Carson Ward #28
Pre-AP Geometry
Mr. Tseng
16 April 2016
Flatland Book Report
The book Flatland by Edwin Abbott is a story about a two-dimensional world almost completely secluded from the other dimensions. Edwin Abbott creates a story intertwining both geometry and literature, in order to shape the hierarchal universe of Flatland. The plot follows an everyday, normal two-dimensional square protagonist, and his journey in discovering the world around him. His travels take him through lines, thoughts and solids that open the protagonist’s eyes to the world beyond what he has ever known. Abbott’s tale is as much about the world as the journey itself.
The square narrator sets the scene explaining the details of his universe, a two-dimensional
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plane. However, the world is much deeper than it seems at first glance. The books narrator envelopes the reader in the social hierarchy of flatland even giving a small history lesson of the world. However, Edwin does much more than just set the social and political environment of his universe. Despite being set in a world constrained to just two-dimensions, the second person narration allows the reader to imagine the lines, dots, angles and shapes that make up the inhabitants, their reality, and the square. The square of the protagonist is a square grandfather of two regular and brilliant hexagons. While he starts the story as a law agreeing citizen, his character evolves as he goes about his discovery through the uncharted. While there is not a huge pool of cast, the reader still feels surrounded by lines and dots that make up the men and women of the universe. From his finite cast of characters, the ones that stand out are the squares brother, two grandsons, the priest and the sphere. While they might sound like a random cast of shapes and people, Edwin Abbott uses these characters effectively to tell his story. Edwin Abbott Abbott was born in Marylebone, England on December 20, 1838 and died on October 12, 1926. Edwin was raised by his father of whom he shared names with and his mother Jane Abbott. He was educated and exceled at the City of London School and then later St. Johns College in Cambridge University, where he ended his undergraduate work and was awarded the Senior Classics medal. He lived in the City of London, where he spent time as the head master of the City of London School. He retired, however, to pursue his passion for writing. His literature works span from English lessons to Articles on Francis Bacon. Among these works are also writings about religion, of which Edwin was once a priest. Despite these other works of literature Edwin Abbott is most famous for Flatland. Overall the book was very intriguing, however a little hard to read in the beginning.
The vocabulary he used is very different to our everyday language, with its constant use of geometric terms. As I continued to read, however, I started to understand the books jargon. The beginning was also hard to read due to the slowness in which moved along, setting the scene, but this setting the scene part truly enhanced the end. It allowed the reader to pick up the books language and get the reader to invest in the story. Despite the confusion and dryness at some parts of the book, overall it was very interesting, entertaining and a little …show more content…
instructional. The underlying message throughout the story that I think Abbott was trying to communicate was to explore beyond your own little scope of the world. He does this very effectively, by showing many characters ignorantly unaware of the other dimensions or to stubborn to believe the other ones. At this he was successful as well as being successful at expressing his idea of the dimensions. And I agree with his representation of point land as a single being where “he is himself his own world” (Flatland). Edwin is making fun of humans and their constant belief that the world revolves around us, and the stubbornness that some people have in this belief. He also compares the point to a baby in its inability to “distinguish themselves [a baby and a point] from the world” (Flatland).
With this comparison he creates an extended metaphor, throughout the story, comparing the different shapes and forms in the book. The line and square represent a child, who thinks that he everything they can. However, the square is the taught by a teacher the things that he doesn’t understand. However, he also represents the human trait of curiosity, through the square’s questioning of more dimensions, “Is this not a Geometrical Progression?”(Flatland). However, metaphor was not the only way he conveyed an idea.
The satire he uses of flatlands absurd regularity standards are constantly criticizing societies look on how one should look. He uses the caste system of regular shapes to represent society’s standards. His satire shows the most when describing how the triangles need to be exactly sixty degrees, and any variation even by only half a degree is looked down upon. This representation of our society holds to be even truer in the present times, with people constantly try to reach
“perfection.” While the idea of shapes talking and communicating on a flat plane of existence seems to be unrealistic, the plot itself could be believable if such a world existed. This creative fiction is very enticing to me and despite some flaws would recommend it to others. However, the storyline is not everyone’s cup of tea, as it is a bit slow and very geometric. Beyond these negatives however this story of a curious square in a big universe of worlds is an interesting read. Overall I give this story four out of five stars. Works Cited Abbott, Edwin Abbott. Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1963. Gutenburg. Web. 16 Apr. 2016. . "Edwin A. Abbott." Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2016. . "Edwin A. Abbott." Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2016. .
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My overall opinion of this book is good I really liked it and recommend it to anyone. It is a good book to read and it keep you interested throughout the whole book.
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