Explain the significance of each of the following excerpts. As always, write in complete sentences.
By engaging in a close reading of the key words and images, discuss how the excerpt reflects the word’s central themes and concerns. As well, you can make connections between the excerpt and other works we’ve studied.
Each response is worth 10 points; aim for five specific and well- developed points when discussing each excerpt’s significance.
1. “There is my fear
of no words of falling without words
over and over of
mouthing the silence
why do I love most
among my heroes those
who sail to that perfect edge
where there is no social fue […]”
-excerpted from Ondaatje’s “White Dwarfs”
In “White Dwarfs,” Ondaatje emphasizes theme of everyday language. Ondaatje is one of the Canadian writers. He is interested in the process of writing rather than the final product. Generally, he writes blurring images, sometimes, with exotic ideas. While he is writing, he is afraid of writing blocks. That “No words”(11) can be found is an instance of the writing block. “Without words” (12) means blank space which may have three possible interpretations. First, the blank space includes the meaning of writing blocks; the secondary interpretation can be that the blank space needs to be filled in; the third that the blank space symbolizes the process of editing. Finally, Ondaatje finds that the society “where there is no social fuel” (18) is conventional.
