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To Capture What We Cannot Keep


This love story set against the construction of the Eiffel Tower is "vibrant and...
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Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel. What sort of tone does it establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?

Created: 10/19/17

Replies: 4

Posted Oct. 19, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel. What sort of tone does it establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?

Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel: "Before they meet at such an impressive height, the uprights appear to spring out of the ground, molded in a way by the action of the wind itself." What sort of tone does the epigraph establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?


Posted Oct. 22, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
victoriah

Join Date: 08/22/17

Posts: 16

RE: Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel. What sort of tone does it establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?

The structure is lightweight and open, unlike heavy traditional buildings. The author has a very light hand, and allows events to impact the story and characters like the wind - not forcing plot points but letting the wind, time or fate to uplift each character.


Posted Oct. 24, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Missys

Join Date: 10/24/17

Posts: 46

RE: Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel. What sort of tone does it establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?

When I read the epigraph I immediately think of the Parisian society of the time. Societal norms, culture, style, expectations, etc. seem to shift with the wind. Paris society was definitely on cutting edge. New norms were being established often. The art scene was one that sort of "floated with the wind". Artists were here today and history tomorrow. Unlike in England, where rules, traditions, and norms were constant, adhered to and usually unchanging, Paris life was completely different.
However, even though social life and norms were very fluid, one's goal was still to attain social elite status or at least be associated with the social elite. In Paris, the path to reach such social heights was precarious and not etched in stone. For example, an artist could go from a starving nobody, and based on the whims of social circles, catapult to social elite in a very short time.


Posted Oct. 24, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
corinne

Join Date: 06/17/11

Posts: 15

RE: Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel. What sort of tone does it establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?

Why then when Emile was thrust into the Elite after being just like Cait could his status transfer to Cait after they married. That would have taken one roadblock away. His mother's approval was another issue.


Posted Nov. 01, 2017 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandrah

Join Date: 07/18/11

Posts: 68

RE: Discuss the novel's epigraph, by Gustave Eiffel. What sort of tone does it establish? How does it resonate with the novel that follows?

Much like the tower is molded by "the action of the wind," the characters are molded by the rules and restrictions of their places in a rigid societal structure.


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