loss of innocence through an early 1940’s boarding school student named Gene, whose narration provides a medium for Knowles to exhibit this theme by means of a recognizable and repeated use of symbolism, figurative language,...
Words: 1115 - Pages: 5
...A Separate Peace written by John Knowles uses many literary elements such as symbolism. John Knowles uses the object of the tree. The plays an important role to all the students enrolled at Devon High School. The tree was one of their sources of adventures. When Gene visited the school after fifteen years he realized how much change had occurred at Devon when he looked for the tree he realized after all the years the tree that stood as a massive steeple beside the river had shrunk and gotten smaller. The seniors at Devon jumped on the limb and splashed into the water as part of their training. Gene remembers when he jumped from the tree into the river because he was persuaded by Finny to contribute to the War effort. In order to be a member...
Words: 636 - Pages: 3
...possess. However, in John Knowles’s novel, A Separate Peace, rivalry is amongst best friends, Gene Forrester and Phineas. In his novel, Knowles uses the protagonist, Gene, to show how betrayal can ruin friendships, using many techniques including: foreshadowing, figurative language, and symbolism. Foreshadowing is a technique that is used throughout the book. Gene is always in his own competition with his friend Phineas. For example, Gene states, “There was no harm in envying your best friend a little,” (Knowles 25). In most cases, envying what your friend has or can do is very damaging and can completely ruin a friendship. This shows that their relationship is not very solid, and his envy is part of the reason it is breaking apart. On the other hand, Phineas does not know that Gene is jealous, so he assumes Gene’s competitiveness is just friendly. He then says, “We were the best of friends at that moment,” (Knowles 18). When Gene says this, it foreshadows that something will go awry in their friendship, even though it seems as if they are fine right now. Since this is so early in the novel, this quote helps readers to be more aware of what they are reading and helps draw...
Words: 897 - Pages: 4
...world of a teenager is filled with complexity. A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles demonstrates how two teenage boys handle their inter-conflict and coming of age in their modern world during World War II. Finny is athletic, humorous, and represents the optimism and light of the situation, while Gene is fundamentally reserved, physically impressive, and portrays the dark, self-discriminating, and disturbed thoughts of an average teenage boy. Even though, the teens showed strength in both physical and mental aspects, Knowles use of symbolism and imagery help portray Finny as the weaker character. Gene and Phineas’ summer sessions at Devon were a time of freedom and peace. The teachers of Devon were lenient and Finny’s clever tongue allowed him to get away with anything. In the book, it was thought that the war was being fought to preserve the life they enjoyed. Teachers were more indulgent towards them than others, such as the seniors. Finny and Gene reminded them of what peace and life away from the destruction was like. Knowles creates a contrasting image of the summer joy and the tragic war zone. The war for the boys was a distant and almost laughable concept. However, the symbolic summer sessions of innocence and youth comes to an end with Phineas’ fall. Winter sessions began and were dark, disciplined, and filled with difficult work. It symbolized the burden of adulthood and the wartime. The imagery Knowles...
Words: 1095 - Pages: 5
...original Refresh Menu Search Submit Our Casuarina Tree Analysis by Toru Dutt By Ishaan on July 29, 2013 5 SHARES 4 COMMENTS Analysis of Our Casuarina Tree by Toru Dutt Our Casuarina Tree is a poem by Toru Dutt which is about the Casuarina tree that grew in the poetess’ courtyard and her memories associated with it. Summary The poetess writes this in reminiscence of the Casuarina tree that grew in the courtyard of her childhood home. The poem opens with a description of the tree, tall enough to make it seem like it touches the stars, strong enough to continue growing despite scars on its trunk and despite all this it provides support to a creeper. And yet she gives it the air of a Gentleman when she describes how the tree is forever adorned with flowers and birds and bees. Thus we see the tree in her childhood was not only as a paragon of strength, but gentle and loved by the birds and bees. अब मीठे मना मत क जये सु एक गलास पानी म ल यह... को !हर बह म रोज २ पाउं घटाती ँय क म रात को सफ़ एक लास पीती ँ ड् स She goes on to tell us about the mornings in her childhood when she would wake up to the sight of the Casuarina Tree. Come summer or winter, her morning would remain incomplete without the sight of the Casuarina tree, often with a baboon sitting on its crest. She then paints a serene picture of the morning with the kokilas singing, the cows on the pasture and the water lilies in the spring. However, the figure of the Casuarina tree stands central in this picture, as it does in the...
Words: 1019 - Pages: 5
...Robert Frost (1874-1963) was the leading modern American poet of nature and rural life. He found beauty and meaning in commonplace objects, such as a drooping birch tree and an old stone wall, and drew universal significance from the experiences of a farmer or a country boy. Most of his poems have a New England setting and deal with the theme of man's relationship to nature. The influence of nature in Robert Frost's works creates a palette to paint a picture filled with symbolism for the reader to interpret. In the analysis of Frost's The Road Not Taken, Tree At My Window, Two Trumps In The Mud Time and Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening we can pick out specific examples to illustrate Frost's overall use of nature. In the first stanza of Robert Frost's Stopping by the Woods on A Snowy Evening we find the speaker reflecting on the beauty of a wooded area with snow falling. Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. You can feel the speakers awe and reflective peace when looking into the woods that night. He doesn't know the owner of the land but is still drawn to the beauty of the scene. Nature poet Robert Frost gives a scene that is taken into the reader and digested for a time in the speaker's mind. It shows us that it is all right to take a minute out of a hurried hour and reflect upon what is around you, whether it is a snowy wood or a quite room....
Words: 2773 - Pages: 12
...Sikhism: all people are made of the same god. Universal brotherness. Forbids exploitation of others, direct opposition of the caste system. No force unless no choice. The first Guru was Guru Nanak-founder/father of Sikhism. Came out of two prevalent religious forces of his time: Hinduism & Islam. The last Guru: Guru Gobind Singh: 10th guru bestowed the guruship forever to Sikh Holy Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. (11th guru: living text: Adi Granth)Guru: teachers/masters. Spiritual person or divine inner voice. Langar: Communal meal served to everyone in Gurdwara. Despite gender and caste. Gurdwara; Place of worship “the Guru’s door” 5 K’s: all outward symbols of the divine word. Kes (unshorn hair means spirituality) Kangha (wooden comb means order) Kirpan (miniature sword, meaning divine grace and order. Kara (Steel Bracelet means allegiance to the guru.) Kachh: short breeches means restraint. Role of women: More egalitarian, but still expected to conduct themselves with family. Still a patriarchal society. Women have contributions to the panth. They can seek initiation into the Kahlsa but must have male counterparts with them. Will participate in langar also. It is egalitarian (democratic, classless, unrestricted). 4 notions of guruship: Eternal guru-god as the true guru/ Personal guru- teacher is guru, channel through which the eternal guru speaks (spiritual successions), not always sons but who is worthy/ Guru Ganth- scripture as guru, scripture...
Words: 2068 - Pages: 9
...------------------------------------------------- Ensō Zen art exemplifies the Zen ideals of simplicity and spontaneity, and most often takes the form of calligraphy and simple ink drawings. The Zen circle, a popular motif in Zen art, represents the entire universe in a single, perfect stroke. Although simple, images like this are difficult to paint successfully and thus must be done with a clear mind focused on the task. Abhaya Mudra (Gesture of Fearlessness) Abhaya in Sanskrit means fearlessness, and the abhaya mudra symbolizes protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear. The gesture is made with the right hand raised to shoulder height, arm bent, and palm facing outward. The gesture is an ancient one, demonstrating that the hand is empty of weapons and thus indicating friendship and peace. To western eyes, it looks like the gesture meaning "stop." In both cases, the gesture implies fearlessness before a potential enemy. In Buddhism, the gesture is a symbol of the fearlessness—and thus the spiritual power—of the Buddha or bodhisattva who makes it. According to Buddhist tradition, the historical Buddha made this gesture immediately after gaining enlightenment. And later, when the historical Buddha was about to be attacked by an angry elephant, he held up his hand in the fearlessness gesture and immediately calmed it. The gesture of fearlessness is is only seen on Buddhas or boddhisatvas and appears most commonly in standing images. In Thailand and Laos, the abhaya...
Words: 5291 - Pages: 22
...Alita Fonseca Balbi “The Less Deceived”: Subjectivity, Gender, Sex and Love in Sylvia Plath's and Philip Larkin's Poetry Belo Horizonte Faculdade de Letras Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais 2012 i “The Less Deceived”: Subjectivity, Gender, Sex and Love in Sylvia Plath's and Philip Larkin's Poetry by Alita Fonseca Balbi Submitted to the Programa de Pós-graduação em Letras: Estudos Literários in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Mestre em Literaturas de Expressão Inglesa. Thesis Advisor: Sandra Regina Goulart Almeida, PhD Belo Horizonte Faculdade de Letras Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais 2012 ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my father, Tadeu, for always reminding me of the importance of having dreams and being true to them; for motivating me to be creative and to believe in my potential; and for teaching me to seek beauty and happiness in everything I see and do. To my mother, Socorro, for always making sure I enjoy all the possibilities that cross my path, and for reminding me that hard work is the only means to achieve my goals. To my brothers, Bruno and Diego, for being my best friends. To my sister-in-law, Sabrina, for embracing me as family and making me feel at home even when I’m not. To Paulo, for his company, for his love and care, and for all his witty remarks. To the professors of Letras, Julio Jeha, José dos Santos, Eliana Lourenço and Gláucia Renates, for being extraordinary professors, and for all the knowledge each...
Words: 44492 - Pages: 178
...French Revolution Storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789. Participants French society Location France Date 1789–1799 Result A cycle of royal power limited by uneasy constitutional monarchy; then the abolition and replacement of the French king, aristocracy and church with a radical, secular, democratic republic, which, in turn, becomes more authoritarian, militaristic and property-based. Radical social change based on nationalism, democracy and the Enlightenment principles of citizenship and inalienable rights. Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Armed conflicts with other European countries. Part of a series on the History of France Prehistory[show] Ancient[show] Early Middle Ages[show] Middle Ages[show] Early modern[show] 19th century[show] 20th century[show] France portal v t e The French Revolution (French: Révolution française; 1789–1799), was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that had a lasting impact on French history and more broadly throughout Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed within three years. French society underwent an epic transformation, as feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges evaporated under a sustained assault from radical left-wing political groups, masses on the streets, and peasants in the countryside.[1] Old ideas about tradition and hierarchy regarding monarchs, aristocrats, and the Catholic Church were abruptly overthrown by new principles of Liberté, égalité...
Words: 15101 - Pages: 61
...Theme of Revenge in Homer's Odyssey Homer’s The Odyssey is not just a tale of a man’s struggle on his journey home from the Trojan War, but of his struggle from the consequences of revenge. The Odyssey weaves in different characters’ tales of revenge from the gods and what impact revenge actually had on those characters. Revenge is an important underlying theme in The Odyssey because, in essence, it explains why Odysseus’ journey was so prolonged and treacherous. A few examples of revenge in the poem include Orestes’ revenge on Aegisthus, Zeus’ revenge on Odysseus and his men, and Poseidon’s revenge on Odysseus. These different examples of revenge in The Odyssey show the importance of the gods’ revenge in the epic journey of Odysseus. Orestes’ revenge is the first important example of the gods’ revenge in the poem. In Book 1, Hermes told Aegisthus, “’Don’t murder the man,’ he said, ‘don’t court his wife. Beware, revenge will come from Orestes…” (Homer 260). King Nestor delivers the story of Orestes’ revenge to Odysseus’ son Telemachus, while Telemachus is visiting Nestor to discover answers about his fathers’... The Character Medea's Revenge in Euripides' Medea Medea is a tragedy of a woman who feels that her husband has betrayed her with another woman and the jealousy that consumes her. She is the protagonist who arouses sympathy and admiration because of how her desperate situation is. I thought I was going to feel sorry for Medea, but that quickly changed as soon...
Words: 3461 - Pages: 14
...Buddhist Temple Complex Ramu, Cox’s Bazaar Tabassum Ahmed Department of Architecture North South University 1 Buddhist Temple Complex Ramu, Cox’s Bazaar A Design Dissertation submitted to the Department of Architecture in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch) in the Faculty of North South University, Dhaka. The textual and visual contents of the Design Dissertation are the intellectual output of the student mentioned below unless otherwise mentioned. Information given within this Design Dissertation is true to the best knowledge of the student mentioned below. All possible efforts have been made by the author to acknowledge the secondary sources information. Right to further modification and/or publication of this Design Dissertation in any form belongs to its author. Contents within this Design Dissertation can be reproduced with due acknowledgment for academic purposes only without written consent from the author. Tabassum Ahmed 083163010 Dept. of Architecture North South University Dhaka 2012 2 Dedication To the Buddhist community of Ramu 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am thankful to Allah for giving me patience and strength to cope with the everyday hurdles in this whole journey of architecture. My deepest gratitude extends to my faculty, Dr. Shayer Ghafur for his constant guidance and support throughout this dissertation. I am thankful to Professor Haroon Ur Rashid for helping me to understand this...
Words: 15927 - Pages: 64
...An exegesis of 1 Enoch Chapters 6-8: How and why this text is considered apocalyptic and its meaning, then and now. The First Book of Enoch VI-VIII VI. 1. ‘And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2. And the angels, the children of heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ 3. And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not indeed agree to this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ 4. And they answered him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’ 5. Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 6. And they were all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual implications upon it. 7. And these are the names of their leaders: Semiazaz, their leader, Arakiba, Rameel, Kokabiel, Tamiel, Ramiel, Danel, Ezeqeel, Baraqijal, Asael, Armoros, Batarel, Ananel, Zaquel, Samsapeel, Satarel, Turel, Jomjael, Sariel. 8. These are their chiefs of tens. VII. 1. And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go unto them and to defile themselves...
Words: 5602 - Pages: 23
...DIVINATION SYSTEMS Written by Nicole Yalsovac Additional sections contributed by Sean Michael Smith and Christine Breese, D.D. Ph.D. Introduction Nichole Yalsovac Prophetic revelation, or Divination, dates back to the earliest known times of human existence. The oldest of all Chinese texts, the I Ching, is a divination system older than recorded history. James Legge says in his translation of I Ching: Book Of Changes (1996), “The desire to seek answers and to predict the future is as old as civilization itself.” Mankind has always had a desire to know what the future holds. Evidence shows that methods of divination, also known as fortune telling, were used by the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, Babylonians and the Sumerians (who resided in what is now Iraq) as early as six‐thousand years ago. Divination was originally a device of royalty and has often been an essential part of religion and medicine. Significant leaders and royalty often employed priests, doctors, soothsayers and astrologers as advisers and consultants on what the future held. Every civilization has held a belief in at least some type of divination. The point of divination in the ancient world was to ascertain the will of the gods. In fact, divination is so called because it is assumed to be a gift of the divine, a gift from the gods. This gift of obtaining knowledge of the unknown uses a wide range of tools and an enormous variety of ...
Words: 45715 - Pages: 183
...characteristics and communicative types; 2) the syntactic synonymy, i.e. the peculiarities of rendering of one and the same logical content by syntactic units with different structure, functional characteristics, expressive colouring and connotations; 3) description of syntactical expressive means and stylistic devices. Owing to its constructive nature, syntax is considered to have more perceptible stylistic power (when compared with morophological and lexical level) because it embraces the expressive potential of morphology and vocabulary. Syntax is the structural basis of any utterance and text: the process of nomination and metaphorization, logical and figurative, emotional, expressive and poetic colouring of the words, language imagery and symbolism, specific figures of speech, new coinages and at last the individual speaker’s creativity are actualized only on the level of syntax, and, having been melted into a completed unity, can fulfill its communicative purpose. Thus the importance of syntax for stylistic analysis is hard to overestimate. It is syntax that fixes the stylistic aspect of any text. Syntax, alongside with other stylistic elements (phonetic, morphological, lexical) that secure utterance meaning, provide it with additional connotations or expressiveness and contribute to the development of text imagery system, is an efficient mediator of aesthetic delight. To desplay the stylistic value of syntactic constructions which by their form render the main idea of the text...
Words: 6760 - Pages: 28
