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18
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1 answer
What is the significance of Sauron never having a physical presence in the Lord of the Rings?
So I noticed that in Lord of the Rings Sauron acts as a very interesting villain. He never makes a corporeal appearance, nor does he have any acting dialogue. He's mentioned plenty of times through other characters, history, and lore, but never…
North Læraðr
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18
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Are any Sherlock Holmes antagonists besides Moriarty based on real people?
I've heard that Arthur Conan Doyle's depiction of Professor Moriarty was inspired by several real-life figures, including Adam Worth. Given Doyle's wide-ranging set of villains and antagonists in the Sherlock Holmes canon, I'd assume that this is…
HDE 226868
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17
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4 answers
Why is the poem "Yggdrasil" placed where it is in House of Leaves, and which narrator included it?
At the very end of House of Leaves, there's a page:
The word "Yggdrasil" doesn't appear anywhere else in the book, and the index, which amusingly lists every word in the book and where it shows up (including some that don't), confirms this.
I've…
user80
17
votes
2 answers
Why is it called Watership Down?
I am an American, so to me the title "Watership Down" sounds like it is about a boat that is underwater, either a submarine or a sunken surface ship. I now understand that a down is a term for a hill in England (where the book is set), and 'down'…
James Jenkins
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17
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What occult references caused The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to be banned in the Soviet Union?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fascination with spiritualism and the occult is well known. However, I was surprised to find out that his short stories collection The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was banned in the former Soviet Union, for…
user8
17
votes
2 answers
What was Dr. Seuss's intended message in "Horton Hears a Who"?
I've seen themes and elements from Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who applied to a variety of things, such as the abortion debate, dwarfism awareness, and space aliens. While I can see how they could apply to these topics, none of them seem likely to be…
kristan
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17
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Was Susan ever able to return to Narnia?
At the end of The Last Battle, Peter states that Susan has become 'too grown up' to return to Narnia. However, we do see grown-ups coming to Narnia, or Aslan's country - we see their parents. Also, it would be very harsh if no grown-ups could go to…
Mithical
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17
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How did contemporary readers respond to coincidence in 19th century novels?
Reading 19th century literature in the 21st century, it is often striking how often the plot turns on often quite outrageous coincidences. Frequently this happens when a relatively small cast of characters interact over a lengthy novel.
To take two…
user1398948
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8 answers
What fictional series has the longest release to completion?
I am being inspired by George R.R. Martin and his A Song of Ice and Fire series which is currently at 24 years (A Game of Thrones was released in 1996) since the publication of the first work in the series and will only grow as the series is not…
Skooba
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17
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2 answers
Why does Miss Havisham drive fast cars?
In Jasper Fforde's "book world," Miss Havisham is a speed demon who races cars with Mr. Toad. This seems... out of character, based on my understanding of her.
Is it just funny because it's unexpected, or is there a joke or reference I'm not…
BESW
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4 answers
Which flood story was first: Genesis or The Epic of Gilgamesh?
I have heard that The Epic of Gilgamesh may predate the stories of Noah told in Abrahamic works. Is there any evidence to support which story came first?
James Jenkins
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Understanding the use of the word "Negress" in the Kilmartin and Cox translation of Solaris
I just finished reading Kilmartin and Cox's translation of Stanislaw Lem's Solaris, and one particular passage stood out to me. I'm hesitant to ask a question about the Kilmartin and Cox translation, because I found out after reading it that (1)…
user111
17
votes
2 answers
Who is Mrs LeFay in "The Magician's Nephew"?
In The Magician’s Nephew, Andrew refers to his godmother, Mrs LeFay, who gave him the powder he used to make the rings. Other than this and a reference to her possessing "fairy blood", nothing else is known about her. Does anyone have any more…
LeoValdez
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Who is the speaker in Leonard Cohen's song, "Avalanche"?
I understand that some of Cohen's songs have religious context, so when I heard the lyrics of this song that stated, "You strike my side by accident," I thought it could be symbolism of Jesus being stabbed in his side on the cross. Does Cohen have a…
Kristina L
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17
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1 answer
Short Story About a Woman Saving up to Buy a Gift?
I think I read a short about a woman who is trying to save up for a gift, and realized that she doesn't have enough money to buy her husband anything significant. While she is looking at her saved money, she thinks about her penny pinching,…
itisyeetimetoday
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