Thursday, October 15, 2009
Greece in the Heartland
In the opening page, the narrator describes "a white cluster of grain elevators rising as gracefully as Greek temples" (3). Does that comparison strike you as odd? What do Greece and Kansas have in common? What is the narrator evoking by an allusion to classical antiquity? What is the purpose of this simile, other than an apt description?
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The comparison isn't really odd, it strikes ones imagination. The remains of Greek Temples are huge. For their time they were engineering marvels. the size creates a comparison. The height of the temples in comparison to growing wheat. if you have ever been through lynchburg, TN you see these flowing fields of corn that look like they never end. The idea that the Greek temples are a showing of man's mark on the world. For some men farming that land every year, again and again, is what they have to show for their mark on earth. To take and farm that land year after year, and what does he have to show for it? that is their mark on the physical world, they don't paint, or make houses, they live by the phrase "reap what you sow." that is their mark on the world.
ReplyDeleteWhile at first the comparison may strike one as “odd”, when looked at in depth the comparison is less odd. The comparison on page 3 goes onto say that “Holcomb, too, can be seen from great distances”. Holcomb is, in a sense, the Greece of Kansas. Though it’s not the educational paradise that Greece, as referred to in the passage, was, it is an agricultural paradise. The “white cluster of grain elevators rising gracefully as Greek temples” which “are visible long before a traveler reaches them” which explains the comparison further due to how the Greek temple are the same. In a sea of a lack of knowledge and amazing architecture, the Greek temples stood above everything else as a sign of hope. The grain shows that in a sea of nothingness and an immense area of flat land, the grain, which stands higher than the rest, shows a sign of hope in a barren land. The purpose of the simile is to show the lack of simplicity of the Kansas town, Holcomb. It is to show Holcomb as a sign of hope, a sign of the future and a sign to show that there is more than you can see at first glance.
ReplyDelete“a white cluster of grain elevators rising as gracefully as Greek temples” (3). Kansas, being a primarily agricultural state, practically prides itself on having large harvests of grain. The comparison to Grain, the big crop of Kansas, is compared to Greek temples, marvelous feats made thousands of years ago, the differences and similarities truly come to light. Greek Temples are best known for being large in width, and being adorned with stone pillars of sorts. They are a beacon of sorts for weary travelers. Holcomb, having grain stacks like that of ancient Greece temples, must also then be a beacon for people. The allusion to Greece temples also suggests that Holcomb exists in its own little world, away from the internationally connected cities of the day, like how Greece was its own, independent part of the world at the time. Greece also represented a more wholesome time in the world, when everything was known, and everything was simpler. It is a possibility that the reader can infer that the citizens of Holcomb live happy and content lives. All in all, the comparison of grain stacks to Ancient Greek temples does hold some anthropological credence, but only if the comparison and contrasting of the two objects is done correctly.
ReplyDeleteI would not concider the quote as odd because, I agree with Ben when he said "The remains of Greek Temples are huge. For their time they were engineering marvels. the size creates a comparison." They are both really big and beautiful. The field are also very tall because there are wheat fields and temples in Greece are also very tall. After it says that quote, "visible long before a traveler reaches them." Meaning if it was not interesting, beautiful, or if it did not catch the eye of a person then there would be no comparison. Also Greece is a place to see like Aubrey said that Greece is a paradise to see; just like the white grain fields. I also like the way nick said that Holcomb existis in his own little world growing grain (agriculture), saying since Greece is such an agricultural society growing all sorts of crops and goods.
ReplyDeleteGreece was considered by many civilizations, from their generation to now, as a great civilization. As Ben stated, their temples were grand. They were made so that people would look at them with awe. Holcomb may not have sought after the same things that Greece and other earlier civilizations preferred, but In Cold Blood considered it a magnificent sight to behold. Greece considered gold, silver, and other world items to means wealth. Kansas desired crops, large fields, and tractors. As Nick stated earlier, Kansas was mainly an agricultural state. Holcomb is being referred to as the Greece of Kansas. Holcomb’s ‘white cluster of grain’ represented Greece’s temples and vast riches. The author refers to Greece to provide a view for those who haven’t seen vast fields or those who don’t find agriculture important. These fields were as important and worshipped to the citizens of Kansas as the temples were to the Greeks.
ReplyDeleteGreece was known as a vast civilization to people of that time and to people of modern time, and from the explanation that Capote gives of the grain field, it seems that Kansas’s fields are vast. To me this comparison already seems less odd, and personally that two connect.
ReplyDeleteGreece and Kansas are both immense, from the amazing lavished temples of Greece to the astonishing prolific fields of Kansas; both are common to one another. The narrator is suggesting that 20th century objects are more common to 14th century things then one could think. The main purpose for this simile is to give the reader a look of Kansas, not an apt description of the fields but a broad description of Kansas. Capote wants to describe Kansas through a simile and does this through an allusion to classical times.
When the Narrator chooses to compare Holcomb to Greece, it seems very strange as one would think that Holcomb and Greece have really nothing to do with each other, considering Holcomb is such a plain and lonely town. When he says, "A white cluster of grain elevators rising as gracefully as Greek temples are visible long before traveler reaches them" (3), he is saying that the Greek Temples are the basis of Greece. These temples are what help to make Greek seem famous, and are mainly the basic attraction of Greece. The narrator in this situation, is comparing what the main basis of Holcomb is, which is their white cluster of grain elevators. The narrator is almost using the allusion of the Greek temples to prove the boring aspect of Holcomb. The narrator is explaining that every city and town has something that its known for. Greece is fortunate enough to be known for its exquisite temples, whereas Holcomb is known for its white cluster of grain elevators. The allusion is simply used to accentuate how lonely Holcomb is, compared to a normal and very popular city.
ReplyDeleteI do find it a little odd to compare the two, because generally people would not connect a small town in Kansas to the incredible society that we all know Greece to be. I feel like the narrator is trying to state that the temples to Greece are like the grain elevators to Holcomb. The temples are what makes Greece significant, and the white cluster of grain elevators does the same for Holcomb, it's what they're known for.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I still do find it rather odd because Holcomb is a small town with little excitement, while Greece was an exquisite and popular city. I feel like the author is comparing the two just to make more evident how small and quiet the town of Holcomb is.
When the author made this comparison, I was a little puzzled at first of why anyone would ever compare Kansas with Greece. The main reason for this is as follows. When thinking about Kansas, the first things that come to mind are tornadoes, the Wizard of Oz, a yellow brick road, and nothingness. However, when thinking of Greece, the first things that come to mind are the acropolis, the Parthenon, Zeus, Poseidon, and other things of this nature. Because of the non-existence of any similarity whatsoever between Kansas and Greece, it is a very strange comparison at first glace. However, once the quotation is analyzed more carefully, it becomes apparent to the reader that the comparison is not so far-fetched after all, but it is still not as clear as it could be. As Aubrey said previously, I believe it could be comparing how Greece is a paradise of culture, while Holcomb is a paradise of agriculture, and that this quotation is trying to make this point. However, I believe this with any alternate explanation of the comparison besides the one I just mentioned, the quotation does not make much sense at all, as Kansas and Greece have very little in common.
ReplyDeleteGreece is a large country that everyone has heard of compared to Kansas, the area I only knew existed due to The Wizard Of Oz. So yes, at first I was confused as to why the author would make this comparison. But, after thinking about I realized as Baui said, " becomes apparent to the reader that the comparison is not so far-fetched". I know Kansas as a town of nothingness, but there are still people living their, people living in their own little world. Greece is well known for its culture compared to Holcomb, Kansas being known for its agriculture. Both, "little worlds", are famous for their own things, the reference to the Greek temples is emphasizing the Kansas agriculture.
ReplyDeleteGreece, a unique place filled with unbelievable architectures created. Every detail is thoroughly thought out fulfilling the culture. But when the narrator describes Holcomb when saying, "a white cluster of grain elevators rising as gracefully as Greek temples" (3). This created some confusing, comparing Greece, and a small town like Holcomb does not seem to match up. But before Greek Temples dominantly served as a religious sanctuary, they were used as a place of protection for the gods and goddesses. Holcomb, and the narrators description with, “a white cluter of grain elevators rising…” Reflecting that the little cluster of grain was the starting point to Holcombs society and what it is known for today. Holcomb is described as a safe place, and a place of protection within everyone in the town. This murder was a shock to everyone because nothing like this ever happens. The allusion can be viewed to compare the Greek Temples and Holcomb by there strength in protection assuring that all who enter will not be harmed.
ReplyDelete