Monday, October 10, 2011

Allusions in TSAR



1.       Basques
Meaning- Basques are people from Basque. Basques people living in both Spain and France. The families tended to be very isolated because of the large farms so the people tending them became like family.
In the book- The Characters spend time in both France and Spain. The characters seem like each of them may be separate farms because each is very isolated emotionally, however they move around together and spend a lot of time together and are like the Basques in that way.
"Basque." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/55335/Basque>.

2.       Ronceveaux
Meaning – Roncevaux was where there was a battle in 778 A.C.E.. It is a mountain pass in Spain.
In the book – They go near the pass, Jake points it out when they are on the bus.
"Pass of Roncesvalles." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/509069/Pass-of-Roncesvalles>.

3.       Fratellinis
Meaning- The Fratellinis were a family in the late 1800’s that were known for their circus act.
In the Book- The Fratellinis are mentioned during the conversation about irony and pity. When mentioned they said that the Fratellinis were all about irony and pity.
"Our Story." Fratellini . N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

4.       Primo de Rivera
Meaning- Primo de Rivera was a man who fought in many battles and saw the end of the Spanish empire. Primo de Rivera then wanted to send out an army, unfortunately the populous didn’t agree with de Rivera.
In the Book- Bill mentions Primo de Rivera as he tries to get Jake to say something ironic.
Trueman, Chris . "Primo de Rivera." History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.

5.       Dred Scott (case)
Meaning- The Dred Scott case took place in 1857. This case was about a slave who, after his original owner died sued for freedom because they had moved onto freeland. Dred Scott was first given to another man however his new owner, John Sanford tried to help him to gain his freedom. In the end Dred Scott remained a slave.
In the book-  Bill talks about the US and mentions the Dred Scott case as being framed by ‘the Anti-Saloon League.’
"Dred Scott Case." United States American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

6.       Anti-Saloon league
Meaning- The Anti-Saloon League was a group of people wanted to inform people about the evils of alcohol.
In the book- It is such a clash with the novel because the characters are perpetually drunk.
Schwartz, David. "Anti-Saloon League 1893-1933." Public History Resource Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

7.       AEW Mason
Meaning -AEW Mason was an author most famously known for “The Four Feathers.”
In the Book- Jake is reading a book by AEW Mason

8.       William Jennings Bryan
Meaning- William Jennings Bryan was elected to congress twice and grew in popularity “due largely to his strong advocacy offree silver, opposition to high protective tariffs and oratorical skills.”
In the book- Bill and Jake talk about Bryan and whether or not they liked him.

9.       Mencken
Meaning- Mencken was individualistic, a libertarian, and a journalist.
In the book- It is mentioned when they are drinking as they refer to the quality I think. Mencken appears at first to be like Jake a little because he is a journalist, however the rest of Mencken’s characteristics are the opposite of those part of the lost generation.
"H. L. Mencken: The Joyous Libertarian by Murray N. Rothbard." LewRockwell.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.

10.   Holy Cross
Meaning-  The Holy cross is a peak in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in west-central Colorado. However it is also a college.
In the Book- They mention Holy Cross because they say they went there with Mencken however this is not true. 
"Holy Cross - definition of Holy Cross by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.." Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.

11.   Frankie Fritsch (misspelled in text)
Meaning- Frankie Fritsch was a baseball player for the Cardinals and the Giants.
In the Book- They claim that Frankie Fritsch went to Holy cross with them, but then it is also found out to be false.

"Frankie Frisch Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com." Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Baseball Statistics and History. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.

12.   Bishop Manning
Meaning – He was as bishop in the Episcopal Church in the 1880’s.
In the book- Jake also claims that he went to school with Manning.
13.   Wayne B. Wheeler
Meaning- Wheeler made it possible for prohibition to happen.
In the book- seems that opposite goal of the character in TSAR, as they are always drunk. Wheeler was trying to close the bar and such because of people like the characters in TSAR.

Okrent, Daniel. "Wayne B. Wheeler: The Man Who Turned Off the Taps | History & Archaeology | Smithsonian Magazine." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011. .

14.   Pres. Calvin Coolidge
Meaning- Pres. Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States. Coolidge was a Republican and his father held an important role in his community.
In the Book- He is mentioned as a person that had dreams and fulfilled them.

"American President: Calvin Coolidge: A Life in Brief." Miller Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2011.

1 comment:

  1. Looking through the allusions you've examined, I've started to realize that literature is a different sort of art. While both music and art both have instances of outside knowledge needed to fully understand the content, that knowledge is moreso central, or contained, to the practice. There are less references to real world politics, or any other real world things than are found in literature. Part of this could be due to the medium and the length of exposure to these different pieces of art, the book, the image, and the song. Graphic art and music are smaller in scope than a book is in regard to outside references. By this, it seems the analysis of a literary work is more time and mind consuming than that of a piece of art or song, drawing all necessary connections to interpret the setting, characters, or both, as they should be.

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