In the introduction of this story that discusses the numerous translations it has, the line “Will such a text inevitably have to be loose paraphrase or imitation or re-composition because the complex connotations of the original cannot be understood?” really stood out to me. I know this isn’t the main point of the story, but it’s definitely a question I feel is appropriate for stories that are transformed into other forms of media (plays, movies, TV shows, etc) or is translated into other languages. The fact that there are no fewer than eight different translations of this story definitely emphasizes the idea that some of the emotional context may be lost in some versions. It was definitely intriguing to see the common denominators between the numerous versions, and the fact that there are so many, yet, each version sounds completely different which is interesting. The line “… To see with my own eyes places that I had only heard about, despite hardships enough to turn my hair white” (p. 7) reminded me of “My Journey up the Mountain” and its major theme of going through sacrifices to reach beautiful peaks. It continuously adds to the idea that when it comes to traveling, pictures and videos do it no justice. I truly believe one has to see and truly experience new things and new places to have them reach full effect. The short poem “Kasane must be/the name given the wild pink/with double petals” (p. 15) instantly made me think of the flowers in my Grandmother’s garden when
Through the immersion of one in a variety of physical environments, the manipulation of genre, form and perspective presents a polysemic representation of a diverse range of landscapes, in turn allowing responders to develop complex understandings into the human psyche. Specifically, through the interwoven utilization of complex allusions and personalized outlooks Alain De Botton’s The Art Of Travel shapes humanities greater knowledge of traveling’s impact on the human behavior and perception. Likewise, this notion is extended amongst Kenneth Slessor’s minimalistic, poetic piece North Country in which the composer highlights man’s dichotomous relationship with the physical world, and how ongoing, differentiated experiences cultivate interpersonal growth and develop individualized standpoints towards the wider globe. Consequently, both texts elicit portrayals of innumerable landscapes, which foreground the intricacies of civilization through the construction of a piece that reveals the subjectivity of our human mentalities today.
In the American memoir, Night, Nobel Peace Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel constructs a story about the horrific events he endured during the Holocaust. In the pages of this memoir, he portrays the life of Eliezer, a child born Jewish. In the later chapters of the book, Eliezer endures the tragic hanging of a pipel who lost his life for not giving up the names of the inmates that worked to sabotage the power plant at Buna, a forced labor camp in Germany. The guards forced Eliezer and his father to walk past the child as he hung from the gallows stuck between life and death. The death of the child signifies the death of Eliezer’s faith. The author used this position in the memoir to signify the end of the main character’s religious views, which makes this the climax of the book. The climax fits into the structure of the memoir at this point by staying consistent in word choice and advancing the plot further. The use of the appeals and tone also ties this scene into the plot. However, each translation utilizes these devices differently. The scholar’s translation focuses on ethos, logos, and a helpless tone. Marion’s translation uses pathos and a bitter tone. Marion’s version more effectively uses the appeals and tone because it conveys more emotion to the reader.
A physical journey brings inner growth and development from the experiences a person encounters from a physical transition from one place to another. All physical journeys include obstacles and hardships however they also involve emotional and spiritual journeys along the way. Peter Skrzynecki’s poems “Postcard” and “Crossing The Red Sea” are both examples of an emotional journey within a physical journey. A feature article ‘A Desert Odyssey’ reported by Sue Williams and Robert Frost’s poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ also involve emotional journeys within a physical journey.
Another of these key notes is found in the poem in the beginning of the second section of the book. The poem says, “and sometimes fail to walk the air”. I feel like this line points to our ability to truly “walk the air” yet we do not always utilize the ability’s we have and or leverage them to the best of our ability. This poem over all is a reminder that we are beautiful, colorful, imaginative people who need to make the best of the surroundings we find ourselves in, though they are not what we long for in our core
The story is quite brief and its plot is simple. Given that it is portrayed as a real event, it has messages that exist both on the surface and more profoundly.
It is presumed that journeys are uplifting experiences, with the implication that new knowledge and greater insight allow travelers to gain wisdom and solidify a coherent view of the world. Yet, experiences through journeys can result in new knowledge clashing with preconceived beliefs, potentially disabling the traveler’s epistemology. Furthermore, a traveler cannot ignore this conflicting knowledge and return to his prior self at the conclusion of his journey. These themes are explored in Robert Gray’s poems
Humans are animals. Even as developed, personalized, and intelligent as we are, we share a deep connection with every living thing. However, many of the problems in the world result from the human belief that technology is more powerful and can replace the serene, perfect essence of nature. I believe that a connection with nature can heal wounds and help humans find balance in their lives.
interpretations they make about characters or events in a story. This is many times the beauty in
Other allusions to the scenery and dealing with something that a person has lost can be found within The Tosa Diary as well. It
“The Shock of Teapots” maintains the idea that travelers can discover more beautiful things than local residents. She spends a lot of sentences to describe beautiful scenery. By means of traveling, people can find out something interesting in a different view from local residents. “The Seam of the
From the physical journey of driving through a town the reader will experience a second journey, a spiritual journey when they oversee the lives of the people within the town. The composer utilizes a 2nd person perspective to engage his audience and hopefully take them on the same physical and spiritual journey. He uses personification such as “The houses there wear verandas out of shyness” to give the audience a sense of the community and set a harmonizing tone. I believe this poem really captures Les Murrays hypothesized concept of journeys, as it’s much deeper than a simplistic drive.
Also, the other question every critic must consider is what the story means. The only real consensus on this point is that the exact meaning of the story is not possible. There is even a question by some as to whether the story is meant to have an exact meaning. Yet, many critics also agree it is the discussion the story encourages which gives it much of its value rather than a complete understanding. The primary concern was the
Images in the poem reflect the difficulties of the choice the traveler faces. The difficulty is shown in the passage "long I stood" (3)
Walter Benjamin’s essay, The Task of the Translator, is illuminating in the way in which it shatters any preconceived ideas that may view the act of translation as diminishing the value of the original. Benjamin has high regard for translation, placing it in the realm of art as a distinct form. He argues that art is not about the audience or the receiver that is, it is not primarily about communication. The purpose of art is not to instil a specific belief, impart information or to entertain certain sentiments in the reader thus, appreciation does not reside in generating a moral by interpreting its content. As an art form, translation for Benjamin is not about propagating ideas or beliefs but is about embarking on the task of attaining pure
My heart was thumping heavily, as the bus took a turn towards the mountains. I didn’t know why I had agreed, but it was too late to turn back.