“The train could be stopped with a red flag, but by ordinary it appeared out of the devastated hills with apparitionlike suddenness and wailing like a banshee, athward and past that little less-than-village like a forgotten bead from a broken string.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by William Faulkner, the train is depicted as a mysterious and ominous force, appearing suddenly and making a haunting sound as it passes by. The use of imagery such as "apparitionlike suddenness" and "wailing like a banshee" creates a sense of uncanniness and foreboding. The comparison of the train to a "forgotten bead from a broken string" further emphasizes its transient and disconnected nature in the landscape. Faulkner's descriptive language conveys a sense of unease and mystery surrounding the train's presence in the narrative.
Modern Relevance
In this passage from William Faulkner's work, the train symbolizes progress and change, juxtaposed against the stagnant rural landscape. Today, this imagery can be seen as a reflection of society's constant advancements and the struggle to keep up with the rapid pace of modernization.
William Faulkner
In this quote, Faulkner uses vivid imagery to describe the sudden and eerie appearance of a train in the landscape.
“The train could be stopped with a red flag, but by ordinary it appeared out of the devastated hills with apparitionlike suddenness and wailing like a banshee, athward and past that little less-than-village like a forgotten bead from a broken string.”
Reflection Questions:
This evocative passage by William Faulkner captures the arrival of a train in a remote setting. As you reflect on this description, consider the following questions:
- How does the imagery of the train appearing "out of the devastated hills with apparitionlike suddenness" impact the overall tone of the passage?
- What is the significance of the train wailing "like a banshee" as it passes by the village?
- In what ways do the descriptions of the train and its surroundings contribute to the theme of isolation and desolation in the text?
Similar quotes
“Did Owen say your grandmother was a banshee?""He said she was 'wailing like a banshee,'" I explained.Dan got out the dictionary , then; he was clucking his tongue and shaking his head, and laughing at himself saying, "That boy! What a boy! Brilliant but preposterous!" And that was the first time I learned, literally, what a banshee was--a banshee, in Irish folklore, is a female spirit whose wailing is a sign that a loved one will soon die.”
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