Three Famous Short Novels: Spotted Horses / Old Man / The Bear

I found this text rather challenging to read. It was akin to reading Moby Dick, filled with extremely long sentences that were stuffed with parentheses and seemed to go on line after line. In fact, some sentences were even longer than a page. However, I persevered, and I'm glad I did. The unusual punctuation in The Bear initially confused me for a while. But when I finally understood that the next quote was introduced as the last word in the preceding paragraph, it became quite helpful.

I adored the sometimes brutal portrayal of ordinary life that was both eye-opening and informative. This was the case in The Bear as well as in The Spotted Horses.

The Old Man rambled on with intricate descriptions of the plight of a convict who was separated from his work party by a flood. The ending, indeed, made the journey worthwhile.

If you are curious about Faulkner or about American history, these stories offer an education. But some hard work may be required. Just keep going, and a certain rhythm will develop.

I have only read "The Bear." This short story has left a deep impression on me. The author's vivid description makes the bear come alive in my mind. I can almost see its massive body, its powerful paws, and its fierce eyes. The story also explores the relationship between humans and nature. The bear represents the wild and untamed side of nature, while the humans in the story are trying to control and dominate it. This conflict leads to a tragic ending, which makes me think about the importance of respecting nature and living in harmony with it.

Although I have only read this one story, it has inspired me to read more works by the same author. I am curious to see how he explores other themes and how he uses language to create vivid and engaging stories. I believe that reading is a great way to expand our knowledge and understanding of the world, and I look forward to reading more in the future.

The Spotted Horses seem to be a topic that evokes a sense of wonder. The impression it gives is one of stunning prose, with incredibly detailed observations. It's like looking at the spectrum of mankind through the lens of these horses. The link provided https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted... might offer more in-depth information about them.

For Ike, the bear represents both the primal force of nature and the unbridled freedom and indomitable independence of the human spirit. Hunting is analogous to man's attempt to control nature. Ike's decision not to kill the bear is a moral choice, rooted in his veneration of nature and his desire to break free from the heritage that haunts him. Just as he can choose not to kill the bear, he can also choose to deny his heritage. In this sense, the story has a dual meaning, existing on two levels simultaneously. It's truly humbling to think that someone could write such a short piece where the main subjects and their struggles are symbols. The bear symbolizes nature, and the young boy represents mankind as a whole. The age of the boy is significant, as it represents the young species that is mankind, while the old bear represents nature that has existed since time immemorial.

The Old Man is the River, specifically the Mississippi during a record-breaking flood in 1927. The characters in this novella are not named, only referred to as the tall convict and the plump convict. The main character, however, is the river itself and the vast flooded plain that includes it. Faulkner brings the river to life with its moods and personality. The story is straightforward - a convict is sent in a skiff during the flood to rescue a pregnant woman in a tree. After that, he and the woman are blown downriver, and she ultimately gives birth. For several weeks, the convict makes his way back to the prison farm, bringing the skiff and the woman with him. Finally, he turns himself in and receives ten additional years to his sentence for having "escaped." It's a story of honor and the lure of security, of fate and irony, of man's implacable perseverance against impossible odds, and finally of choice and values. This story lingers long in the reader's mind and memory, as Faulkner has created a world that is circumscribed yet universal, specific but plumbing the depths of commonality. It's a masterful achievement.