"Salmon Rushdie argued that the Songlines has a poetic truth which overcomes the inadequacies of its central thesis. Explaining what you feel is the central idea and analysing the language of the text discuss whether or not you agree with this statement".
Bruce Chatwin's Songlines, a story depicting a Russian mapping ancient Aboriginal Songlines, is ostensibly a book in the travel writing genre, yet it contains many autobiographical features as well as the central thesis of Chatwin's view of human existence. This leaves the true purpose of the book somewhat a mystery and creates a fascinating allegory. Leaving us with the question "is it fact or is it fiction?".
Chatwin uses language in order to mask his text as a piece of travel writing. As a travel writer, Chatwin has an excellent evocation of place and uses descriptive language well. "The milky blue rollers flopped ashore, and there were flights of terns, skimming low over the bay, piercing the sound of the surf with thin metallic cries. There was no wind." Pg 73 This creates strong, detailed pictures which give the reader a sense of having experienced the situation.
Chatwin's tendency towards short, sharp sentences presents a factual account. "His name was Arkady Volchok. He was an Australian Citizen. He was thirty-three years old." Pg 1 This serves to distance the reader from the text, resulting in less emotional connection, as we would expect from a travel book which tries to present an accurate, factual journey.
Chatwin's garrulousness and penchant for name-dropping reinforce the genre. "The karakul hats took me back to a stifling summer afternoon in Kiev and the memory of a squadron of Cossack cavalry exercising down a cobbled street: glossy black horses; scarlet capes, hats worn at an angle; and the sour, resentful faces of the crowd." Pg 41 Such language demonstrates Chatwin's breadth of knowledge and shows that he has been to other places.
A Chronology of the Life of Bruce Lee Bruce Lee fought. ... Lee Hoi Cheun, Bruce's father, a famous Cantonese opera performer, was surprised with the timing of Bruce's birth. ... Bruce's mother and father would pay monthly school fees only to find out that Bruce had been cutting class quite often. "Bruce never changed his character", Grace Lee says. ... On August 17, 1964, Bruce Lee married Linda Emery. ...
The Life Story Of Bruce Lee Bruce Lee was born in November 27 1940, in San Francisco; he was born in the hour of the dragon 6.00am, and the year of the Dragon. ... Bruce performs at the International Karate Tournament in Long Beach, California on August 3, 1964. ... Bruce performs at the International Karate Tournament in Long Beach, California. ... In 1972, Bruce stars inFist of Fury?... Bruce Lee was laid to rest in Lakeview Cemetery. ...
Such is the case in Bruce Almighty, a new release from Universal Pictures directed by Tom Shadyac. ... God (Morgan Freeman) grants Bruce his heavenly powers and challenges him to do a better job, pointing out that " Gandhi only lasted a week!" Predictably, events spin out of control as Bruce is overwhelmed by prayers (received in the form of e-mails), and he manages to lose the only woman who had ever truly cared for him. ... Most satisfying of all is watching Bruce's conversion from a self-absorbed man suffering from a middle age crisis to a considerate human being aware of other pe...
Subject Matter The poem "the Raped Girls Father" Bruce Dawe talks about the grief that the father of the victim of a vicious, unprompted rape goes through. ... Sounds The use of alliteration in the first line when Bruce Dawe writes that "the buzz saw whine of righteous anger rose" puts again emphasis on the father saying that his total disregard of his daughter is somewhat justified. ... The poet Bruce Dawe I don't think would have wanted these words to be read literally and I think adds a cynical tone to the role men play in families. ... Using fast paced and vivid and striking l...
While Bruce is God, things go awful. ... At a party Bruce is throwing, his girlfriend of five years Grace (Jennifer Aniston) catches Bruce kissing another woman. Grace storms out of the party and out of Bruce's life. ... Bruce turns and says, "Fulton, you need a tissue? ... In Bruce Almighty, Bruce continually blames God for his problems saying, "It's not that God hates me, he's completely ignoring me! ...
Bruce Springsteen was seen as a man among boys. ... "Bruce Springsteen's reputation stands as the voice of white working class America" (Dinerstein, 441). ... These common themes have shaped Bruce Springsteen as an artist and have made his fans adore him. ... Bruce Springsteen was born in New Jersey and was part of a working class family. ... Bruce Springsteen is more than just a great artist; he is a true American hero. ...
Bruce is a fine gentlemen. ... They went to Bruce Willis" mansion. ... Bruce Willis was distraught over the separation, but decided it was for the best. ... My main man Bruce Willis is a hero of today. ... This is why Bruce Willis isn't just your everyday actor, husband, he is a hero. ...
"Homecoming", by Bruce Dawe, illustrates and recounts the tragedies of the Vietnam War in an even-tempered, but negative tone. ... Bruce Dawe uses irony to further establish his message of which is evident in the title after absorbing the true essence of the poem. ... By using a great deal of poetic techniques, imagery and his own unique touch, Bruce Dawe has depicted the aspects of the journey soldiers of the Vietnam War have endured and its devastation upon society. ... Bruce Dawe has indicated a heavy message and a bleak meaning relating to society's weaknesses and downfalls. ...
A Moment Of Understanding (Bruce Lee's handwritten essay from one of his courses at the university of Washington.) ... Reflections On Gung Fu (An article written by Bruce Lee that was never published, written on December 21, 1964, to illustrate the different techniques used by the different schools of gung fu.) ... Psychology In Defense And Attack (Bruce Lee's handwritten essay from his pocket journal, circa 1961.) ...
