James Gale
Vocabulary:
Cilice (pg. 12): "A kind of haircloth undergarment
"—hyperdictionary--… no mention of leather or studs…
"Castigo corpus meum" (pg. 14): In Spanish castigo means punishment. Corpus refers to the body. Meum means mine; that which is mine.
3. Suzerain (pg. 54): A superior lord, to whom fealty is due; a feudal lord; a lord paramount.
Andorra (pg. 54): A small European republic in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France.
5. Votive (pg.127): Dedicated in fulfillment of a vow
.Literary Analysis:
For me, the most gripping chapter of the book thus far is the prologue. In this chapter we are given two of the main characters in the book, Silas and Jacques Sauniere. It is an extremely visual chapter with a twist that makes the rest of the book possible; Sauniere lives (for a while). It sets up the book for the use of an intellectual hero and heroine because we know that he is going to leave some clues in the short time that he has to live. Also we get a small insight into his intelligence in that when he pulls the painting off of the wall, he prevents Silas from retrieving any physical evidence (i.e. the key). You also get a feel for the secrecy of the Priory of Sion with Sauniere’s reactions to Silas’ statements of having killed the senechaux.
Response:
I have enjoyed this particular text thoroughly. I personally did find a passage that bothered me about the book but it’s actually in Chapter 39, a little farther than this essay should go. This’ll make sense for Ryan and Sav, Silas speaks Spanish. But at one point, he says "Tu es un desastre. Un spectre." (Pg. 167) That is terrible grammar. It is the equivalent of saying "You is a disaster. A ghost." Personally that is the only problem I have had with the book. I find that there are many subtle clues that one could use to figure out the puzzles but I personally haven’t been able to solve any of the puzzles before Sophie and Langdon (except who the Teacher is).
My favorite character in the book is Silas. I like him because he really does have a story like that of Paul. I don’t condone his actions in the book, but I think the reason I like him so much is the fact that I can partially relate with him. I think that there are times in everyone’s life when they feel as though they are looked down upon from the world. He is an enormous, longhaired albino. And sometimes I think we all feel that way.