In a topic-driven, well-developed, and tightly
focused paragraph, offer a brief, limited literary critique of first two thirds
of Cold Mountain (pp. 3-322).
NOTE: After posting on the blog, open up the CANVAS assignment (by the same name) and DO copy and paste the URL address into the CANVAS "WEB URL" text box so that I have record of your submission on Canvas. Thanks.
NOTE: After posting on the blog, open up the CANVAS assignment (by the same name) and DO copy and paste the URL address into the CANVAS "WEB URL" text box so that I have record of your submission on Canvas. Thanks.
Mikkaela Bailey
ReplyDeleteProf. Kirk
ENGL 3533
16 October 2015
Cold Mountain: Second Limited Literary Critique
In Charles Frazier’s novel, Cold Mountain, the mountain from which the book gets its name is symbolic of heaven for Inman, which is why it is his goal to reach home. Inman must reach the mountain to restore peace and balance to his life, to truly recover from the war and to find solace: “So he held to the idea of another world, a better place, and he figured he might as well consider Cold Mountain to be the location of it as anywhere” (23). Inman must reach the mountain to find his salvation and humanity. According to the unfortunate minister Inman encounters on his journey, he is “a pilgrim like yourself [Inman]. Though maybe I speak too soon, for all who wander are not pilgrims” (151). Inman is indeed a pilgrim on a journey to the end of his trial, and to the mountain he so fondly thinks of as a sort of heaven.
Sadie Wyant
ReplyDeleteProfessor Kirk
ENGL 3353
15 October 2015
First Two-Thirds Critique: Cold Mountain
In Charles Frazier’s novel Cold Mountain, searching for redemption is a recurring theme throughout the first two-thirds. Each of the main characters can be seen as on a search for redemption. For example, Inman desires to go home and leave the war behind; he desperately wants to feel redeemed and get over the things he has seen and done. Ada is being taught by Ruby to slowly leave her old life of sophistication for working to survive. A pertinent quote that describes the first two-thirds of the novel comes when Ruby’s father, Stobrod, comes back into her life and joins Ada and Ruby at the bonfire. Ada notices, “It seemed akin to miracle that Stobrod, of all people, should offer himself up as proof positive that no matter what a waste one has made of one’s life, it is ever possible to find some path to redemption, however partial” (end of freewill savages). Ada’s observation of Stobrod’s life can connect to her own as well as the other characters’ in the novel. She seems to come to the realization that if Stobrod can appear to be getting his life back together, then surely she can do the same. Each character, whether it be Ruby, Ada, or Inman, has made some sort of a waste of their life, and are each searching for a path to redemption.
Kelsey Wheatle
ReplyDeleteENGL 3353
25 October 2015
Cold Mountain Critique
In the first two thirds of Charles Frazier's novel, Cold Mountain, a recurring theme is isolation, and the search for meaning. Throughout the novel, both Inman and Ada are lonely. Inman is lonely because he is stuck in a war, and Ada is lonely because her father, the closest person to her has died, Inman is gone, and she has no one to turn to, until Ruby pops up. While Inman has idle time in the army hospital, he thinks about his escape, and upcoming journey home to Cold Mountain. "Cold Mountain... soared in his mind as a place where all his scattered forces might father. Inman did not consider himself to be a superstitious person, but he did believe that there is a world invisible to us"(17). Inman's hope for the future was the engine that led him on his journey to Cold Mountain. Cold Mountain and Ada was Inman's healing place and spiritual sanctuary while he was dealing with the war, and his journey back there would relieve him from his sufferings and misery. Often throughout the novel, when Ada writes to Inman she tells him to stop fighting and to come back to her. The loneliness she felt when her father died made her long for Inman more. Although she was aware that many of the soldiers died in the war, and even though she didn't know if Inman was dead or alive, the hope that he would still be alive caused her to stay in Cold Mountain and wait for him. Ada and Inman were both seeking the solace of each others company throughout the war, and when they are reunited, they hope to move past time wasted.