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NAME: JEREMIAH FOONG KANG YI MATRIX NUM.: D20111047679 FACULTY: LANGUAGE AND CONNECTION PROGRAM: TESL PROGRAM CODE: AT 06 SEMESTER: several SESSION: 2012/2013 COURSE: LITERARY CRITICISM PROGRAM CODE: BIS HIN ZU 3023 GROUP: B TASK: CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON HENDERSON THE RAINWATER KING LECTURER: MR. SEVA BALA SUNDARAM A/L A.
M MARIAPPAN For this new, I will be vitally analyzing that using two theories, particularly the “Formalist Criticism” (which is also called “New Criticism”) and “Reader-Response Criticism”.
The main reason I choose both these criticism hypotheses are because I personally suggest that these two theories may realistically reveal our views on the materials read because readers. By the Formalist Critique approach, I will firstly give a plot brief summary of “Henderson the Rainwater King”. “Henderson the Rain King” was written by Saul Bellow back in 1959. With this novel, Saul Bellow brands his main character, or also known as “the protagonist”, Eugene Henderson. Eugene Henderson is usually depicted, from this novel, being a troubled, middle-aged man. He is physically linked with a significant body framework, a bumbling loud tone, and ossesses great physical strength. Contrary to his struggling lifestyle, his family background is definitely one which is rather wealthy. Eugene’s father was a famous author and he left him three mil dollars when he passed. He could be not at all amazed neither thrilled with the life this individual has been living all the while and plans to heed his inner tone of voice and step out to search for a better life, which in turn he feels, lies in The african continent. Before leaving for Africa though, this individual tried numerous ways to satisfy his odd calls by playing the violin, having, and yelling at his wife.
This individual carried on together with his plan to Africa with his friend Charlie Albert and his better half. He nevertheless set off traveling on his own after finding a relaxing treatments travelling design Charlie procedures. Eugene meets the Arnewi tribe and tries to aid to settle their particular drinking problem which was caused by a frog infestation at the bottom of their drinking very well. Eugene did not help if he blasted the frogs along with the well. It only made the situation even worse. Eugene went on to meet the Wariri group with Romilayu and becomes the Sungo, or “rain king”, if he lifts a heavy idol through the rain wedding.
Later on, the elders directed Dahfu to discover a lion which is supposed to be the reincarnation of Dahfu’s later father. As he fails which is killed, Eugene is supposed to end up being crowned the King when he is the Rainfall King, another King in line. Eugene will not desire to be king, and flees from The african continent back to his own home. Eugene finds it is only through love that he had received all these whilst when he indicates his romantic relationship with Smolak the bear in Ontario and his relationship with all the orphan son on the planes back to the usa. The book consists of twenty two chapters of roughly similar length.
Throughout the novel, flashbacks are used being a major component of. In the early stages with the novel, even more precisely, in the first three chapters of the novel, Henderson’s reminiscence regarding his reasons for women for Africa. The establishing in this novel is noticeably uniform, yet , throughout the whole of the story, settings such as Europe, Connecticut, and Nyc are scattered randomly around. It is obvious that the future chapters will be set in Africa, where most of the plot with the story grows. Through flashbacks, Eugene revisits his place of origin and time periods by his previously life.
Literary tools including foreshadowing and cliffhangers prefer keep the target audience flipping through the pages eagerly for more. Generally, throughout the most major elements of the story, the setting can be held in The african continent, in the mid-1950s. Scenes by Connecticut, Nyc, and European countries during the Second World War are spotty when Henderson’s rambling narratives take place. Activities which take place in Africa are mainly held in the Arnewi and Wariri tribes. The Photography equipment plains turn up once in a while when Henderson and Romilayu wander through the Africa desert. Yet , a major section of the story occurs in the Wariri tribe.
In the denouement with the story, Newfoundland dog is also contained in the setting with the story, in which Henderson touches down from the plane. Physical settings besides, symbolical spiritual settings are widely included in the novel. Some pre-human quality in the landscape and a tinge of childhood remembrances Henderson acquired is represented through the fabulous slight pink in the sky and the sharpness in the rocks adjacent the Wariri village, respectively. Also, after deplaning from Newfoundland, Henderson is said to be jogging in ice. This kind of icy-setting demonstrates that Henderson has clearly manufactured his break free from Africa and has started his your life anew.
Henderson’s word choice in the lien of the book is of wonderful interest to the readers when he makes reference towards the Bible however informal and colloquial his style is usually. However simple his style is, though, historical events and emotional theories will be explained within a rather offhand albeit proficient method. The colourful explanation of his narration consists of detailed explanations made possible through visuals and audio. The shortcoming of Henderson speaking in the native Photography equipment language can make it complicated because Romilayu and Dahfu are required to translate to get him directions and guidelines made for the barren property of The african continent.
The appearance of Africa words such as “grun-tu-molani” appeal to our heads and memories strongly and further enhances the elaboration of the African culture. For this novel, the next person perspective is used. In such a case, the third person’s point of view is definitely the point of view of Eugene Henderson. A conversational and more romantic approach can be applied inside the narration in the story. Good examples which present this will be “As you can see for yourselves, these are all impossible answers (HRK 133)” and “I’ll tell you why (HRK 7)”.
The entirety of this story is informed as if Henderson reminisces about his trip to The african continent, and also the can and events which led up to his decision to go to Africa. Listenings are visible in some areas of the story, but the essence and the message of the story is generally brought to the readers by Henderson’s points and internal monologue. The characters whom appeared in “Henderson the Rain King” are as follows. The main personality in the account is Eugene Henderson. Even if Henderson is the main character in the story, dr. murphy is the anti-hero from the novel. Character-wise, he is a bumbling man, always furious and is confused.
His physical attributes are big, shocking appearance, and possesses great strength. Henderson’s dad leaves behind several million us dollars. Henderson acquired married 2 times and features five children. He was uncooperative and pressed on pertaining to combat responsibility even when he was declared to become too old for it. This individual got injured by a terrain mine throughout the Second World War and received the Purple Cardiovascular upon his return. Henderson owns a pig plantation but deep down inside, he aspirations to be a doctor. Henderson is consistently plagued by a voice that says “I want”. He tries different activities and hobbies which in turn he expectations are able of relieving his unknown desire.
He endeavors playing the violin, ingesting, and even yelling at his wife. When ever non-e of these methods seem to make any kind of effect on rewarding his strange and unknown desire, he goes on to go to Africa with Charlie Albert and his better half. He was fifty five. Upon recognizing Charlie’s travelling style which usually he considers is too modern day and uninteresting, Henderson leaves with Romilayu to visit the Arnewi group. He attemptedto solve the Arnewi tribe’s difficulty that was the invasion of frogs in their ingesting well by bombing the frogs. Rather, he bombed and destroyed the whole having well.
Regretful and sad, Henderson remaining for the Wariri group with Romilayu. Most of the story of the story develops from this level. Henderson is crowned Sungo, the Rainwater King, following being able to lift up a heavy ideal during a rain ceremony in the Wariri group. Henderson was supposed to be the King’s replacement, beneficiary after Dahfu’s passing. Yet , Henderson did not want to be Ruler and escaped from Africa to live a complete new your life back in the Usa. Frances Henderson is Henderson’s first partner. Frances is usually, as explained by Henderson, tall, handsome, elegant, and sinewy. Frances was wedded to Henderson just to make sure you Henderson’s dad.
Henderson when told Frances of his dreams of becoming a doctor. His ambitious dreams was revoked and chuckled at by simply Frances. Lily Simmons Henderson is Henderson’s second better half. She is well-known throughout the tale as only “Lily”. She has a nice face, reasonable, and large. Lily is certainly not prone to scolding. Instead, she moralizes. Lily had married twice just before she did marry to Henderson. She got previously married a man by Baltimore and an abusive broker from New Jersey who is named Risk. In the tale, Henderson details Lily together who is not very clean, a liar, and a con-artist.
Edward Henderson is Henderson and Frances’ eldest child. Edward can be considered as Henderson’s pride as Edward is definitely clean-cut and smart. Edward drives about in a gleaming sports car. Henderson always assumed that Edward cullen would not obtain a lover. One day, Edward provides home a female from Honduras and announced to Henderson that he loves her. However , Henderson chose not to believe this. Ricey Henderson is Henderson and Frances’ eldest child. She is very. Ricey needs a child through the backseat of any car one particular Christmas and is also eventually removed from boarding school. Alice Henderson is definitely Henderson’s most youthful daughter with Frances.
The twins are Henderson’s two children by Frances. Charlie Albert is to Eugene Henderson, a the child years friend. That they both went to dancing classes together in the year 1915. Charlie is a 12 months younger than Henderson in addition to a bit wealthier than him. Charlie was once a cameraman in the military services. Henderson was Charlie’s best man for his wedding party. Charlie’s partner resented Henderson because Charlie forgot to kiss his wife at the wedding. Henderson joined Charlie and his wife’s honeymoon visit to Africa inside the first portion. Dick Henderson is Eugene Henderson’s big brother. Dick passes away in a somewhat tragic and ridiculous approach.
He was shooting a cracked fountain pen with his gun and got involved in a chase by the authorities. He crashed his car in an bar during the pursuit and jumps into the lake. Dick’s cavalry boots received filled with water when he jumped into the water and Dick drowned. Dick was considered by Eugene as the “sanest of us”. Klaus Spohr is the artist who paint’s Lily’s portrait. There was once when ever Klaus and Lily discovered Henderson hug Clara, Klaus’ wife, with passion. Doctor Spohr is the relation of Klaus Spohr. Dr. murphy is the dentist who replaces Henderson’s bridgework.
Romilayu is Henderson’s guide and translator in Africa. Romilayu tells Henderson that he is in his overdue thirties. Yet , he looks wrinkly and much older. At the moment Christian, this individual shows indications of tribal surviving in his previous as he has tribal marks on equally his cheeks and the ears. He is a patient companion to Henderson. The Arnewi Group are the closed fist tribe Henderson visits in Africa. They are really loving and warmly welcome Henderson’s check out. They were affected by a drought and their cows are perishing. They are dominated by Willatale. Iteloo is known as a prince from the Arnewi group. He learned English in Beirut with Dahfu.
He loses to Henderson in a wrestling meet even when this individual equalizes him physically. Willatale is Itelo’s aunt and the queen of Arnewi. She is a Bittah, which means she’s the most adored in the group and has husbands and wives. She gets cataract in a single eye and wears a lion skin as a robe cocktail. Henderson identifies her like a happy girl, stable, and good natured. Mtalba is a queen’s sis and also is actually a Bittah woman. She is fabulous and special looking with indigo hair but is obese. Your woman proposes to Henderson in their traditional way but rejects him when he blows up their very well.
The Wariri tribe is the second frequented tribe by Henderson in Africa. Henderson becomes the Rain Ruler of the Wariri and a close friend to their King, Dahfu. Dahfu is definitely the kin fog the Wariri tribe. Dahfu studied within a medical college but were required to return to his dying daddy in the Wariri tribe. Dahfu impresses Henderson with his attraction and philosophy. King Dahfu keeps a big cat named Atti and teaches him. He dies whilst trying to get his father-lion Gmilo. Horko is the dad of California king Dahfu as well as the man provided for meet Henderson on the day in the rain festival.
Horko echoes some English and The french language because he visited with Dahfu when he examined abroad. The Bunam is a head priest of the Wariri tribe. The Bunam feels that Henderson can lift the idol during the rain ceremony. Henderson believes that the Bunam communicated to him to encourage him to lift the idol without needing to talk to him. Turombo is a strong Wariri man who have lifted Hummat at the rainfall ceremony. He was misunderstood as one who is shadowed by his past when he did not lift up Mummah. It is learned down the line in the tale that Turombo did not wish to lift up Mummah because he understands the risk in like a rain full.
Queen Yasra is Dahfu’s mother plus the widow of Gmilo. The girl believes the words of the Bunam who said that Atti signifies power of an evil sorceress. Therefore , your woman begs Henderson to make Dahfu get rid of Atti. The punish is assistant to the Bunam in the Wariri tribe. This individual has a thin face and leathery appearance. He was dressed in white on the day of the big cat hunt and guards California king Dahfu’s cadaver after this individual passed. Gmilo is Dahfu’s father and the former california king of the Wariri tribe. Another approach to examining this novel will be the “Reader-Response Criticism”.
The “Reader-Response Criticism” is based on the particular reader feels and perceives about the storyplot after studying the item of literature. Like a reader, I had been quite fazed and taken aback when I look at the beginning of the story. I had been shocked at how unsettled Henderson was even if his dad had put aside him these kinds of a large amount of cash. I think Henderson’s pursuit of delight and the that means for life is definitely strong and objective. Henderson is to us a steadfast person and does not acquire swayed quickly by exterior factors. The particular me think pitiful toward Henderson is definitely when he was trying to help the Arnewi group out simply by killing the frogs.
His intention began as a very good one nevertheless ended as an take action which displeased the Arnewi tribe. It was lucky pertaining to him that Itelo would not kill him after such an act since Itelo is definitely his friend. There is a reason for the story that we do not go along with the narrator himself. He had seen this kind of bitterness in the Wariri tribe since the 1st day this individual got presently there. He did not have worth it moments to savour. The only acceptable moments are the moment King Dahfu shared with him some beliefs and ways of life. This interests Henderson and all of us, the readers, nevertheless other than that, all of those other happenings will be bitter.
Consequently , it is quite not logical that Henderson did not choose to escape in the earlier part of his visit to the Wariri tribe. However , this is only my perspective and opinion. Generally, this kind of novel offers raised my own awareness in issues such as the pursuit of meaning in life and the pursuit of delight. At the end from the story, Henderson realizes that what this individual has been pursuing all this whilst is take pleasure in. This is a story worth examining and telling as it bends the human brain into diverse concaves of perception as to what is worth pursuing, what is worth our quest, and precisely what is worth keeping.
Bibliography 1) Henderson the Rain Full by Saul Bellow. (2000). Retrieved coming from http://www. bookrags. com/studyguide-henderson-the-rain-king/ 2) Bellow, S i9000. (1976). Henderson the rainfall king. NEW YORK: Penguin Literature. 3) Dobie, A. N. (2011). Theory into practice: An introduction to literary criticism. Boston, MOTHER: Cengage Learning. 4) 50 Plus One Great Books You Should Have Read: And Probably Don’t. Retrieved coming from http://books. google. com. my/books? id=HPDqaTLKOEEC, pg=PA194, lpg=PA193, dq=%22Henderson+the+Rain+King%22, as_brr=3, ie=ISO-8859-1, output=html, redir_esc=y
