This was a book that was originally published in 1924. It has since been called one of the most influential books to come out of Germany in the 20th century. In its original German the book is titled is Der Zauerberg, and many who have read The Magic Mountain Thomas Mann have been mystified by the cryptic symbolic messages therein.
Mann spent twelve years working on the manuscript for this book. While he was working on it, his wife was experiencing issues with her lungs and was treated by doctors in Switzerland. During two months when he was visiting his wife, the author was inspired to form the foundation of the novel's opening chapter.
When the First World War broke out, Mann's work on this novel was interrupted. While this terrible conflict may have delayed the completion of the book, it also had a profound impact on it and was an essential experience of the author for the book to be what it was. This war and the turmoil that followed it caused the author to reassess many of his values and rewrite much of the book.
This type of story is known as a bildungsroman. This form of storytelling focuses on the transformative journey of the protagonist rather than the protagonist him or herself. The story told in this book is of a simple young man and his personal development over his formative years, focusing on all the experiences that come with this journey.
One of the most well-used literary devices in this book is irony. Hans Castorp, the main character, is declared as simplistic early on in the story. However, he is soon shown to be not as simplistic as he first appeared. This is a commentary on the complexity of everyone. Reality is often simplified for Hans, ironically framing the complexities of life.
Disease plays a big part in this novel, and has cryptic and layered meaning like almost everything else in the book. The author poised disease in his story so that it could symbolize a symptom of the need for spiritual growth not just of individuals but of society as a whole. His favorite theme of the polar nature of spirit and life and the need to transcend it is central to the story.
Almost anyone who reads this book will have a hard time honestly saying that he or she understood all of the symbolic ideas that are there in the story. One of the biggest challenges for readers of this story is the engaging, almost interactive nature of the narrative. The reader will have to answer certain questions posed by the narrator, and some are more subtle than others.
The complexity of the book is in part due to the way the author uses both realism and symbolism alongside each other. This makes it hard to always tell what is symbolic and what isn't, and his use of irony makes it even harder. Mann's own recommendation was to read the book twice, so there is no shame in not understanding everything on the first read.
Mann spent twelve years working on the manuscript for this book. While he was working on it, his wife was experiencing issues with her lungs and was treated by doctors in Switzerland. During two months when he was visiting his wife, the author was inspired to form the foundation of the novel's opening chapter.
When the First World War broke out, Mann's work on this novel was interrupted. While this terrible conflict may have delayed the completion of the book, it also had a profound impact on it and was an essential experience of the author for the book to be what it was. This war and the turmoil that followed it caused the author to reassess many of his values and rewrite much of the book.
This type of story is known as a bildungsroman. This form of storytelling focuses on the transformative journey of the protagonist rather than the protagonist him or herself. The story told in this book is of a simple young man and his personal development over his formative years, focusing on all the experiences that come with this journey.
One of the most well-used literary devices in this book is irony. Hans Castorp, the main character, is declared as simplistic early on in the story. However, he is soon shown to be not as simplistic as he first appeared. This is a commentary on the complexity of everyone. Reality is often simplified for Hans, ironically framing the complexities of life.
Disease plays a big part in this novel, and has cryptic and layered meaning like almost everything else in the book. The author poised disease in his story so that it could symbolize a symptom of the need for spiritual growth not just of individuals but of society as a whole. His favorite theme of the polar nature of spirit and life and the need to transcend it is central to the story.
Almost anyone who reads this book will have a hard time honestly saying that he or she understood all of the symbolic ideas that are there in the story. One of the biggest challenges for readers of this story is the engaging, almost interactive nature of the narrative. The reader will have to answer certain questions posed by the narrator, and some are more subtle than others.
The complexity of the book is in part due to the way the author uses both realism and symbolism alongside each other. This makes it hard to always tell what is symbolic and what isn't, and his use of irony makes it even harder. Mann's own recommendation was to read the book twice, so there is no shame in not understanding everything on the first read.
About the Author:
When you are looking for the facts about The Magic Mountain Thomas Mann, come to our web pages today. More details are available at http://www.madelienerose.com/literary-style-inspiration-the-magic-mountain now.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét