1. We're told that the nameless "scholar" of this tale has come from the "the colder north" to a "hot country," so hot indeed that he and his shadow shrank by day, only returning to normal after sundown. What do you see as the significance of this contrast of climates?
2. Early on we're told that the scholar told no one about the loss of his shadow, because he was worried that such a story was already well known (this was the 1814 novel Peter Schlemihl, about a man who sells his shadow to the Devil in exchange for a bottomless wallet). Why is the scholar -- and why might Andersen -- be so worried about being unoriginal? -- and what does that anxiety tell us about him?
3. Once the scholar meets with his shadow, he at first refuses an offer to travel with him, all expenses paid. Later, after he's been ill, he relents -- and indeed he agrees to several other conditions, such as not calling the shadow by his first name. What is happening to him here? We're also told that no one likes the books he writes -- is that connected somehow?
4. By the time he finally refuses the shadow's demands, it seems to be too late. What could he have done differently -- or was it already too late at the very beginning of the tale?
2. The Scholar was potentially worried about telling other about his lost shadow most likely due to how he would be perceived because the popular story, he might seem to be lying for attention based on the unrealistic scenario of the story. Or, the missing shadow is a metaphor for a loss of something else like his confidence and personhood. The Scholar is characterized as a very shy man whom lack confidence but is stubborn in his ways while his Shadow is the opposite, a well traveled and friendly man whom has grown great confidence from his experiences. The anxieties of the scholar become worse once his shadow returns now a more established man than himself. The scholar characterization and his emotions are likely an allegory for the author, Andersen, who may have felt discontent and lacks confidence in his own works and life and was anxious of this story being to closely associated or compared to Schlemihl's work. The unoriginality of the scholar compared to his own shadow strips him of his personhood and unoriginality for an author is, in a sense, the same as an unoriginal author will lack the reliable status for readers or fans attract towards his work and will be disregarded and potentially even receive negativity towards themselves for being too similar to others superior work.
ReplyDelete1. I feel as though the cold and hot represented light and dark meaning that the scholar can't see how creative he can be: he is only watching the people around him flourish. The dark represents how his shadow is holding him back to be creative and to grow in his writings. In the light, he seems to be stuck within himself as he watches everyone else who seems to know what they are doing. When his shadow leaves him, the shadow is helping him in a way to learn how to grow on his creativity on his own. I feel as though the scholar is concerned with peoples' perceptions of him and his shadow can represent his insecurities talking a toll on him.
ReplyDelete1. As the "nameless" scholar in this tale comes from "the colder north" and eventually travels somewhere to a "hot country". We notice in the tale it creates a light and dark contrast between the shadow and scholar. The dark represents how the scholar holds himself back because he is self aware and feels imprisoned in a way because of the shadow constantly being there. When sundown comes to him is it the "light" since he seems able to more free and self assured. The scholar in this tale has a personal vision of himself and gets self conscious of what others may say or think although once alone he seems to grow and show his innovation.
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