DIV 2

Summary

Indepth background of Aschenbach. we learn about his family, upbrinign and strict lifestyle and how others percieive him.

Themes/Motifs

• Foreign
• travel
• unknown
• family
• fame
• toil and responsibility
• discipline
• ambition
• art and divinity
• ugliness and death
• rebirth

Character

We learn more about the extent of Aschenbach's self discipline. Ambition within his writing is important to him as well as the great responsibility and weight he puts upon himself. His thinking and philosophy is emphsised more than his marriage and appearance which is mentioned in the last two paragraphs.

Narrative Voice

By prioritising what the reader is told about Aschenbach we get a sense of what Aschenbach prioritises. For instance his work appears of far greater importance than his family who are mentioned in a few sentences on the last page of this chapter. Aschenbach comes over monk like with his severity and discipline of mind and writing.

Quotes

'you see, Aschenbach has only ever lived like this' -and the speaker closed the fingers of his left hand tightly into a fist- 'and never like this' -and he let his open hand hang comfortably down along the back of the chair.' pg 203

'Elegant self control concealing from the world's eyes until the very last moment a state of inner disintegration and biological decay.' pg 205

'miracle of reborn naivety' pg 207

'only the eternal intellectual vagrant is bored and prompted to mockery' pg 207

'cloisteral tranquility' pg 209