Afternoon 8B,
Your homework (to be posted in the comments section of this post) is the following:
1. How does Hoffman create suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter 1 of the text? Include quotes. (200 words)
2. What specific examples (quotes) from the same section indicated to you that is was a fantasy novel? (100 words)
To be completed by tomorrow (Wednesday), period 5.
M
Q1: Mary Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and first chapter of the novel, by writing about a strange divination reading, a reading of cards, glass stones and dice all show that the Duchessa, a young girl, a magician, a book and lovers are all somehow related to danger. Writing a divination reading sets the mood and intrigues the reader to read onto the next chapter. The prologue also mentions ‘Silvia’ and the ‘Duchessa’, making some readers feel intrigued upon the character giving the reading, since not many people are allowed to call Duchessa’s by their names. The first chapter introduces most of the characters and the situations and character backgrounds, allowing the reader to meet the characters they will be reading about. The beginning of the chapter mentions a ‘Marriage with the Sea’, this makes the reader wonder about what it is. Later on however, we learn that a character, Arianna, has a mysterious plan, which leads the reader thinking about what it might be, especially since it involves certain death if the plan fails.
ReplyDeleteJust needed quotes - but you write with accuracy and good focus on grammar.
DeleteQ2: Mary Hoffman uses cards of suites that we do not use, such as, salamanders, fishes, birds and serpents. Outside of that though, the divination reader (Rodolfo), thinks about “…the most important person in Bellezza” Bellezza being a non-existent/fictional city. Later on in the first chapter, Hoffman writes about two different cities and times, one where Arianna, her brothers and the Duchessa lives, and one where a boy is suffering in his death bed from cancer.
ReplyDeleteNice choice of quotes here, Winston.
DeleteQ1: Mary Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and first chapter of the novel by ending the chapter on a cliffhanger, making you want to read more. In the prologue, it shows Rodolfo dealing cards, and an unusual reading came up, with the re-occurance of the number 16, death, and showing a water queen, which would be the Duchessa. It also shows a young girl, and a book with all are related with danger. He deals the cards again and gets the same reading, which gives Rodolfo a shock, and an overwhelming sense of alarm, and you can tell by the way he speaks.’Silvia (duchessa) again’, he murmered.’ (pg 14). This chapter ends on a cliffhanger, which provides suspense of danger and mystery. In chapter one, the novel displays two stories, one about a girl named Arianna in 16th century Venice (known as Bellezza) and one about a boy called Lucien in the present time. It opens up othermain characters such as the Duchessa, and secondary characters such as Arianna’s brothers. During the chapter the author displays that Lucien is bed-ridden with an illness, and at the end of his story, it shows danger by showing him trapped in a mysterious world which he thought to be a dream. It says ‘This wasnt a dream at all’. This creates suspense. This also happens with Arianna’s story.
ReplyDeleteQ2: Mary Hoffman shows that this is a fantasy novel in many ways. A quote in this novel is ‘rounds the canals that took the place of streets in most of Bellezza’ Bellezza isnt a real city, showing this to be a fantasy novel. Some of them are using salamanders, fishes and birds as cards suits instead of the classic Hearts, Clubs, Spades and Diamonds. The marriage of the sea also indicated to me that this was a fantasy novel, because in real life, citizens dont put their ruler into the sea, so because it isn’t real, it indicates that it is fantasy.
Good work on both counts, Aidan. You're on track.
DeleteQ1. In the book Stravaganza Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter one. In the prologue Hoffman creates suspense by writing a divination, which include the reading of special stones, cards which they use are called Salamanders, fishes and birds instead of hearts, clubs, spades and Diamonds. Which all link up to the Duchessa (Silvia), a magician, the Lovers, the Spring Maiden and a book which all are somehow connected to death and danger? Hoffman has done a great job by writing a divination that sets the mood of the reader to continue to read on and to find out what`s happening next. Suspense is also created when Rodolfo the card dealer finds out the number 16 is repetitively shown in his divinations and is somehow connected to the Duchessa and danger. Rodolfo repeatedly says “Silvia again” he murmured. In chapter one suspense is portrayed when Arianna a little girl who lives in Belleza is carrying somewhat heavy bag to see the Marriage of the sea. Arianna tries not to give anything away while on the boat with her two brothers. “Girls need lots of things,” Arianna answered firmly, knowing that Tommaso thought everything female a great mystery. And Arianna replied to her brother Angelo “Today’s going to be a long one,” Arianna said even more firmly and that was the end of it. This changes the mood set of the reader urging and the reader to continue reading to find out what is contained within the bag. But Arianna has a massive plan ahead of the night and is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish it, even if it includes a death sentence.
ReplyDeleteQ2. In the prologue the theme fantasy has been used when we come to find out Rodolfo and many others are living in a non-existent/ fictional city called Belleza but as we know it today as Venice, this already tells us that this novel is fantasy. Another indication which tells us this book is fantasy is when we come to know that Rodolfo uses rather unusual suite of cards known as salamanders, fishes, birds and serpents. But in modern day as mentioned previously we use Heart, Clubs, Spades and Diamonds. In chapter one the theme fantasy has been exposed in a way in which the reader comes to realise there are such things as lagoon festivals and where a marriage occurs in the sea. Another example of fantasy is when we find out there is time travel used in the book when a boy in London is transported to an imaginary place where he experiences many things along his journey. These examples of fantasy persist the reader to continue reading the rest of the book, and give the reader a good sense of imagination.
Nice attempt, Adi. You did need specific quotes in the second section - but it was sound. Also, try and avoid saying "Hoffman has done a great job"...this style of writing is a little 'Year 7'...
DeleteQ1: Mary Hoffman creates suspense in both the prologue and chapter one of the novel, Stravaganza, by introducing a divination technique, which is used by Rodolfo. The reading shows signs of danger, and death, along with many other cards that do not exist in our current time, such as fish, birds, salamanders and serpents. This creates a great mystery in not only our minds, but Rodolfo’s as well, which is shown in the line: “Rodolfo looked at the array for a long time before sweeping the cards up, shuffling them thoroughly and setting them out again… Rodolfo’s hand was shaking. He had dealt the exact same pattern.” This mystery becomes even bigger when the readings include reoccurrences of the number sixteen on the dice, a young girl and danger, and a book. This continues into the second chapter where we are introduced to the Duchessa, who gets someone to replace her during the marriage, Lucien, a child which cancer, and Arriana, a girl who wants to run away from her home, all of which add to the mystery, creating much more suspense. At the end of the chapter, Lucien somehow gets magically transported to Bellezza, and wakes up to a girl telling him that he will be killed if he is found there.
ReplyDeleteQ2: Some things that show that Stravaganza is a Fantasy novel are the whole idea of space and time travel, and the strange names that are used in the other place, such as Bellezza, the Duchessa, and Rodolfo. Also, divination techniques such as what they use in Bellezza are non-existent on earth. Another thing is that the city is still in the sixteenth century, so they don’t have many things that we do, such as the internet, yet they have many things that we do not have on earth, as of 2013.
Really good answer to Q1 - top stuff. You write with a nice flow.
DeleteQ2 needed quotes...this will become more apparent later on and you will need them for your assessment.
Good stuff, Henry.
Hoffman engages us into reading her book through the constant mystery of exactly what Arianna was going to do, as Hoffman keeps saying "Now is not the right time." For all we know, she could be planning an assassination.
ReplyDeleteEarlier on, Rodolfo is using his cards to see what may happen in the near future. We know that this is not real, as we do not have their standard type of cards (birds, salamanders etc) whereas we have clubs and whatnot. The cards tell us of danger, and death, two very engaging topics in fantasy. He retires his future reading with the use of glass stones, which show the same thing over again. Next, he roles many die, but always comes up with the letter 16.
Later throughout the book, another factor that keeps us reading is to find out how and why Lucien is stravagating to 16th century Talia, and because we do not know about this time travelling technique, we want to find out more about it. As I mentioned before, Arianna has a secret ambition, but we do not know what. We later find out that it wasnt as dramatic as expected, and that she wanted to tryout for the mandoliers of the Duchessa, which is a male only thing.
We can tell that it is a fantasy novel from the cards, the future telling, and the fact that many things are just not possible in our world. Also, Rodoflo mentions the city Belleza, which does not exist. These factors indicate that the story is in fact fictional and fantasy.
Good start, Zhangers, you legend...
DeleteNeeded more quotes - you'll need these come assessment time so let's get used to writing these into your arguments.
Q1. Mary Hoffman has been able to create suspense and intrigue in the prologue through the use of unrealistic objects that are both similar and different from our own. For example, these objects are divination devices which Rodolfo uses to tell the future for Silvia (the Duchessa). His cards are similar to our own playing packs, but there are various suits and different types of cards such as ‘Fishes, bird, salamanders, serpents, the lovers, the magician and most disturbingly death’. It is through the mystery of the card readings and the strange from of divination coupled with the ominous loom of death that really constitutes the suspense and intrigue. In chapter 1 we are introduced to Arianna who is going to the marriage with the sea, the marriage with the sea itself and Silvia (The Duchessa). The way that Mary Hoffman has created the suspense and intrigue is through the ambiguous term marriage and Arianna disappearing on the forbidden day as well as the young boy on ‘the other side’ whom is literally lying on his death bed because of a tumour. Through the use of these interesting cases that Mary Hoffman is able to construct a sense of intrigue and suspense.
ReplyDeleteQ2. There are many examples within the book that give you the impression that this is a fantasy novel. These such attributes are ones such as the divination readings in which Rodolfo would cast the stones and get astoundingly accurate readings and he is also able to this with the cards. No one in scientific history is able to do that and it is because of this that we can immediately identify this book as a fantasy novel. On top of this, Lucien also starts to Stravagate to Bellezza with the use of his talisman and that is also scientifically incorrect. All in all it is quite simple to identify this as a fantasy book because of all the key aspects that have been depicted in the first chapter.
Well done, Allen. You write nicely - there is a good pace to your sentences.
DeleteAfter using the author's full name, Mary Hoffman, you only need to use her last name after that.
And you need to build up a bank of quotes on the fantasy conventions of Stravaganza - will come in handy for your assessment.
Mary Hoffman creates the feeling of suspense and intrigue by introducing us to a for of Divination in the very first page of the novel, Stravaganza. Rodolfo, a mysterious man introduced in the Prologue, is reading cards that he had dealt on the table, covered in black silk. The cards, of which there are four suits, are similar to our cards but have different representations of the symbols on the cards.
ReplyDelete“It was the oddest reading he had ever seen…one from each suit- Fishes, Birds, Salamanders, and Serpents”
The reading that Rodolfo sees is one of danger, and death as with cards that do not exist in the modern time such as the Princess of Fishes and Four of Serpent. The sense of intrigue increases as Rodolfo tries again “Rodolfo looked at the array for a long time before sweeping the cards up, shuffling them thoroughly and setting them out again…Rodolfo’s hands were shaking. He had dealt the exact same pattern… “. The use the ellipses, at the end of the pattern, shows that Rodolfo is thinking which also provides the reader time to think about the event that has just happened. Rodolfo also use glass stones, yet the number 16 comes up over and over again. He is starting to get anxious and decides to inform the Duchessa about what he has seen.
There are many examples in the prologue that suggests that this is a fantasy novel. A quote from the novel that shows this is a fantasy novel is “round the canals, that took the place of streets in most of Bellezza. Bellezza not being a real city. When Rodolfo, deals the cards “the only number to appear on the cards were fours, all four of them, one form each suit- The Fishes, The Birds, Salamanders and Serpents. These are in place of the original Hearts, Clubs, Spades and Diamond suits that the modern age uses. Also the custom of the ‘Marriage with the Sea is non existent and would never be performed in modern society
Mary Hoffman creates suspense through repetition of suspicious omens which seem to cause stress to Rodolfo. These Omens are found through cards and numbers appearing repetitively on a dice. In reality we rely on chance. Scientific accuracy in the real world would not allow such things as cards being shuffled to the exact same position and dice to be thrown and show the same number over and over again. Especially since they are 'ten sided dice'. The best part was the meaning of these suspicious omens meant certain things like danger and death. It is this impossibility and danger occurring over and over and sensory imagery such as "By the time he had set the sword down in the middle, Rodolfo's hands were shaking." This use of sensory imagery portrays the feeling of nervousness and fear. These feelings are the ones that ultimately keep you on your seat, wanting to keep reading on and reading on until the story ends even if it gets boring you will have in your head the amazing and unresolved mysterious chapter you read before. This is called... SUSPENSE!!!
ReplyDeleteQ2. In the prologue the theme fantasy is portrayed yet again by being scientifically unexplainable yet have at least some realistic features. The scientifically unreal part is the use of chance. Rodolfo picks 12 cards and lays them down in an order to the middle. These cards have pictures and some numbers. (in the real world we only have spades, diamonds etc...) The pictures and the order that they are placed in has a superstitious meaning. The way that Rodolfo has set it out it shows danger, death and the queen of the fishes. These omens are not good, quite mysterious and dangerous towards the future of Belleza.
Q1: Hoffman creates suspense at the end of the prologue by finishing on something to leave the reader agog, or to leave the audience wanting to know more, drawing them to the next chapter. She uses dramatic, emotive language to draw the audience allusively in. “By the time he had set the Sword down in the middle, Rodolfo’s hands were shaking, he had dealt exactly the same pattern. (page 14) This quote shows the nervous and fear of an experienced man, accentuating the sheer seriousness of the situation. Chapter one consists of a story between two teenagers intertwining between words, both far in time as well in place. Both of these stories are riddled with suspense at the chapters end. “The point was, he could feel it. This wasn’t a dream at all.” This again has the characteristics of a suspenseful ending, with dramatic emotive language. The protagonist, Lucien, a modern day boy from London, has a serious illness, and he falls asleep with what seems like an ordinary diary, but finds himself in 16th century Italy, or ‘Talia” as the book has it renamed. So as demonstrated Hoffman does use suspense accurately throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteQ2: The literal definition of fantasy is: the faculty or activity of imagining things that are impossible or improbable, meaning things that happen are beyond the realms of realism. There is immediate relation in the novel to fantasy and time travel. Like the divination of cards and the repetition of them, which is also not possible, or Lucien waking up in a 16th century “Bellezza” after falling asleep in 21st century London with a mysterious book slipped under his hand. The display of fireworks is also depicting fantasy, as some of the things appearing in the sky are not scientifically possibly in real life.
Question 1: Mary Hoffman suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter 1 of the novel by using divination cards and divination dice that shows a pattern that keeps on coming up, which is the Queen of Fishes on the right of the Sword in the centre, the Princess of Fishes (which Rodolfo couldn’t comprehend), all number four cards from each suit, which are the Fishes, Birds, Salamanders and Serpents, arranged like guards on either side of the Princess and the Queen and all the major trumps which were the Lovers, the Magician, the Goddess, the Tower, the Spring Maiden and Death. Also Rodolfo murmurs, which makes the atmosphere tense. Rodolfo is also puzzled, which adds to our curiosity. In chapter 1, Arianna’s thoughts keep on mentioning about a plan to escape to stay for the night in Bellezza on the forbidden night, though for what reason, we don’t know yet. Her plan is ruined when Lucien, a cancer stricken boy from our world who lives in London materialises in Bellezza (though Arianna doesn’t see him materialising as he was not in her view). Lucien at first thinks he is in a dream, but he soon found out that it wasn’t a dream at all.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: Some quotes that indicated that this novel is a fantasy novel are ‘But the point was, he could feel it. This wasn’t a dream at all.’ Words such as ‘Bellezza’, a fictional city and ‘Duchessa’, the ruler of Bellezza, show that this is a fictional story. Also, festivals, such as ‘Marriage with the Sea’ don’t exist, hinting that this novel is half based in a fictional country in another world, which is not possible as we know (or think we know) that there is only one world, our world. Also, the cards Rodolfo uses do not exist in our world, since our cards have the suits Spades, Clubs, Hearts & Diamonds. Each suit has ace, the numbers 2 to 10 (inclusive), the Jack, the Queen & the King. There are 52 cards in a pack in our world, clearly showing the cards mentioned in the prologue as made-up.
1.Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue through the character rodolpho. We are informed straight away that he is some sort divinist who is learning of a future that may cause harm to the most important person in Belleza (a 1600 venice) the Duchessa. Mary creates the suspence by describing one of Rodolphos divinations a sort of card dealing that creates a picture and/or story which for some unkown reason is disturbing him. He shuffles and deals again and the same result occurs he does the same thing again and by the time he places down the last card his hands are shaking, the same result. Again Rodolpho tries but this time he uses stones, he same outcome occurs. This is marys way to intrigue us in this prologue to keep us reading. She describes magic and a danger that could be threatening the city of Belleza she does this by explaining how Rodolpho desperately must tell this cautious news to the duchess silvia. Suspence is also created when Rodolpho calls the Duchessa by her first name this tells the reader that there is something going on between the crazy divinest and the most important person in Belleza the Duchessa.
ReplyDelete2.There are many indications that the the prologue and the first chapter are Fantasy through the following quote:
‘But the point was he could feel it. This was not a dream at all’ this describes the fantasy side to this story it talks about Luciens first visit to the fantastic city Belleza. It describes how he falls asleep and leaves his death bed and travels to another world. Another example of the first chapter being fantasy is wen it tlks about the card suits. They are not the usual kings, queens, diamonds, hearts, spades etc but other things such as salamanders, fish and birds this is another reason why the prologue and first chapter are fantasy.
Question 1 – How does Hoffman create suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter 1 of the text? Include quotes. (200 words)
ReplyDeleteMary Hoffman creates a great suspense in the novel stravaganza city of masks just in the prologue and chapter one; this is shown especially in the prologue. The basis of the prologue is a mysterious man dealing cards to predict the future and the man deals the cards and is left with a very mysterious and suspicious hand as is shown “Strange he murmured. The card in the middle – the most important one – was the sword, signifying danger.” This leaves us with a thought of danger in the book, which leaves suspense. “But the princess of fishes was the first card, to the left of the sword, and he had no idea what she could signify it was the oddest reading he had ever seen.” this leaves a trail of mystery and states unusual things are going to happen which definitely builds up suspense in a novel. Then again ‘by the time he set the sword down in the middle, Rodolfo’s hands were shaking. He had dealt exactly the same pattern. Hastily, he swept the cards up again and wrapped them in their black silk.’ This is another line in the prologue of the book that definitely sets up the suspense for the rest of the novel. In the end of chapter one there is a very suspenseful line ‘His arm really hurt, where the boy was pinching it. In his real life Lucien couldn’t have borne such a touch; it would have made him cry out in pain. But the point was, he could feel it. This wasn’t a dream at all.’ That line completely shows how Mary Hoffman creates a great amount of suspense; this suspense keeps the reader intrigued and keeps them reading.
Question 2 – What specific examples (quotes) from the same section indicated to you that is was a fantasy novel? (100 words)
In the prologue of stravaganza city of masks there are definitely some characteristics of the fantasy genre inhabited such as ‘the card in the middle – the most important one was the sword, signifying danger. Rodolfo was used to that symbol setting the tone of his readings’ That line shows that in the book the mysterious man is using cards to read the future, this probably does happen in the modern day but in the book the readings state the truth while in the modern day it isn’t. The card reading symbolizes one of the key conventions of fitting in with a fantasy genre, the convention is the use of magic and spells but it also ties in with that its scientifically impossible in how far we have advanced today.
Q1-The suspense and intrigue of Stravaganza begins right at the beginning in the prologue. ‘Rodolfo’ is performing a means of divination. The pattern that he finds in his cards “was the oddest he had ever seen.” “The sword in the middle signified danger,” immediately makes the reader feel intrigued about the danger. Also Rodolfo’s actions such as hastily picking up the cards after he gets a repeat of his first reading and sighing show that he is shocked by what has happened. When Rodolfo closed his eyes to pick out the handful of stones shows that he hopes his previous readings are wrong. The previous readings showed the sword of danger along with the Queen of fishes, the Duchessa, most powerful woman in the land and the Princess of fishes, which means a young girl. The Duchessa occurred regularly on his readings as she was the most powerful person and people envied her power. However, the princess of fishes was rare and Rodolfo knew something strange was happening. He prepared for a visit to the Duchessa at the end of the prologue, leaving the reader with intrigue about the visit.
ReplyDeleteQ2-The fantasy genre is clear in the prologue of Stravaganza. The strange deck of cards consisting of fishes, birds, salamanders and serpents show a foreign and unknown image. The mentioning of Bellezza creates a fantasy setting as it is not in our real world.
Question One: Mary Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue from the very start. As the book begins, we enter a picture with a mysterious occurrence occurring with the Duchessa, which will soon become more important as the book progresses. We also meet another character named Roldofo who also is starting to gather everyone’s interest as the story goes on. The opening line “Strange” he murmured also gives more mystery to the whole subject on which we are reading. Many quotes which are located within the book bring mystery and suspense to the book which will soon be explained as the tale continues. “Silvia again…” he murmured. This line brings more suspense and intrigue. The reader will now want to know who this character “Silvia” is. This intrigue is a tough one to create but satisfies the job on what it was set to accomplish. “What fools those Bellezzans are!” This quote gives the reader a feeling that the Duchessa isn’t as kind hearted as Roldofo put out to be. The whole book has the feeling of intrigue and creates suspense from the very start.
ReplyDeleteQ1: In the prologue and chapter one, Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue through the use of thought provoking language and a sudden ending to the chapter. The book starts off with a mysterious setting and very little information given to the reader about what is happening. There is a hand of cards dealt; and some stones are cast. From this we are given the basic outline of the plot. It involves danger, a girl, a book and a queen. From this setting we gain the feeling that Hoffman has aimed for, suspense and intrigue. Both of these characteristics provide us with a hunger of wanting to know what happens next. Hoffman also introduces a feeling of foreboding towards the end of the chapter. “Princess of Fishes, Four of Serpents, the Lovers, the Magician … By the time he set the sword down in the middle, Rodolfo’s hands were shaking.” This one quote has the effect of introducing a whole new feeling into the text; the feeling of fear. The foreboding sense that has been created is also another part that drives our need to read more
ReplyDeleteQ2: The sign of fantasy provided by Hoffman is the very different suits of cards: these being fishes, serpents, birds and salamanders. These fictional cards would be the equivalent of spade, club, hearts and diamonds. The second sign of fantasy we get is when Rodolfo mentions the duchess as the queen of Bellezza. As is discovered later in the chapter, Bellezza is a fictional/make-believe place. Both of these are clear indicators of fantasy quite early on in the book.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: Suspense is created in the prologue and chapter one by the introduction of an unknown far place and then immediately back to a more realistic world we can all relate to. It continues when the Rodolfo begins shuffling cards, throwing dice and then scattering glass stones to predict danger being related Silvia, lovers, a book, a young girl and a magician. It creates a sense of wonder and captures the reader to delve deeper into a story that will get more intriguing as time passes. Having part of the book where we as humans can relate to will also captulate younger audiences who have wild imaginations which usually subside around the idea of having extraordinary or supernatural abilities and powers.
Question 2: "Slivia again" was a phrase murmureed by Rodolfo who is cut out to be a magician or a fortune teller. Generally in fantasy books, we as the readers belive the habitants of the mysterious place to know all about it and how things work but Hoffman has played this trick to her advantage, she makes it seem as if even a great magician like Rodolfo has never seen anything like this before which means the reader recieves no inclination to the remaining chapters of the book unless they themselves travel deeper into the city of Belezza by obviously reading more of the book.
1) Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter one by lunging straight into a situation where it seems foreboding, with no background information on either the character or the purpose of the character’s actions. The book starts off with a very unusual set of actions made by a character unknown for the time being. ‘he made a circle of twelve cards, face up, methodically moving widdershins, placed a thirteenth in the middle of the circle, then leaned back and contemplated the patter.’ The line mentions a character by the word ‘he’ who is yet unknown and makes it more suspenseful by continuing the description of the person’s actions as if we already knew who the mysterious person is. The matter is made more mysterious when the following line states- ‘”Strange,” he murmured.’ From this quote we can already pick up something is not right, especially from a character whose name has not been mentioned yet. Because of these elements of mystery and curiosity that add a more suspenseful and foreboding side to the story so far, it becomes a little quizzical, allowing the reader to naturally becoming curious and thus wanting to read more.
ReplyDelete2) From the text we can easily rule out that this is a fantasy novel from the use of cards that have a very strong relations to the cards we use, of spades, clubs, diamonds and hearts, whereas the book uses the suits of Fishes, Birds, Salamanders and Serpents. The relation between the two sets of suit is strongly related, however the fictional set of suits clearly depicts that this is a fantasy novel. Along with the fictional set of suits, the divination reader, Rodolfo, deals out sets of cards that relate to the Duchessa, the number 16, a young girl and danger, all showing up again whenever he dealt cards or rolled dices. ‘Wherever he looked tonight the number sixteen kept coming up. That and the symbols of a young girl and danger.’ Real life logic of chances have a really minimal amount of chance of the same things coming up over again to signify important events, which makes this lean towards fantasy and not just plain fiction with real life logic seen throughout the whole book.
Question 1: Mary Hoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter 1 by starting the novel with a scene including divination and magic. The entire prologue of the book is dedicated to Rodolfo’s divinations, predictions and readings. The first word ever said in the book is ‘Strange’ which is said by Rodolfo and it makes us wonder what is so strange about the mysterious card readings. The suspense is built by the reading, “They were ranged like guards on either side of the Princess and the Queen. All the other cards were major trumps – the lovers, the magician, the goddess, the tower, the spring maiden and, most disturbingly, Death.” The general tone and methods of Rodolfo’s readings also help create the sense of suspense and intrigue, as these methods have no relation to any currently know of in this day and age. The scene is then switched in chapter 1 to Arianna and her brothers who are about to depart to the marriage of the sea. This sudden change of events makes us wonder what connection the 2 events have together. Through the course of the 1st chapter the scene keeps switching between the Duchessa, Arianna, and Lucien. This continual switching with each scene only portrayed for 1-2 pages builds up the suspense of what is going to happen and when all the different scenes will come clashing together.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: There are many quotes in the prologue and 1st chapter that indicates that it is a fantasy novel. Firstly, none of the cards are like the ones we know today. The suites are not clubs, hearts, diamonds and spades as like now, but fishes, birds, salamanders and serpents. These unusual suites make the setting sound like it’s from a more primitive place or era. Throughout chapter 1 there are names of places and festivals that we have never heard of like ‘Bellezza’, ‘Torrone’, ‘Marriage of the Sea’ that indicates to us that it is defiantly not set in a world we know today. The big thing though that we find out is that the book also involves a 21st century boy by the name of Lucien. Since both scenes are in the book, they must have some sort of connection meaning that they need to be able to communicate from the 21st century to whatever era Talia is in. Though this could mean it is a science-fiction book we have to remember that Rodolfo was also doing divinations and readings which indicate to us that there is magic involved.
Q1. Mary Hoffman creates suspense in the prologue by revealing how surprised and worried Rodolfo reacts to the outcome of his various divination techniques, "...Rodolfo's hands were shaking. He had dealt exactly the same pattern." Mary makes the feeling of forboding grow stronger as a knew name is indroduced, Arianna. Arianna's secrecy about what she has taken to Bellezza, as well as why she wants to disappear from her brothers during the fireworks, "Arianna nodded but she had every intention o going missing." She also creates a feeling of suspence by there already being deceit by the duchessa, making us feel as if the duchessa using a double will backfire later on in the story, "I must never tell anyone how I went into the water instead of Your Grace." Mary mainly creates suspence, when Lucien suddenly no longer has cancer and is in a fit condition, as well as how he got to Bellezza and realises that he isn't dreaming, it is a reality. "...But the point was, he could feel it. This wasn't a dream at all."
ReplyDeleteQ2. First of all in the prologue, there is a mysterious character named Rodolfo, who is using special cards that normally there wouldn't be, in order to tell the future. "He made a circle of twelve cards, face up, methodically moving widdershins, placed thirteenth in the middle of the circle, then leaned back and contemplated the pattern." Secondly the prologue mentions a non-existant place, known as Bellezza, which is where most of the story is set. "Danger often appeared close to the most important woman in Bellezza and the water queen was obviously the Duchessa."
1. How does Hoffman create suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter 1 of the text? Include quotes. (200 words)
ReplyDeleteIn the prologue chapter we are met with a man dealing cards. He continues to use intriguing sets of foretelling cards, dice and stones. Very rapidly Mary Hoffman increases the intensity of his findings, and we are hit with a large sense of foreboding by the end of the prologue, and we knew something fantastical was going to happen, as “Rodolfo put away his means of divination and prepared to visit the Duchessa.”
The first chapter is mainly an introduction to our main character in Mary Hoffman’s book: Lucien. She gives us a purposeful and needed introduction from the confusing prologue. At least I wasn’t as confused by the first passage. But soon after we are involved with Arianna, her secret plot and a mysterious notebook Lucien receives from his father “the dark reds and purples swirled together in a way which he needed to close his eyes.” He appears in her world and the reader is dumbstruck and maybe awestruck as well. Arianna, dressed as a boy rescues him, and the destinies are forever entwined from then on (In her series they are in most of them and are together.). We are soon preparing ourselves before we know it for the thriller of a book.
2. I believe on page 25 of Mary Hoffman’s book, fantasy really starts. The passage begins with inside the state cabin indicating to me that the fantasy world in the book has a system by which they operate an essential for fantasy novels. Too many novels have I read without reliable structures, they never were good. It continues on, and we are shown the fake Duchessa. I believe that all fantasy novels need a good few twists and deceit. The descriptions of the bedraggled girl were spot on and I could imagine the Duchessa’s boat vividly. Mary Hoffman got her description accurate: good, but still leaving space for me to imagine. She then included romance, a necessity for my novels. I believe that Mary Hoffman has fantasy pinned in this passage.
Q.1:
ReplyDeleteHoffman creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter 1 of the novel. She does this by using more technical and enthralling words that grip us straight away and make us keep reading the short but highly suspenseful prologue. In chapter 1, Hoffman sets a whole different mood, she builds up the suspense and then suddenly ends the chapter, enticing the reader and making him/her read on. In the short prologue the basic outline of the book is set out to you in such a way that by the end of it your interest and curiosity piques. Hoffman does this by using such descriptive language… “By the time he set the sword in the middle Rodolfo’s hands were shaking…” The quote sets a tone is which we think something’s wrong or something bad has just happened! Like I said earlier Hoffman cleverly lays out the plot to us. She tells us the key characters/objects, major trumps and important things.
Q.2:
There were many key examples that adhered to the genre of fantasy. One of them was “Rodolfo looked at the array for a long time before sweeping the cards up, shuffling them thoroughly and setting them out again…he had dealt the exact same pattern” This line tells us that the magician, Rodolfo, has just laid out cards on a table which will tell him of the future. Scientifically speaking this is impossible and fantasy genuinely speaking means scientifically impossible or unrealistic. So the fact that the future can be predicted by cards and stones tells us that this novel is a fantasy novel.
1. 1. In the prologue and Chapter 1 Mary Hoffman creates suspense and intrigues us by finishing chapter 1 on a cliff hanger “this wasn’t a dream”. At the beginning of the prologue we see that Rodolfo is reading cards, which come up with strange reading with the repetitiveness of a certain number. We also see that he finds a young girl and book which alarming show danger. Rodolfo deals the cards again but to his shock the same alarming cards show up. In chapter 1 we see two different time zones. The two time zones are Bellezza (16th century Venice) and the present time. In Bellezza we meet Arianna and her brothers, who seem to be visiting Bellezza to see the Duchessa get married to the sea. In the present time we meet Lucien a boy fighting a deadly disease. It is in these two chapters we meet the main and secondary characters of the book.
ReplyDelete2. We can see that this book is a fantasy straight away as we enter a world of strange names and different doings. Things such as Bellezza, a place not found on Earth, and having a “marriage to the sea” give us the sense of fiction and fantasy.
Question 2: The quotes which have told me that the book is in a fantasy structure are not a few, but many. Some examples would be “But the point was, he could feel it. It wasn’t a dream at all.” This quote here signifies the deep experience of going into the fantasy genre. It shows how to book is delving into this genre which is a fresh experience. Lucian awakes and says this from which you know the true story is about to begin. This quote definitely shows the book diving into the Morales of fantasy. There are many other quotes located within the Prologue and Chapter 1 but this is just one of them that I found had an association with the question itself.
ReplyDeleteHoffman’s novel Stravaganza creates suspense and intrigue in the novel. Straight away the chapter starts with the dealing of thirteen cards on a table. Repetition of Danger, the number sixteen and supposedly the Duchessa who is a queen of fishers. Rodolfo knew this as an unusual deal he then tries again with several pieces of glass, however the glass stones tell the same story. The number sixteen, a silver crown symbolling the Duchessa and danger/death. “Silvia again” murmered Rodolfo this quote provides the whole chapter with uncertainty, as we are unsure to what is going to happen next this provides it with suspense and intrigues us to read through to the next chapter. Chapter two introduces the main characters Lucien who is a modern day English boy who has just gone under chemotherapy and all he can do all day is sit in bed and either read or sleep. On the other hand we are introduced to Arianna who is a girl in the fantasy world so called bellezza she is in the 15th Century and has two other. Chapter two provides suspense as soon as the reader finds out that Lucien has travelled back in time Stravagated into Belezza. We know this when he quotes “This wasn’t a dream at all” This creates suspense and piques the reader’s attention to know he can stravagate.
ReplyDeleteIn Stravaganza there are many things that let us know that this is a fantasy book firstly the title “Reading the Future” this tells us that it has to be fantasy and we cannot read the future today. In the Novel the major events are not true and physically impossible for scientists today we can not yet stravagate we know he did this as when he so called found himself in a dream, he realises and quotes “This wasn’t a dream at all”.
Q1.)Mary Hoffman creates suspense in the prologue using many techniques. Firstly she uses the fact that the character she uses is undescribed and only the name is revealed. Rodolfo is using divination to determine the future. The use of prediction has a very big impact on suspense. Duchessa, a young girl, a magician, a book and lovers are in the reading of the divination. He also gets the number sixteen every time he rolls a dice. The quote,(duchesse) again’, he murmured.’ (pg 14) shows how there are a problem and danger are, this quote also has suspense in it. .The prologue also includes Rodolfo using and referring the duchesses as Silvia which entices the reader to read the book as the reader want to know what relationship they have with each other. The marriage with the sea is also included in the first chapter which shows there is a culture in Talia, and the first chapter tells us that it has been going on for more than twenty years which shows that there is a strong religion and culture. Arianna ,one of the main characters in the story are introduced in the first chapter, she is going to the island. Still the writer does not reveal why she is carrying a heavy bag!These are the reasons why the prologue and the 1st chapter is written in suspense!
ReplyDeleteIn Mary Hoffman’s fantasy novel “Stravaganza: city of masks” she already creates suspense and intrigue in the prologue and chapter one. In the prologue she creates suspense and intrigue first of all by starting in a interesting setting with an unknown man dealing cards on to a desk in a weird formation. This already grabs the readers attention. Pulling him in to find out more about this man and what he is doing. As you read on you discover that this unknown suspicious man is trying to read the future and is being quite successful the prologue ends with him leaving to warn someone that he say in danger in the future. This leaves a great deal of suspense as the reader still knows very little about what is happening and the characters with in the book. But leaving the reader knowing that a person of high importance is in danger grabs their attention and creates suspense and intrigue. This gives the reader an urgue to continue reading on to chapter one. Hoffman has very wisely tried to create suspension in chapter one with her continual reference to Adrianne’s secret plan. She further heightens tension when she reveals the dishonest dealings of the Duchessa where she uses stand ins in order to “prolong her youth” for the people Bellezza. Whats more Hoffman introduces the law of bellezza in which anyone in the city on the day after the marriage to the sea shall be banished, this through a spanner into the work s of Adrianne’s secret plan which involves staying in the city on that sacred day eventhough she does originate from bellezza. Overall Hoffman uses creative and intertwining plotlines to heighten the suspense and tension that engulfs the early makings of the novel.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel there are many examples of it being a fantasy story. In the prologue, Rodolfo’s can give reading by rolling a stone which would be very unlikely. He gets the number 26 in his reading and when he rolls the dice the number that adds up is always 16. These reading are possible but very unlikely. Whilst in Talia they use animals such as salamanders whilst in modern day we use jacks, queens, and spades. On top of that Lucien stravagates to the past which is scientifically impossible. Also the city Belleza as Rodolfo has said in the story does not exist. These reasons proves that this novel is a fantasy book!
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