“From the passenger seat, Ronan began to swear at Adam. It was a long, involved swear, using every forbidden word possible, often in compound-word form. As Adam stared at his lap, penitent, he mused that there was something musical about Ronan when he swore, a careful and loving precision to the way he fit the words together, a black-painted poetry. It was far less hateful sounding than when he didn’t swear.Ronan finished with, “For the love of … Parrish, take some care, this is not your mother’s 1971 Honda Civic.”Adam lifted his head and said, “They didn’t start making the Civic until ’73.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from Maggie Stiefvater's novel, the character Ronan is shown swearing profusely at Adam in the passenger seat of a car. However, despite the harsh language, Adam cannot help but notice the beauty in Ronan's swearing. There is a certain musical quality to Ronan's choice of words, a precision and care that almost turns his profanity into poetry. This quote exemplifies the complex relationship between Ronan and Adam, showcasing Ronan's rough exterior and Adam's subtle intelligence and wit.
Modern Relevance
In this quote from Maggie Stiefvater's novel, "The Raven Boys," we see a dynamic between two characters that involves playful banter and precise language. This can be seen as relevant in modern times as communication styles evolve and the use of language becomes more nuanced. The exchange between Ronan and Adam showcases how language can be used creatively and effectively to convey emotions and build relationships. This highlights the importance of effective communication in interpersonal dynamics.
Example of Usage
In this excerpt from Maggie Stiefvater's novel, The Raven Boys, we see Ronan swearing in a creative and almost poetic way. The dynamic between Ronan and Adam is brought to life through Ronan's unique way of expressing himself.
Reflection Questions:
- How does the author use language, specifically swearing, to convey the relationship between Ronan and Adam?
- What does Adam's observation of Ronan's swearing say about their dynamic and understanding of each other?
- How does Ronan's attention to detail, even in something as casual as swearing, reflect his character?
- In what ways does this scene reveal the complexity and depth of the relationship between Ronan and Adam?
- How does the mention of the car add to the tone and atmosphere of the scene?
Similar quotes
“While they waited, Ronan decided to finally take up the task of teaching Adam how to drive a stick shift. For several minutes, it seemed to be going well, as the BMW had an easy clutch, Ronan was brief and to the point with his instruction, and Adam was a quick study with no ego to get in the way.From a safe vantage point beside the building, Gansey and Noah huddled and watched as Adam began to make ever quicker circles around the parking lot. Every so often their hoots were audible through the open windows of the BMW.Then—it had to happen eventually—Adam stalled the car. It was a pretty magnificent beast, as far as stalls went, with lots of noise and death spasms on the part of the car. From the passenger seat, Ronan began to swear at Adam. It was a long, involved swear, using every forbidden word possible, often in compound-word form. As Adam stared at his lap, penitent, he mused that there was something musical about Ronan when he swore, a careful and loving precision to the way he fit the words together, a black-painted poetry. It was far less hateful sounding than when he didn’t swear.Ronan finished with, “For the love of . . . Parrish, take some care, this is not your mother’s 1971 Honda Civic.”Adam lifted his head and said, “They didn’t start making the Civic until ’73.”There was a flash of fangs from the passenger seat, but before Ronan truly had time to strike, they both heard Gansey call warmly, “Jane! I thought you’d never show up. Ronan is tutoring Adam in the ways of manual transmissions.”Blue, her hair pulled every which way by the wind, stuck her head in the driver’s side window. The scent of wildflowers accompanied her presence. As Adam catalogued the scent in the mental file of things that made Blue attractive, she said brightly, “Looks like it’s going well. Is that what that smell is?”Without replying, Ronan climbed out of the car and slammed the door.Noah appeared beside Blue. He looked joyful and adoring, like a Labrador retriever. Noah had decided almost immediately that he would do anything for Blue, a fact that would’ve needled Adam if it had been anyone other than Noah.Blue permitted Noah to pet the crazy tufts of her hair, something Adam would have also liked to do, but felt would mean something far different coming from him.”
“In the end, he was nobody to Adam, he was nobody to Ronan. Adam spit his words back at him and Ronan squandered however many second chances he gave him. Gansey was just a guy with a lot of stuff and a hole inside him that chewed away more of his heart every year.”
“Blue." It was Ronan's voice, for the first time, and everyone, even Helen, twisted their head towards him. His head was cocked in a way that Gansey recognized as dangerous. Something in his eyes was sharp as he stared at Blue. He asked, "Do you know Gansey?" ... Blue looked defensive under their stares. She said reluctantly. "Only his name." With his fingers loosely together, elbows on his knees, Ronan leaned forward across Adam to be closer to Blue. He could be unbelievably threatening. "And how is it," he asked," you came to know Gansey's name?”
“If you leave me naked and waiting on the bed without making love to me, I’ll—” I didn’t get to finish the threat. I think it was the word “naked,” though maybe it was “bed,” but before I finished my sentence, he was on me. Mercy to Adam”
“Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn't know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves.”