Imagery is also used strongly when the author describes the physical aspects of the. General themes and style hugos lyrical style is rich and full of powerful sounds and rhythms. Alienation and miscommunication in the hunchback of notre dame. Classic contemporary fantasy historical scifi thrillers uncategorized. It started as a local debate over a new york high school production of the musical the hunchback of notre dame. Set in the medieval period, the novel presents a harsh criticism of the society that. Thirtyfive reproducible activities per guide reiforce basic reading and comprehension skills while teaching higherorder critical thinking. Almost the entire movie is set in the cathedral of notre dame and it portrays some spiritual setting in its character. The hunchback of notredame victor hugo page 2 read. A white teenager was cast in the lead role of esmeralda, a.
Hugo describes the cathedral in a very ugly way, focusing on the grotesque and frightening gargoyles and the impassive statues of the saints. If youre in the mood for a good head scratcher on sexual politics, give one of the two a look. Anyone with a passing understanding of great literature will recognize the name of one of the protagoniststhe hideously misshapen quasimodo, named for the sunday on which he was found. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. A literary analysis of the metaphors found in the hunchback of notredame by victor hugo all through the novel, and particularly in the second section of book iv, hugo goes to extraordinary logical lengths to interface real works of design, for example, notre dame, with the. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the hunchback of notre dame. The novel has been described as a key text in french literature and has been adapted for film over a dozen times, as well as numerous television and stage adaptations, such as a 1923 silent film with lon chaney, a 1939 sound film with charles laughton. If you watched disneys the hunchback of notre dame you do not know this story at all. Although he had written one other novel han dislande, 1823, he had not really been known as a novelist. For many, the character of quasimodo is the eerie, scratchy figure from blackandwhite horror movies. Check the best the hunchback of notre dame analysis written by an expert writer on the essayshark blog.
Jun 08, 2012 i think the main literary device in the hunchback of notre dame is imagery because i feel that throughout the book the author of this story has been teaching and telling us about the city of paris and the beautiful sights such as the cathedrals and the evil slums where criminals live and where death occurs. By the time victor hugo wrote the hunchback of notre. The hunchback of notredame literary analysis the paper. The original title was eventually anglicized to become the hunchback of notredame. A criticism of the film the hunchback of notre dame 420 words. The visionary poetry collection les feuilles dautomne the leaves of autumn is published. The hunchback of notre dame uses the history of the middle ages and the structure of the notre dame cathedral to express its major themes. If you are interested in literary analysis samples, we have more for you on our blog. One must persist through hugos long preliminaries to appreciate the tragedy of the tale. Nevertheless, literary criticism has long maintained the cathedral as the central feature of the book, for good. He is physically handicapped because of his hunched back and his guardian judge claude frollo constantly tells him how ugly he is and that he could never be.
The english title is a misnomer, since the protagonist of the story is esmeralda, the original title being a metaphor on the cathedral who serves as the central. The same sort of thing goes on throughout the hunchback of notredame. When i first heard about the project, i wondered if the hunchback of notre dame could possibly work as a disney animated featureif the fearsome features and fate of its sad hero quasimodo would hold audiences at arms length. The hunchback of notredame is an exquisite novel that can be read and enjoyed for nothing more than its tragic story of love, but it is also a novel that shows us the possibilities of weaving romanticism with the events of the past, of the power of imagination to create a thing of. The cathedral we were kind of tempted to put notredame in the characters section simply because it plays such a huge role in this novel. The hunchback of notredame is a french romanticgothic novel by victor hugo published in 1831. Romanticism was predominantly a reaction against classicism, which found its subjects in greek and roman antiquity. Show how the architectural symbolism of notre dame cathedral is used to manipulate the tone of the story and to create allegorical criticism of the church. The hunchback of notre dame was to change all that.
The studios 34th animated feature, the hunchback of notre dame, opened friday. Immediately download the the hunchback of notre dame summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching the hunchback of notre dame. In victor hugos famous novel the hunchback of notredame, claude frollo is the corrupt archdeacon of the titular notre dame cathedral. The film particularly leans into its depiction and criticism of. This classic novel has been abridged and adapted into 10 illustrated chapters.
However, the romantic literary movement seized upon the cathedral as a symbol of frances glorious christian past. Quasimodo, meaning halfformed is the misunderstood hunchbacked bell ringer of the cathedral of notre dame cathedral in france during the 15th century. Perhaps the compelling truth of this novel lies in the. Although hugos lifes work included seven novels, eighteen volumes of poetry, twentyone plays, and as robb writes, approximately three million words of history, criticism, travel writing and philosophy, hugos the hunchback of notre dame retains the honor of being one of his two most famous works. Beginning with the laying of the corner stone in 1163, she recounts the conversion of henri iv to catholicism, the coronation of napoleon, victor hugos nineteenthcentury campaign to preserve the cathedral, baron haussmanns clearing of the streets in front of it, the liberation in 1944, the 1950s film of the hunchback of notredame, starring. The cathedral we were kind of tempted to put notre dame in the characters section simply because it plays such a huge role in this novel. Aug 25, 2018 check the best the hunchback of notre dame analysis written by an expert writer on the essayshark blog. Hugo was a pioneer of the romantic movement, which stressed the individual experience of imagination and emotions.
The hunchback of notre dame study guide contains a biography of victor hugo, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Throughout his literary career, he wrote many poems and dramatic works. One year later, quasimodo, esmeralda, frollo, and the rest of hugos cast of. The hunchback of notre dame essay questions gradesaver. A literary analysis of the metaphors found in the hunchback of notre dame by victor hugo all through the novel, and particularly in the second section of book iv, hugo goes to extraordinary logical lengths to interface real works of design, for example, notre dame, with the soul of the way of life that constructed it. The use of historical events in the novel, particularly. I dont have any kind of degree in english or literature, but i can give you my own, less tentativelycrafted summarization. Now 21years old, the films themes are still extremely relevant and important.
The hunchback of notre dame was released in 1998, and it was never truly wellreceived. The hunchback of notre dame critical evaluation essay. A literary analysis of the hunchback of notre dame by victor hugo. With its medieval setting, inclusion of stock gothic characters such as the demonic and lust driven priest, claude frollo,and tragic ending, hugos novel is similar to gothic novels from the 18th century, such as the castle of otranto by horace walpole and the monk by matthew lewis. Set in medieval paris, victor hugos classic historical romance the hunchback of notre dame has resonated with succeeding generations of readers since its initial publication in 1831. The hunchback of notre dame study guide from litcharts. Also included are teaching suggestions, background notes. The 34th disney animated feature film and the seventh animated film produced and released during the period known as the disney renaissance, the film is based on the 1831 novel of the same name written by victor hugo. Notre dame is the geographical and moral center of hugos fictional paris.
Education literary criticism nonfiction a study guide for victor hugos the hunchback of notre dame, excerpted from gales acclaimed novels for students. Set in paris during the 15th century, the novel centers on quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer of notredame cathedral, and his unrequited love. Victor hugo enjoyed visiting this cathedral, and decided to immortalize it in his literary work. Once upon a time, in a littleknown kingdom called france. The hunchback of notre dame is a 1996 american animated musical drama film produced by walt disney feature animation for walt disney pictures. Analyzing the hunchback of notre dame provides a fascinating look at some. Esmeralda, born agnes, is perceived to be a french roma girl. As a result, after publication of the novel, tourists. The hunchback of notre dame literature essays are academic essays for citation.
These somewhat tedious preliminaries are integral to the power of the whole. Believing les miserables to be a fine work of literature, i undertook the reading of the hunchback of notre dame. The same sort of thing goes on throughout the hunchback of notre dame. Browse essays about the hunchback of notre dame and find inspiration. The hunchback of notre dame introduction author biography plot summary characters themes style historical context critical overview criticism sources further reading. The hunchback of notre dame english literature essay. It challenges us to look on our own lives and decide what makes us good, or what makes us evil. Whether you become a monster or a man, the choice is yours. I think the main literary device in the hunchback of notre dame is imagery because i feel that throughout the book the author of this story has been teaching and telling us about the city of paris and the beautiful sights such as the cathedrals and the evil slums where criminals live and where death occurs. Beginning with the laying of the corner stone in 1163, she recounts the conversion of henri iv to catholicism, the coronation of napoleon, victor hugos nineteenthcentury campaign to preserve the cathedral, baron haussmanns clearing of the streets in front of it, the liberation in 1944, the 1950s film of the hunchback of notre dame, starring. This popular quote from many movies and literary works describes the importance of love, and how there are no limits or barriers.
The hunchback of notre dame summary, characters, book. Frederic shoberl, when he translated the novel into english two years after it was published, titled it the hunchback of notredame, thus placing quasimodo at the fore. In examining persecution, revolution, and sin, the hunchback of notre dame viscerally hits home in exploring outcasts of all kinds. Finally, the hunchback of notre dame must be examined in its literary context. The hunchback of notredame analysis tone humorous, sarcastic this book might be a 500page tragedy, but make no mistake. The cathedral inspired hugo to write the novel and encouraged his life long passion for gothic art and architecture. The hunchback of notre dame is set in paris during the 15th century. Medievalism and modernity in victor hugos hunchback of. Classic literature easy to read easy reading classic literature by victor hugo available from rakuten kobo. For the most part, it is a beautifully animated and compelling story, told with a sincerity and that famous disney charm. Aiding in the transmission of the cathedrals symbolic importance is the novel it inspired. Mar 25, 2017 the hunchback of notre dame can teach us all a thing or two about what it means to be good and just. At its roots, the hunchback of notre dame is a story of hidden villains, unexpected heroes, and sanctuary. Genre historical fiction, romanticism, tragedy historical fiction victor hugo, one of the most famous writers of the.
Most would say that the movie is about not judging a book by its cover, and that is true, but that is also an oversimplification of a story that deals. The disney movie version, the hunchback of notre dame managed to capture two out of the three main portrayals of these ideals, even working it into a format that was appropriate for children to see without losing the subtlety of the source material. Aug 03, 2012 the disney movie version, the hunchback of notre dame managed to capture two out of the three main portrayals of these ideals, even working it into a format that was appropriate for children to see without losing the subtlety of the source material. The depiction of love in the hunchback of notredame. The hunchback of notre dame criticism victor hugo this study guide consists of approximately 31 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the hunchback of notre dame. The hunchback of notredame reflections on great literature. The hunchback of notredame literary analysis the paper guide. Aug 15, 2019 the hunchback of notre dame is a french romanticgothic novel by victor hugo published in 1831. Our lady of paris is a french gothic novel by victor hugo, published in 1831. Victor hugo is rightly considered one of the great literary minds of the. For others, he is the comical character used to advertise telephones in the 1980s its esmeralda. In it, hugo brings to life the cathedral of notre dame as it existed at the end of the fifteenth century. Its been written by the obliviously untalented pierre gringoire.
Like most of disneys recent handdrawn musicals, its expected to be a huge commercial success and. The hunchback of notre dame analysis blog essayshark. The hunchback of notre dame, like les miserables, concentrates heavily on class struggles. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification. The definition of the character of one of the principal personages of the hunchback of notre dame, claude frollo, is a controversial question because the actions and feelings of the priest are contradictory. Published just one year after the july revolution toppled the restoration monarchy of the bourbon king charles x, replacing him with the constitutional monarchy of his cousin. Posted by literaryanalysis on august 31, 2009 in classic. The title refers to the notre dame cathedral in paris. The hunchback of notre dame has every quality of a good novel. A study guide for victor hugos the hunchback of notre dame.
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