ENG 1120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Rutabaga

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: English
• Course: ENG 1120
• Professor: Cory Sampson

Document Summary

Too powerful to be controlled by any man. Characterization of natural phenomenon can relate to horror. Function as playful poetic device, foreshadows strange ambiguity. Talks about rivers voice, makes it like a playful thing. River is described as dark, willows as evil. Around this time, the narrator becomes fearful. Terror at our seeming helplessness before the overwhelming power of nature, provided that the terror is rendered pleasurable by the safe situation of the observer . Terror that anticipates horror, narrator is passing from experience of sublimity to terror. Builds up to experience where he is camping. Moves from willow bushes making shapes to monstrous outlines by branches. Struck with sense of wonder and awe as he experiences sublime again. Once apparitions leave, he starts to feel the terror. Apparitions are ambiguous because they can have different interpretations. When he sees the willows but it turns to monstrous shapes. Natural ambiguity is a projection of his own mind.