Many believe that the interrelations between the “I” and the “not- I”, the self and the other is the essential relationship in order to understand fantasy literature. As Rosemary Jackson stipulated in her text Fantasy: the Literature of Subversion the limitations of realist novels comes from their “rational, ‘mono- logical’ world” (172) were “otherness cannot be known or represented except was foreign, irrational” (172). She goes on to suggest that since the other cannot be accepted it is “either rejected altogether… or written out as romance or as fable” (172). The concept of the “I” and the “not- I” within fantasy literature is what has allowed this growing form of writing to explore the deep, shadowy and sometimes vicious depths of the human psyche we attempt to hide, while elaborating upon the art of the fantasy novel in modern literature. Dan Simmons Song of Kali heavily relies on the interrelationship between the “I” and the “not- I” in order to broaden the readers journey into the fantastic world they have created. Literary works such as Song of Kali that utilize these ideas of the self and the otherness call upon the traditional and seemingly logical base of the Western culture and society in order keep themselves grounded in “the self.” Through these literary techniques Simmons novel seeks to question the authenticity of what we call modernity as well as the inexplicable and untouchable worlds of the taboo and magical. These realms are called into questions in order to understand how they relate to the loss or finding of the “I” and the “not- I.” Through the exploration of these ideas and themes, it is evident that the relationship between the “self” and the otherness is essential in providing fantasy literature with thei...
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...ion to a horror story, it does present questions about the “self” and the “other” as perceived by Luczak.
The relationship between the “I” and “not-I” is one of the many defining factors of great fantasy works. This interplay and interrelationship between the “self” and the otherness must be considered as the symbiotic and necessary themes within fantasy literature. The questioning of the “self” and the otherness within Simmons’ novel Song of Kali aids in defining the reality that has been set out for the beginning and thus in the fanciful world it does so by clinging to a general lack of social conventions or taboos. Nor does it accept or reject the impending process that is modernity, instead it leaves room for the magical and the mysterious to inhabit. Thereby allowing the accepted “self” to be questioned deconstructed and rebuilt in a new fashion by the “other.”
...eeps through the pages as Odd relays his thoughts for the book. This gives us a glimpse at Odd and the influences in his life. While not all of them are listed here, the ones that are, play a pivotal role in his life; something he seems to become more and more aware as this story goes on. It’s as if Koontz is trying to tell us a little about ourselves, that while we have known influences like our family, there are many more out there that help shape us into the beings that we are. Humans are a product of influences, but since no one human is influenced by exactly the same things then how are we to know what others want, need or feel. This story is a beautiful adaptation of that very concept with a little bit of mystical tossed in to keep it and the story interesting.
The Chronicles of Narnia are enticing books, which offer a wonderful fictional plot line, but also a deeper philosophical importance if one analyzes the series. Many religious allusions can be found between characters in Narnia and biblical people. Deeper understanding can be found throughout the stories even in many overlooked aspects of everyday life. “The Chronicles of Narnia” is a piece of literature filled with religious symbols and allusions, such as the actions of Aslan and the personality of Peter, that enhance one’s perception and understanding of the books.
This work documented the human experience in a light that I would not have seen it had I only read the books assigned to me in class. The themes in this book and how they were portrayed helped me to be able learn symbolism a bit better and also to understand my own life more clearly.
To unpack this we need to look at how literary precedents express the relationship between player and character—creator and creation—and the extent to which a creator and the society in which s/he lives prescribes the creation’s role. We also need to investigate how one’s role—and concomitantly, one’s creator and one’s society—limit our opportunities, or to put it in other terms, our personal plotlines and narrative possibi...
At the end of the novel, the narrator has finally recognized his own invisibility; therefore finally able to redesign himself completely into a person able make a change in society. His experiences will aid him in his fight for power and acceptance in society. The narrator’s previous choices had been those of people around him urging him to define himself based on their standards. By rising above the assigned definitions of himself, the narrator is able to gain a new insight and new persona on and ultimately recreate his fate.
... as they present pure fantasy, and the lovers have one foot in each world; they experience desperation in the face of harsh realities, but meanwhile they learn and change as a result of their fantastical dreams. The allusions used in each world illustrate the differences between them and bring them together simultaneously. All of the myths and legends referenced have similar themes and origins, but each is interpreted differently by the speaker; the lovers speak of mythological figures much like themselves, the mechanicals attempt to do the same with little success, and the fairies reference gods and goddess who toy with the fates of mortal lovers. Such striking similarities echo the ever-present theme that in love, we are all the same. Whether we fancy a donkey, a meddling fairy, or a friendly Athenian, in love there is beauty, hilarity, and irrationality in excess.
Whether a warning to or a reflection on society, the book stimulates thought and forces the reader to look inward at his or her own...
In life, people experience different situations and live different realities. It is not illogical to say that the different journeys in life sometimes give us different ways of viewing the world. This was evident upon a closer examination and analysis of Wu Cheng’en’s “The Journey to the West”, and Mary Shelly “Frankenstein”, where the two main characters of the book, a Monkey and a creature, each have a different way of viewing life. The monkey see’s life as a journey that should be explored, while the creature has no way of exploring and sees life as something he cannot enjoy. In the end, what can be taken away from the works of literature is that no matter the journey taken, it is important to remember that one’s subjectivity, built on our experiences, determines reality.
The main character, Ovid, is a vivid example of how lives can be periodically changed according to alterations in the surrounding environment. At the start of the book Ovid is a stranger to his setting, stranded in a culture that deprives him of his language, his customs, and his pride. This shows that identity is primarily constructed according to the society in which people are placed, and much social learning and norms are derived from conformity to the conditions of a particular environment. In An Imaginary Life, Ovid completes a journey of self discovery, learning how to create and cultivate an existence based on interrelationship with the natural world, entering a into partly idealistic and imaginary existence, hence the title.
"Genre: Contemporary literature | Illiterarty.com." Illiterarty.com | Book reviews and blogs by Bridget. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. .
The human relationship can be interpreted as interpersonal or intimate; stemming from these two classifications are many of the reasons for characteristic development within human nature. By studying literary works we can glimpse into human behavior and learn what actually causes a person’s actions and downfalls. Many of these works have shown the effects a dominant and inferior relationship may cause, ranging from self-independence to parental influence. We’ve seen the defiance of rulers, the mimicking actions of father and son, the comparison of siblings, and the rebellion of a son.
Beyond the shield of civilization and into the depths of a primitive, untamed frontier lies the true face of the human soul. It is in the midst of this savagery and unrelenting danger that mankind confronts the brooding nature of his inner self.
Humanity is defined by one major factor: one’s understating of the self. By understanding one’s self, one can understand society and the world that surrounds themselves. There is one thing that can often distort one’s personality, one’s identity. By identifying as one thing a person can often change how they act or do certain things. This is often found to hide one’s true motives or intention, but it can also be used to hide hidden factors that aren’t as prevalent. One’s personality and identity are very closely linked, and tend to play off one another. This fact can be show in within multiple works. To name a few authors who demonstrate this fact: Clifford Geertz, Horace Miner, and Andrei Toom. Their works seek to dive deeper
Supernatural elements – religious figures and activities, ghosts, witches, and anthropomorphized animals among others – have been used throughout the history of literature from its origins in oral folktales to Shakespeare’s plays to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Throughout the history of literature, supernatural elements have been useful in developing themes that reflect the nature of humanity. Supernatural elements are often used to outline and comment on conflict and power struggles: both within the plot of the work and within society at the time of the work’s publication. These otherworldly components are also commonly used to adapt, expand upon, and make a work of literature more applicable to its settings. Supernatural elements also play a r...
Northern Light`s is the first novel of Philip Pullman`s trilogy. his dark materials was published in 1995. One of the most original elements of Pullman’s trilogy is the daemons. Within Lyra’s world, ever single human has a daemon, observable version of the soul that takes on an animal form. In creating the daemon, Pullman draws on feudal traditions in which witches and wizards have animal “familiars,” creatures active with some unreasonable spirit who can carry messages from the witch or wizard to the world beyond. In this essay , I will discuss the theme of growing up through the novel , and I will focus theme for main the character is lyra