The Stone Carvers

By Jane Urquhart

2001

Canadian

Theme Statement

• The quest for one’s identity is an attempt to understand one’s past in order to face a future of uncertainty; it involves risk, change, and courage.

Selected PassageSelected Passage

Her familiar clothing opened like the petals of dark flowers in the river, she had wept a little at what seemed to her the death of her young womanhood, a discarded body, floating away toward the sea, the arms of the black silk blouse extended as if still anticipating a lover’s embrace. (292)

Her familiar clothing opened like the petals of dark flowers in the river, she had wept a little at what seemed to her the death of her young womanhood, a discarded body, floating away toward the sea, the arms of the black silk blouse extended as if still anticipating a lover’s embrace. (292)

Literary devicesLiterary devices Simile/image: Her familiar clothing opened like the petals of dark flowers in the river - Discarded clothes compared to petals of dark flowers in the river - opening of petals suggest the release of the past, flowers suggest beauty of past, dark flowers imply the death. She is releasing the pain of the lost love of her youth.

Metaphor: the death of her young womanhood, a discarded body - the discarded clothes are further compared to the loss of her youth and innocence. She has thrown away her old self to create a new.

Simile/image: Her familiar clothing opened like the petals of dark flowers in the river - Discarded clothes compared to petals of dark flowers in the river - opening of petals suggest the release of the past, flowers suggest beauty of past, dark flowers imply the death. She is releasing the pain of the lost love of her youth.

Metaphor: the death of her young womanhood, a discarded body - the discarded clothes are further compared to the loss of her youth and innocence. She has thrown away her old self to create a new.

Literary techniques continued

Literary techniques continued

Imagery: floating away toward the sea, the arms of the black silk blouse extended as if still anticipating a lover’s embrace. The blouse is black silk, again suggesting despair and beauty (like the dark flower). The image is of arms anticipating a lover’s embrace – but this is what she is throwing away (her discarded body) meaning that she has let go of that part of her that was constantly waiting for Eamon to come home.

Connection to TS – Klara bravely journeys to Vimy – she discards her identity and with it her past in order to face the future and better understand herself and her placei n the world.

Imagery: floating away toward the sea, the arms of the black silk blouse extended as if still anticipating a lover’s embrace. The blouse is black silk, again suggesting despair and beauty (like the dark flower). The image is of arms anticipating a lover’s embrace – but this is what she is throwing away (her discarded body) meaning that she has let go of that part of her that was constantly waiting for Eamon to come home.

Connection to TS – Klara bravely journeys to Vimy – she discards her identity and with it her past in order to face the future and better understand herself and her placei n the world.

The Vimy Memorial

• Built between 1925 and 1936 to commemorate the 60,000 soldiers who died at Vimy.

• 6,000 tonnes of limestone sitting on 15,000 tons of concrete

• $1.5 million

Carved figures and names

20 carved figures on the monument

Each figure was meant to represent something

Peace; Justice; Sacrifice; etc.

11, 000 names of lost soldiers

The Carvers

Figures were designed life size in clay in London by Walter Allward

Shipped to Europe and recreated by carvers at double the original size

Small canvass studios like tents were set up around the memorial for the carvers to work in, some were 20 metres up the tower

Carvers were mostly French

The Architect

• Walter Allward• Canadian architect and

sculptor• Born in Toronto 1876• Won competition of 160

other Canadian sculptors in the early 20’s

http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.

gov.uk/index.php?title=The_Vimy_Ridge_and_B

ourlon_Wood_Memorials