“A mist still lay all about the walls and floors, hovering like a last breath on the lips of all the sleepers. As he walked through the castle, he marveled at how many lay asleep: the good people, the not-so-good, the young people and the not-so-young, and not one of them stirring. Not one.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Jane Yolen's writing, the eerie image of a mist hovering over a sleeping castle sets a haunting tone. The mention of both good and not-so-good people, as well as the juxtaposition of young and not-so-young sleepers, hints at the universal nature of sleep and vulnerability. The stillness and silence of the sleeping castle create a sense of foreboding, as the narrator marvels at the surreal scene before them.
The Modern Relevance of Jane Yolen's Words
In this passage by Jane Yolen, the imagery of people asleep in a castle can be seen as a metaphor for a society that is apathetic and indifferent to important issues. Just like the sleepers in the castle, many people today may be unaware or unwilling to engage with pressing social, political, or environmental issues. This can serve as a reminder for us to stay vigilant and not fall into a complacent state of indifference.
Description of a Sleeping Castle
"A mist still lay all about the walls and floors, hovering like a last breath on the lips of all the sleepers. As he walked through the castle, he marveled at how many lay asleep: the good people, the not-so-good, the young people and the not-so-young, and not one of them stirring. Not one.” - Jane Yolen"
Reflection Questions:
As we reflect on this haunting image from Jane Yolen's writing, let us consider the following questions:
- What do you think the mist symbolizes in this passage?
- How does the author's description of the sleeping individuals make you feel?
- In what ways does this passage evoke a sense of stillness and quietude?
- How does the imagery of sleep contribute to the overall mood of the scene?
- What themes or messages do you think the author is conveying through this description of the castle and its inhabitants?
Similar quotes
“A mist. A great mist. It covered the entire kingdom. And everyone in it - the good people and the not so good, the young people and the not-so-young, and even Briar Rose's mother and father fell asleep. Everyone slept: lords and ladies, teacher and tummlers, dogs and doves, rabbits and rabbitzen and all kinds of citizens. So fast asleep they were, they were not able to wake up for a hundred years.”
“They [Fairy Tales] are talking about real emotions, telling true stories, through the medium of metaphor. People used to understand metaphor better than I think we do now. But these stories are so potent, they refuse to die.”
“All around the castle, a briary hedge began to grow, with thorns as sharp as barbs.”
“He wishes to be far away, either at sea or on the shore. In between, he realizes, is the most difficult of all places to be.”
“Well,' the Goddess said, 'your heart didn't heal straight the last time it broke. So we'll break it again and reset it so it heals straight this time.”
“And for adults, the world of fantasy books returns to us the great words of power which, in order to be tamed, we have excised from our adult vocabularies. These words are the pornography of innocence, words which adults no longer use with other adults, and so we laugh at them and consign them to the nursery, fear masking as cynicism. These are the words that were forged in the earth, air, fire, and water of human existence, and the words are:Love. Hate. Good. Evil. Courage. Honor. Truth.”