Words and Stories. Palavras e Histórias.
In this passage from C. S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, two children are transported by magic to a deserted ancient city in another world. Here, they inadvertently wake up a sleeping queen, who tells them the history the place. Notice how C. S. Lewis uses this scene to reveal that the queen has the defining … Continue lendo [Literary passage] A tyrant in fantasy
To many of us, the name of H. C. Andersen evokes world-famous tales like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Brave Tin Soldier, The Wild Swans, The Little Match-Seller. But Andersen wrote a wealth of lesser-known stories that are just as full of beauty and meaning as his more celebrated tales. This is one … Continue lendo [Andersen’s lesser-known tales] In the Uttermost Parts of the Sea
This is not really a literary analysis. It's just a gush of enthusiasm for one of R. L. Stevenson's jewels — a two-word jewel that has been sitting under my nose for years, but which I only really saw this morning. In the silence of a countryside morning, a woodpecker is pecking away at one … Continue lendo [Literary analysis] A felicitous phrase
I'll start this with a disclaimer: I do not recommend the novel The Thorn Birds. It's too long; it's not properly researched as regards the Australian landscapes where it's set; and the worst, it's a schizophrenic story. The author apparently didn't make up her mind about whether she wanted to defend the thesis that "love … Continue lendo [Literary passage] Prayer from The Thorn Birds
I was scrolling down a streaming platform the other day when a film caught my eye. And it wasn't only because of Rebecca Ferguson's enchanting face — it was the title, which sounded extraordinarily poetic. Despite the Falling Snow. Granted, as a movie title this is maybe not very good. It leaves us confused about … Continue lendo [Poetry analysis] Despite the Falling Snow
It's fascinating to see two literary texts which, though written 180 years apart, match as perfectly as if one author had meant to answer the other. The first text is a prose passage from the novella René, by French writer François-René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848). The second is a short poem by the German philosopher Frithjof … Continue lendo [Translated poetry analysis] Disquiet and stillness
A beautiful Oriental tale retold by the unique Brazilian writer Malba Tahan — the man who in 1930s Brazil created an Arab alter ego, hoaxed an entire country, and became its favourite author. (Translated by myself.) Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! God is the greatest! God is the greatest! When God created woman, he created also … Continue lendo [Translated story] A Fable about the Fable
A recurring theme in European folk tales is that of the woman who disguises herself, and for some time lives as a man. In a German tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, in many of the Old Rus' tales, in French and Romanian tales, we see those heroines dress in male attire, take a male … Continue lendo [Translated poetry] The Maiden Who Went To War
In six lines, Aesop show us how those who control the media often rewrite history. And we see that five centuries before Christ, there were "alternative facts" already. Once, a man and a lion travelled together, arguing all the while about who was the stronger. At the end of the road, they found themselves before … Continue lendo [Aesop’s fable] The Traveller and the Lion
Isn't Henry Morton Robinson a writer to wonder at? In a passage published before, we have seen him use chess metaphors in a masterful way. Here we will look at some shorter metaphors, and one simile, also from his famous novel The Cardinal (yes, I admit it's his only work I have read). Check how … Continue lendo [Writing tips] Examples of metaphors
Beatriz Becker 