Personal Reflection

                After finishing the novel and all the assignments that went along with it, we had a chance to reflect on how this process has affected us.

                This process has greatly influenced the type of novels I will read from now on. Before reading my classic novel, I would just read a novel and forget about what happened a month later because the book was just not that good. The themes were relatable, but were very shallow. I felt like I had already read that same book before even though I knew I had not. 

                Once I read The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, I discovered that what makes a novel good is it stays with you forever. From this point on I will only read novels which deeply connect to me. The point of reading is to gain knowledge in some way. By reading classic novels, you are guaranteed to learn something new each time.

                Over this process we also had to respond to our novels through the use of a blog. This blog could be seen by lots of people which caused me to feel more inclined to make sure I had no spelling mistakes and that my information was actually interesting and informative. I did not want to make my blog posts boring because I felt that that would not do justice to my novel because my novel was anything but boring.

                My understanding of literature has been altered by my reading by making me see that literature is important to human growth and development. Authors of classic novels lived a long time ago and are influenced by different events such as revolutions and wars. Classic literature shows us the value of learning from the past and not making wrong choices over and over again. Literature carries on the traces of tradition which we will never see otherwise unless we read literature.

                This process leads me to discover that as a reader, I can understand complex themes and ideas in classic literature.  My novel had many sub-plots that each had a specific role in highlighting the themes in the end. At the time I thought the sub-plots were unimportant and useless, but I learned to discover that they were crucial in discovering the themes in the novel. This process also taught me to persevere. Some parts in my novel were quite long and boring, but I knew I had to finish so I kept reading and eventually the novel picked up and was really interesting and engaging.

                Overall, I thought this project was very useful because it made us step outside our comfort zones and read a new novel. I feel that this project was good for us to do as grade eleven students because it made us more prepared for later years when taking English.   

Apalogia

Gabby Kish

Mr. Linley

Eng3U

May 18, 2012

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Classic or Not?

               

What makes a piece of clothing classic? Well, it usually does not go out of style and can be worn for decades.  But what makes a novel a classic? A classic novel as said in The Concept of Classic in Literature, (Lombard, Esther) makes connections to the reader.  But even though a novel may be a classic and can connect to the reader, why do people read it? Maybe it is because they want to look back into the past and get another viewpoint of what it was like back then. Or maybe they want to learn something new. Books that are not “classics” can also do this, but what sets “classics” apart from the average book is that classics latch themselves onto the reader and stay with the reader for generations to come. The way the novel latches itself onto the reader, is by having connections. When a novel has connections, it makes the book more memorable and more engaging. People should read classics because the novel will stay with them forever. It will not just be another novel that they read once and forget about. They will read the classic once, and then read it again and again. They will connect in some way to a classic novel. This novel connects to the reader by having characters which are relatable, historical significance and an everlasting theme.  

                A classic contains characters which are easy to relate to (Sixteen Candles). Through the use of these characters, authors connect to the audience using a literary element like empathy. In this novel the main character, Quasimodo is mocked by everyone because of his appearance. ``It is Quasimodo the bell-ringer! ... Quasimodo the one-eyed! Quasimodo the bandy-legged! ... Oh the ugly ape!`` (Hugo, 41). The readers who have also experienced verbal bullying can feel empathy toward him because they have gone through what he has gone through. This makes the reader feel connected to Quasimodo because they know how he must be feeling and can relate to him.

Another aspect of Quasimodo that is easy to connect to is his desire for friendship and acceptance. Everyone views him as a monster and does not give him a chance to show his true personality. Readers can relate to this feeling of needing acceptance because they have gone through it as well. Every single person, no matter how rich and famous they are, want to feel accepted. We all go through life hoping to have friends that accept us and love us no matter what. In this novel Quasimodo does not have any of that because his father Claude is too busy for him and everyone else chooses to ignore him because they do not want to be associated with his ugly appearance.

 The character of Quasimodo was easy to connect to because he was inspired by a real life person (The Telegraph). In this article it talked about someone discovering a journal that contained information about a hunchbacked man known as “Le Bossu” (hunchback in French). Since Hugo possibly wrote about a real person, his feelings towards the hunchback were real and not just imagined. Hugo had a specific image in his head and that made the character of Quasimodo relatable because he was just an average person living in the 1800’s and not some made up character.

                Another thing that makes a novel a classic is it bears the traces of tradition and culture which it came from (Calvino, Italo). Hugo wrote this novel in the 1830’s but set the novel in the time of the 1400’s.  My research revealed that this novel caused renovations to be done on the Notre Dame (Notre Dame de Paris). This novel was a huge success in Paris and was a huge influence on the Roman Catholic Church. The reader can tell that Hugo dearly loves the Notre Dame. “The church of Notre-Dame at Paris is doubtless a sublime and majestic edifice” (Hugo, 90). Hugo’s love for the Notre Dame shines in this novel and this allows for the reader to connect to him because they can relate to loving something dearly.  Since this novel was set in the 1400’s, ranks in class were obvious. Hugo’s characters range from Louis XI to “vagabonds” which are basically travellers and are considered the lowest of the low (Mirriam-Webster). Louis XI was the King of France during the late 1400’s (Britannica Encyclopaedia). When a novel contains traces of tradition and culture that is actually real and not made up, the reader can imagine themselves actually in the book. They can go online and research into what it was actually like back then instead of having to create a mental picture themselves. This makes the novel easier to connect to which also makes the novel more engaging. 

                Finally, what makes a novel a classic is it has an everlasting theme. This novel was written in 1831 by Victor Hugo (Literature Collection). When this novel came out it was a huge success in Paris. As written about above, this novel influenced the renovations of the Notre Dame. About one hundred years later a movie was made about this novel (McGee Scott). This movie was also a huge success. One hundred years later and people still love this novel. A Disney movie was also made a little while later that was another huge hit. I believe that both of the movies and novel did so well because they were able to connect to people of all ages and backgrounds. There are so many themes in this novel that a reader can learn something new each time. One theme in particular that stood out was the idea of jealousy leading to bad decisions. Everyone can relate to this theme because everyone feels jealous at some point in their life.  Whether they are jealous of an older sibling or of a friend, they can relate to what jealousy can do to you. This theme is timeless and will never be forgotten which is what makes this novel last so long and still be enjoyed by many.

                Writing a classic novel is not about having a good plot line and relatable characters, but instead is about connecting to your audience. If the readers cannot connect to the novel then they will not read it. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo is a classic because it has all those elements above, but most importantly; it uses those elements to connect to the reader. This novel latches itself onto a piece of your brain and stays there forever. You could read this novel over and over, and not get tired or bored of it. That is why this novel deserves to be a classic. This novel will be on the shelves of libraries for generations to come. 

Works Cited Page

"Building History." Cathedrale Notre Dame De Paris. Web. 3 May 2012.

Calvino, Italo. “Why read the classics.” Italo Calvino. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Hugo, Victor. The Hunchback of Notre Dame. New York: Random House, 1996. Print.

Lombard, Esther. “A Classic Defining the term or Concept of Classics in Literature.”  About.

Web. 20 Apr. 2012.

Nikkhah, Roya. "Real-life Quasimodo Uncovered in Tate Archives." The Telegraph. 15 Aug. 2010.

            Web. 3 May 2012.

Sixteen Candles. Dir. John Hughes. DVD.

McGee, Scott. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)." Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner.

Web. 3 May 2012.

"Vagabond." Merriam-Webster. Web. 3 May 2012.

"Victor Hugo Biography and Works." Literature Collection. Art Branch Inc. Web. 3 May 2012.

Reading Response 4

     After finishing the final section of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, I noticed that some conflicts emerged. This novel ended dramatically with a lot of twists and turns.
     The first conflict I discovered was in the form of man versus himself. When Claude and La Esmeralda both die, Quasimodo feels he has nothing left to live for because the only ones he loves are them and they are gone. "At that distance he could see her quiver beneath her white robe in the last convulsive agonies of death; he then looked down at the Archdeacon, stretched at the foot of the tower, with scarcely a vestige of the human form about him, and, heaving a deep sigh, he cried, "There is all I ever loved!"" (Hugo 413). Today, many people face the same inner sadness when they lose someone as well. They feel like they can't move on without that special person. Some people deal with this conflict by trying to look on the bright side and carry on with life. But other people, including Quasimodo, choose to end their lives as well.
     Another conflict I discovered was in the form of man versus man. La Chantefleurie is reunited with her long lost daughter who just happens to be La Esmeralda. But unfortunately they meet at a time when La Esmeralda is about to be hanged. La Chantefleurie is trying to convince the hangman that La Esmeralda is not with her, and that's when the conflict occurs. ""...A sorceress was given to thee to hold. What hast thou done with her?"... (La Chantefleurie) " If you mean a young girl that I was desired to hold just now, all I can tell you is that she bit me and I let her go."... "Tell me no lies, old scarecrow."" (Hugo 395). La Chantefleurie would do anything to save her child, as would any mother. This bond is proven during this conflict.
     The next conflict is in the form of man versus nature. Claude Frollo is hanging off of the side of the Notre Dame and the building is not supporting his weight. There is a two hundred foot drop below and Claude has to fight against nature in order to protect his life. "The perspiration trickled from his bald brow, the blood oozed from his fingers' ends; the skin was rubbed from his knees against the wall. He heard his cassock, which hung by the gutter, crack and rip at every movement that he made. To crown his misery, that gutter terminated in a leaden pipe which bent with his weight." (Hugo 411-412). Claude was very evil in this section. He turned on his child, Quasimodo, in order to obtain La Esmeralda. She would not let him, so he ended up reporting her whereabouts and was the reason she was hung. I think Hugo decided to have Claude killed in this manor because towards the end, the reader really dislikes Claude. Everyone just wants a happy ending and Claude is in the way of that.

     A final conflict I discovered was also in the form of man versus man. The friends of La Esmeralda are angry that she is being held in the Notre Dame. They do not know that she is actually really safe in the Notre Dame, but the readers do know this. They decide to attack the Notre Dame and that is when things get ugly. Quasimodo fights back against them and that is when the conflict arises. "Quasimodo saw the Vagabonds scattered by the fall of the beam like ashes before the wind....Quasimodo fell to work in silence to carry stone, rubbish, gravel, and even the bags of tools belonging to the masons, to the edge of the balustrade over which he had already hoisted the beam. As soon as they commenced battering the door, the shower of stones began to fall, and the Vagabonds imagined that the church was tumbling about their ears." (Hugo 336). I feel that this final conflict proves that even though you may be different and can not hear, you can still accomplish whatever you want. Quasimodo loves the Notre Dame as much as a parent loves their child. He would do anything to save it from being destroyed.

     I think Hugo chose to put most of the conflicts at the end of the novel because he wanted to end with a bang. After reading the first couple sections, I thought this book was going to describe everything and then have a happy ending with Quasimodo saving the day. But then, when all of these conflicts began to occur and the book became action packed, I was really shocked. This book doesn't end on a happy note at all. When I finished reading my novel I was almost in tears. Quasimodo loved La Esmeralda and so he ended up dying beside her.

     Overall this book really exceeded my expectations. I learned that these classic novels deserve to be called classics because their themes can still be applied to today's time. This book is still very relatable even though the writing style is a bit confusing at first.

     After this project is over, I will definitely be reading another classic novel and I will probably watch both versions of the movie based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Reading Response 3

     This third quarter was by far the hardest to put down. There was less description and more action which I really enjoyed. I discovered two majors themes while reading this section.
     The first theme I discovered was "love." Throughout this section, characters do crazy things for love. Claude attempts to kill Phoebus because he loves La Esmeralda. "She saw the dagger descend upon the Captain, and rise again...The Captain was carried away bathed in his blood. The priest was gone" (Hugo 232). La Esmeralda agrees to an unrightful death sentence, ""Lastly, you declare and confess that, instigated by, and with the assistance of the devil and the goblin-monk, you did, on the night of the 29th of March last, kill and slay a captain, named Phoebus de Châteaupers?" ...(La Esmeralda) "Yes ."" (Hugo 245), because she loves the captain. I think Hugo chose this theme because so many readers can relate to it. Everyone is loved or loves someone in their lifetime whether it is family, friends or a complete stranger. In this novel, Hugo shows the viewpoint of a lover and someone who is loved.
     The second theme I discovered was "jealousy." Since La Esmeralda is in love with Phoebus, but Claude loves La Esmeralda, this makes him jealous of Phoebus. The thought of Phoebus and La Esmeralda together makes Claude's blood boil. "And when he strove to picture himself the felicity which he might have found upon earth if she had not been a Bohemian, and if he had not been a priest, if Phoebus had not existed, and if she had not loved him..." (Hugo 281). Claude Frollo is also jealous of Quasimodo, his foster-son. Quasimodo has a close relationship with La Esmeralda whereas Claude is hated by her. "The priest, with a violent kick, overthrew Quasimodo, and rushed quivering with rage to the vaulted staircase" (Hugo 308-309). The fact that Claude is jealous of Quasimodo is also explicitly stated at the very end of the chapter. "The priest, on his part, groped his way back to his cell. The thing was conclusive. Dom Claude was jealous of Quasimodo! With pensive look he repeated the fatal phrase, "Nobody shall have her!"" (Hugo 309). I think Hugo chose this theme because, again a lot of people can relate to it. Everyone has felt jealousy at some point, whether you are jealous of an older sibling or of a friend.
     Both themes I discovered had to do with relationships. They are about how humans can feel toward other humans and how they can react based on these feelings. Both of these themes are relatable, which makes this novel very appealing to the average reader. I find it very interesting how certain themes can still be relatable even though they were written well over one hundred years ago.
     While reading the final quarter of this novel, I hope that the loose ends are tied up and I hope to explore the major events that caused the conclusions. So far this process has been a great learning experience for me and I hope that the novel ends on a good note.

Reading Response 2

     During the second quarter of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, the characters were developed. Hugo doesn't just skim the edge of the characters, but takes off layers and layers to reveal the characters personality and thoughts.
     Quasimodo is described in this section to be an avid Notre Dame lover. "It is scarcely necessary to say how familiar he had made himself with the whole cathedral in so long and so intimate a cohabitation. There was no depth that Quasimodo had not fathomed, no height that he had not scaled." (Hugo 128). As I described in my previous reading response, Hugo was also a person who had completely immersed himself in the Notre Dame. While researching for my links list, I noticed that Hugo may have taken the idea for Quasimodo from a real life person known as Le Bossu (Nikkhah, The Telegraph). While reading I came up with a possible reason for why Quasimodo is written in this way. Hugo could have possibly discovered this Le Bossu person through pictures and documents and then applied his feelings through the character. Essentially, Hugo is writing his viewpoint and opinion of the Notre Dame through Quasimodo, which I found very intriguing.
     The character of Claude Frollo is also developed in this section. He is the foster parent to Quasimodo. Hugo shows to the reader that Claude is a character with a soft spot for caring for others. "He approached the unfortunate little creature, so hated and so threatened. Its distress, its deformity, its destitution, the thought of his young brother, the idea which suddenly flashed across his mind, that if he were to die his poor little Jehan too might perhaps be mercilessly thrown upon the same spot, assailed his heart all at once: it melted with pity, and he carried away the boy" (Hugo 126). The rumour throughout Paris is that Claude is a mad man. "..."Sister," whispered she, "did I not tell you that yon young clerk, Monsieur Claude Frollo, is a sorcerer?" (Hugo 122). It is revealed to the reader first that others see Claude as a sorcerer. I immediately felt scared for what would happen to the poor little boy, later revealed as Quasimodo. But then a few pages later I discovered that Claude devotes himself fully to caring for his brother and son. I think Hugo decided to give two viewpoints on Claude because it keeps the reader guessing. Why would the others think that Claude is a sorcerer? What is their proof? Hugo developed a very versatile and complex character during this section.
     In the third quarter, I hope to discover possible themes that have so far emerged in my novel. Again I hope that the themes are as developed and thought out as the characters and setting were.

Reading Response 1

      While reading the first quarter of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo, I noticed the setting was emphasized the most. Hugo wanted to set the stage for the rest of the novel right from the start. The novel has many sub-settings such as the Palace of Justice where the book opens, and the Cour des Miracles where one of our main characters Peter Gringoire, gets trapped, but both of those settings are not nearly as emphasized as the Notre Dame.
     Hugo devotes a whole chapter to describing this church. Hugo reveals to the reader his love of the Notre Dame during this chapter by referring to it as, "The church of Notre-Dame at Paris is doubtless a sublime and majestic edifice" (Hugo 90). The main character Quasimodo, lives in Notre Dame. I think Hugo chooses to put Quasimodo in the Notre Dame because he secretly wishes that he could be totally immersed in the church just like Quasimodo is. He also describes the Notre Dame as, "Notre-Dame, however, is not what may be called a complete building, nor does it belong to any definite class." (Hugo 93) The author feels that Notre Dame is in a class of its own and that nothing can measure up to it. This again proves to the reader how much Hugo really loves this church. Considering that the title of this book is The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I wasn't that surprised to discover that it is described in such rich detail, but I was surprised to discover how much Hugo actually likes Notre Dame.

     Hugo again devotes a whole chapter to the view from the top of the Notre Dame. He goes into detail each section of Paris and gives the reader a great insight into the Paris of the late 1800's. This is just a brief overview of what Paris would have looked like, "...we will compress our description into a few words. In the centre, the island of the Cité resembling in figure an enormous tortoise; its bridges scaly with slates protruding like feet from beneath trapezium of the Université; on the right the vast semicircle of the Ville, in which gardens and buildings were much more intermingled" (Hugo 113). This chapter proves to the reader Hugo's love of Paris. This author has really immersed himself in Paris and everything in it which I find really inspiring. In order for a person to go into so much detail about one place, they must have to analyse everything about that place and take a really deep dip into what a city looks like.
     The final page of his description of the view has an analogy that compares the buildings to works of music. "Lend your ear then to this tutti of steeples; diffuse over the whole the buzz of half a million of human beings, the eternal murmur of the river, the infinite piping of the wind, the grave and distant quartette of the four forests placed like immense organs on the four hills of the horizon; soften down, as with a demi-tint, all that is too shrill and too harsh in the central mass of sound- and say if you know anything in the world more rich, more gladdening, more dazzling, than that tumult of bells; than that furnace of music; than those ten thousand brazen tones breathed all at once from flutes of stone three hundred feet high; that that city which is but one orchestra; than that symphony rushing and roaring like a tempest" (Hugo 118). This section shows the reader that Hugo can make detailed connections and prove to the reader his understanding of Paris and the Notre Dame.
     In my opinion, the characters weren't really developed in this section. It was more about setting the scene for the reader and allowing them to have a clear view of what the city actually looked like. This section also gave me an insight into Hugo's opinions on Paris and the Notre Dame. If Hugo develops the characters in the next section as richly as he developed the setting then I think this will turn out to be an awesome read.