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A River Runs Through It Sparknotes

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In the book A River Runs through It, the question of the true meaning of life and the purpose of everything around the Macleans exists masked through the metaphor of the Blackfoot river and the “it” that flows through it. The Blackfoot river symbolizes life’s journey and the ups and downs of the Maclean family during their time on earth, whereas "it" represents the beginning and end of their life, tying them together with pristine grace and eventually flowing through them all. The Big Blackfoot river is more than just a body of water or a great place to fish. It is a powerful symbol of life's journey, and the lessons Norman and his family learn all stem from it. The Blackfoot River is depicted as a wild and unpredictable force of nature with …show more content…

The river gave and took from the Macleans, highlighting how the river connects the characters emotionally and spiritually, providing inspiration and comfort. As Norman’s father reflects on his relationship with his son Paul, he notes, “We can love completely without complete understanding” (Maclean 117). This quote shows how the river is a powerful metaphor for the depth and complexity of human relationships. This shows how the river constantly connects to people Norman and Paul never met but somehow felt connected to all that has something to do with the river. This helps uncover the mask of the river and how the weird spiritual connections flow from a higher power and keep the world flowing. The river, “As always, was making sounds to itself, and now it made sounds to us”(Maclean 116). These weird voices and words the book talks about numerous times are the sound of ties and the river connecting more and more to the Macleans. While the death of Paul was saddening, the Macleans know that he will constantly be flowing vicariously through them, protecting and guiding them until they meet again, helping connect the “it” within

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Richard wrote about every little thing he saw, touched, heard around him while he was on the trip. The Neches River was not just a river to him, it was a home to animals and people that carried history within itself. In the book of “Paddling the Wild Neches” it

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She states, “Some author, that I have met with, compares a judicious traveller to a river, that increases its stream the further it flows from its source; or to certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along.” By recalling this anecdote, Adams metaphorically convinces her son that as he sails away from home, he will “improve [his] qualities” and enrich his character like a river as it increases it’s stream. In addition, the presence of his father will present a nurturing and “instructive eye” to assist in the process of his growth as well as providing an ethical appeal. This shows that Adams believes that this venture will result in the betterment of her son’s character and that she will expect nothing less as he is “favored with superior

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The Naguamsett River represents Gene and his traits as the river is described as “ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed” (Knowles 76). The author’s use of diction unveils the comparison of Gene’s negative and introverted traits to the river. Similar to being fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed, Gene holds a weight of obligation without Finny. He is always doubting friendship and insecure with him being a reliable friend to Phineas. Knowles also creates an aura of ungratefulness as Gene says “I didn’t need to feel any tremendous rush of gratitude toward Phineas” (Knowles 33) after Finny saving his life.

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In Fahrenheit 451 water symbolizes escape from society and escape from themselves. When Montag is being chased by the Hound and the fire he had lit, the seashell in his ear starts counting up the seconds till everyone looks out their windows. At five seconds Montag thinks about the river, “He felt their hands on the doorknobs! The smell of the river was cool like solid rain. His throat was burnt rust and his eyes wept dry with running”(132).

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Throughout the book, A River in Darkness, Masaji Ishikawa presents the readers with the difficult topic of the struggles of living in North Korea. He discusses the struggles in different ways, which can bring light to his personal problems with living in North Korea. Ishikawa's character is able to be shown, especially when discussing family, and his dreams for the future. He is able to give the reader a description of his life in North Korea, and is able to make the reader feel the pain that he experiences. Ishikawa's dream to have a better life is constantly crushed by the reality of his life, yet he still manages to have some hope in a supposedly better life, even if it's not achievable.

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This is figurative because Norman doesn’t literally ascend through the river. The day before Norman and Paul had an enjoyable fly-fishing day. And, for Norman to get a call from the police station saying Paul was locked up made Norman have a different perspective of his brother. Norman doesn’t see him the same way because the day when they were fishing he was calm. And now seeing him in jail because of his addiction.

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Throughout the book, Kingsley describes the numerous challenges and obstacles that she and her fellow travelers faced on their journey down the Back River. From fierce headwinds to treacherous rapids to encounters with grizzly bears, Kingsley writes about the many moments of fear, uncertainty, and doubt that they experienced along the way. However, Kingsley also highlights the ways in which these challenges brought out the best in herself and her fellow travelers. She writes about the strength, determination, and courage that they exhibited in the face of adversity, and how these experiences brought them closer together as a team. Kingsley notes that "the Back River tested us in ways that we never could have imagined, but it also showed us what we were capable of when we worked together and refused to give up" (Kingsley, 2014, p. 164).

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“The cry of a tormented man had come to the peaceful green mystery of my river, and the great presence of the river watched from the shadows and deep recesses.”

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“Beyond the dock the big lake opened northward into Canada, where the water was everything, vast and cold, and where there were secret channels and portages and bays and tangled forests and islands without names.” (pg 1) The lake is described as complicated in the beginning of the

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The second river that does this is the Naguamsett River but in a much darker tone and not-so-pleasant way. Gene truly mentions and describes the river after Finny’s great injury. Still getting used to doing things without Finny by his side as he goes to the Crew House which is based on the banks of the Naguamsett he describes it as “joined to the ocean, so that its movements were governed by unimaginable factors like the Gulf Stream, the Polar Ice Cap, and the moon... It was nothing like the fresh-water Devon” (Knowles 76). In saying this comparison of the rivers and how different they are Gene is in a way comparing his maturity and adulthood to his former innocence and childhood by using words such as “unimaginable” because he doesn't much about the things that control the Naguamsett river in the same way that he does not know much about being an adult and maturing.

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The Devon River is a clear and clean river that the boys enjoy swimming in, which represents their exuberant and jovial innocence. However, the Naguamsett River is a dirty and repugnant river, which the adolescents avoid. “We had never used the lower river, the Naguamsett, during the summer. It was ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud, and seaweed,” (76). This river represents the harsh conditions the boys must accept in the real world and adulthood.

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In the novel A River Runs Through It, the author Norman Mclean is faced with the difficulty of helping someone who does not want to get help. Mclean writes about trying to help his brother through the struggles of gambling, addiction, and fighting. Because he doesn’t know how to help or what is required to help, Norman finds it difficult to help his brother with his problems. Mclean employs figurative language to highlight the bond between him and his brother while also presenting the theme. Figurative language is used to convey how challenging it is to provide support.

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Charlie Kerrigan Canino English 3-4 (H) 30 April 2023 A River Runs Through It A River Runs Through It is about the author uses figurative language to show the challenges people face with giving and receiving help and why we must help people. The theme of the novel is that everyone needs help, but rarely receives it. Everyone has problems but there are many difficulties people face getting help and giving help. Pride can make people decline help because they do not think they need it or don’t want it.

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Within the excerpt Life on the Mississippi, the author Mark Twain, applies imagery in order to portray how his perspective towards his surrounding environment gradually altered as he began to truly contemplate and identify the Mississippi River. By first scrutinizing his surroundings the author emphasizes the magnificence of the river as this was his initial outlook towards the river. This perspective ultimately diminishes as a result of the speaker comprehending the true connotation of the Mississippi River. Nonetheless, the author questions whether acquiring knowledge can truly benefit an individual or impede one from being open-minded to their surroundings. Twains initial depiction of the Mississippi River is quite positive as conveys

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