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Thomas_Anderson Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Please help with some confusing words in "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"
Following excerpt is from Chapter 1 of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by T.E. Lawrence, also knows as Lawrence of Arabia :
Some of the evil of my tale may have been inherent in our circumstances. For years we lived anyhow with one another in the naked desert, under the indifferent heaven. By day the hot sun fermented us; and we were dizzied by the beating wind. At night we were stained by dew, and shamed into pettiness by the innumerable silences of stars. We were a self-centred army without parade or gesture, devoted to freedom, the second of man’s creeds, a purpose so ravenous that it devoured all our strength, a hope so transcendent that our earlier ambitions faded in its glare.
First thing that I don't understand is the use of "innumerable silences of stars". What does he mean by innumerable silecnces? Surely we can't count silence so why he has used innumerable here. To me 'silence of stars' or 'innumerable stars' both makes sense but 'innumerable silences' is confusing me.
Then there is "we were a self-centered army witout parade or gesture". Now these three qualities of his army, what does it indicate?What type of army is he talking about?
In this context, what is the meaning of self-centered, parade and gesture?
Last question is about "devoted to freedom, the second of man's creeds". What does the writer mean when he say 'the second of man's creeds'? What does 'second of' means here?
Please help me in understanding the above expressions.
Regards
Some of the evil of my tale may have been inherent in our circumstances. For years we lived anyhow with one another in the naked desert, under the indifferent heaven. By day the hot sun fermented us; and we were dizzied by the beating wind. At night we were stained by dew, and shamed into pettiness by the innumerable silences of stars. We were a self-centred army without parade or gesture, devoted to freedom, the second of man’s creeds, a purpose so ravenous that it devoured all our strength, a hope so transcendent that our earlier ambitions faded in its glare.
First thing that I don't understand is the use of "innumerable silences of stars". What does he mean by innumerable silecnces? Surely we can't count silence so why he has used innumerable here. To me 'silence of stars' or 'innumerable stars' both makes sense but 'innumerable silences' is confusing me.
Then there is "we were a self-centered army witout parade or gesture". Now these three qualities of his army, what does it indicate?What type of army is he talking about?
In this context, what is the meaning of self-centered, parade and gesture?
Last question is about "devoted to freedom, the second of man's creeds". What does the writer mean when he say 'the second of man's creeds'? What does 'second of' means here?
Please help me in understanding the above expressions.
Regards
Top answer
My answer isn't very good, but since no one else has replied I'll have a go... Thomas_Anderson First thing that I don't understand is the use of "innumerable silences of stars" . What does he mean by innumerable silecnces?
- My answer isn't very good, but since no one else has replied I'll have a go...
- Thomas_Anderson First thing that I don't understand is the use of "innumerable silences of stars" .
- What does he mean by innumerable silecnces?
- Surely we can't count silence so why he has used innumerable here.
- To me 'silence of stars' or 'innumerable stars' both makes sense but 'innumerable silences' is confusing me.
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1 Answers
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My answer isn't very good, but since no one else has replied I'll have a go...
Thomas_AndersonFirst thing that I don't understand is the use of "innumerable silences of stars". What does he mean by innumerable silecnces? Surely we can't count silence so why he has used innumerable here. To me 'silence of stars' or 'innumerable stars' both makes sense but 'innumerabl
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