Saturday, March 7, 2009

Setting

Out Stealing Horses is set in a remote town in Norway [both in Trond's memories and his days as an old man]. The 67-year-old Trond lives far away from anyone, except for his one neighbor he had never talked to before the night he lost his dog. Even that neighbor lives a fair distance away. All of his time alone gives him a chance to just think to himself and reflect on his long life. Surrounding his small cabin are reminders of his past, which seem to bring him some sadness and loneliness. For example, the lake right by his cabin is where he used to fish with his dad. The secluded, lonely setting of Trond's life as an old man is a symbol for his lonesome feelings. But in a way, the peace would be an enjoyable change for him since he grew up in a boring small town. Though the small town life seemed nice, after an entire life time one would want something different, like a big city or a secluded old cabin.

5 comments:

  1. I too noticed how the setting of Norway reflects Trond's character as an old man. I think the landscape of Norway is described differently when Trond is reflecting on his past. There are more people present in the Norway that is described when Trond was growing up.

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  2. I agree how you mentioned the fact that the setting allows him to feel lonely and sad but at the same time it also is peaceful and makes him feel happy because of the change for him and his memories.

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  3. The loneliness that Trond feels as an old man is accurately reflected in the way that he isolates himself in his little cabin far from anyone else. I definitely agree that the peace is a welcome change from the crowded small town he grew up in.

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  4. I agree with you that the setting causes Trond to fell lonely. I also think that it is his choice to be lonely. If he wanted a family and people to talk to, he wouldn't have isolated himself from the world in a little cabin. He would have continued his life in a highly populated town like the one he lived in through out his childhood.

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  5. I like your idea that the setting reflects the personalities of the characters. It seems like an interesting idea because when I thought about it I saw the relation in the reverse order, the characters reflecting the setting and weather

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