English: Area of Study – Discovery
Similarities : The Magic Place
Chapman’s Homer and Magic Place both follow the same line of
revelation of discovery. One moment in time or one small change
in the life of the protagonist, results in the self revelation or feeling
of wonder and awe within the protagonist.
In Chapman’s Homer, Keats falls across the translation of Iliad and
the Odysseys by George Chapman, which allows him to experience
the perfect translation of the Greek text. He dramatises and
describes this experience through the metaphor of travelling with
Cortez when he discovered the Pacific Ocean.
The Magic Place on the other hand is a story based on the
revelation that the protagonist has a abandoned son, who is a
representation of his late wife. The moment the boy falls into the
water an overwhelming feeling of loss, partly due to the death of
his wife, allow him do discover that his son is precious to him and
he must let go off all past angers to raise his son.
Hook and The Magic Place both contain one similarity. Each text
uses the protagonist to see themselves or a loved one within
another character. In Hook, the protagonist, a damaged man who
got into an altercation with a woman meets with a young Sioux,
who like the protagonist suffered past problems with a woman too.
This was shown through the hook which he had fixed onto one
hand, and scars which were as old as the protagonist.
The Magic Place somewhat shares this similarity in which the
young boy, Christopher, is compared to the protagonist’s wife,
Anna, who had passed away 6 years ago. The boy, like his late
mother, was as frivolous, flighty and emotional. This leads to the
imminent discovery that the loss of his wife had caused the lack of
a relationship between the father and son. This relationship
changes through John’s discovery.
The Magic Place and The Price of Experience both contain a
Differences : The Magic Place
Both texts, although containing similar trail to discovery, present
the feeling of discovery through different mediums. Chapman’s
Homer uses the comparison of reading this “new found”
translation, to the discovery of the Pacific Ocean by Cortez. This he
fortifies with strong imagery and metaphors.
The Magic Place presents its reaction to discovery through a strong
emotional scene which is a juxtaposition to the beginning of the
story where the father seems somewhat uninterested in the boy.
With this he added metaphors to create a feeling of joy and awe.
Although both texts are similar, the differences are more
prominent. First and foremost, Hook uses the hook as a motif to
represent the connection the men had. The protagonist sees
himself within the Sioux and uses the sixty-five cents as a moment
where the relationship has been structured.
The Magic Place, on the other hand uses a moment in time, with
the aid of connections between the mother and son, to reveal the
discovery. Although both texts do use relationships between
characters to bring forth the discovery, The Magic Place relies on
the moment when the boy falls into the water as a revelation to
the father.
The Magic Place is somewhat more inclined towards self discovery,
protagonist who through the forming of a relationship, discover
something about themself or a loved one. The relationship formed
between the son and the father through the anticlimax allows the
father to discover that his sadness is sourced from his anger over
his wife’s death, but not because he has a son whom he does not
know how to bring up. In The Price of Experience the woman forms
a relationship with the blind soldier. This relationship allows the
woman to discover the horrors of war and the toll it takes on
soldier such as her wife and the blind soldier.
Similarities : On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer
Hook and Chapman’s Homer are both types of poems which tell
the story of the protagonists’ discovery. Hook depicts a young man
who forms a relationship with a Sioux who resembles an older
version of the young man. This is due to his scars, which is
compared to the age of the protagonist, and the common problems
the men had with a woman.
Chapman’s Homer retells the amazement he felt when he first read
Chapman’s translation of the Greek texts. He compares his
experience to Cortez when he first discovered the Pacific Ocean.
-Na-
Similarities: Hook
Hook and the Price of Experience are both related as they both
illustrate the discovery can change the perception one has. In Hook
it is between the man and the Sioux, while in The Price of
Experience it is between the woman and the soldier in relation to
war and her husband. Both texts also form a relationship between
whereas The Price of Experience is based on the common traits
seen between a stranger ( the wounded soldier) and the wife’s
husband.
Differences : On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer
Both texts do contain discovery, but are considerably different
when it comes to what it says and relates to discovery. Hook tells
the story of a man who discovers that he is somewhat like the
Sioux, while in Chapman’s Homer reveals the emotion Keats felt
when he read the translation.
The Price of Experience and Chapman’s Homer have little or
nothing in common without the common theme of discovery. The
Price of Experience reveals the relationship formed between a
woman and a soldier, in which the woman comes to know of war
and its terrors, while Chapman’s Homer purely states the emotions
the writer felt after he read the translations of some Greek texts by
Chapman.
Differences: Hook
Hook somewhat is a chance meeting which aids in the protagonist
discovering that he closely resembles the Sioux. However this is
done without the Sioux really attempting to form a clear and
defined relationship. It is more the protagonist attempting to
understand the Sioux. In The Price of Experience, both parties, the
the two characters, which aids in the discovery. The Price of
Experience between the woman and soldier, while the man formed
a relationship with the Sioux in Hook.
soldier and the woman, are equally important in the relationship
formed. The soldier wants to have company, while the woman
wants to understand the plight the man goes through. This leads to
discovery, which the woman attains, while the soldier attains some
much wanted attention and contact. The same predicament cannot
be said for the Sioux in Hook. He gains nothing from the apparent
relationship with the young and damaged man.

Hook – James Wright

Quote
-NA-
“I was only a young man”
“The cold was...”
“..there was nothing”
“...was in trouble”
“With a woman, and there was nothing”
“Bitter there was nothing”
“With a woman, and there was nothing”
“Nothing. I was in trouble”
-All above quotes-
“The cold was so God damned”
Technique
Hook is a lyric
Repetition of the word “was”
Repetition of the word “nothing”
Metaphor – he states he is an outsider
Symbolic – God like - phrases
Reasoning
Builds from isolation to an encounter.
It is used to build from the life he had
during that time to the specific situation
when he met the Sioux. This is shown when
the next stanza begins with, “I stood on the
street corner”.
This is used to clearly state that the young
man was experiencing the feeling of being
stranded, lonely and forlorn.
The first two stanzas state that the man
was an outsider, both literally and
metaphorically, he was in trouble with a
woman, which states that he is finding it
hard to form relationships. He states that
there was “nothing” – this is used to show
that he was feeling as if all of society had
extracted itself from his life.
These phrases are used to conjure the idea
“Wind rose from some pit”
“Hunting me”
“Then the young Sioux...”
“... his scars/ Were just my age.”
“...To get home on?”
“he raised up his hook into the terrible
starlight/ And slashed the wind”
“I had a bad time with a woman. Here,”
“Did you ever feel a man hold
Sixty-five cents
In a hook,
And place it
Gently
In your freezing hand?”
“I took it.
Key Line – Turning Point
Comparison of two features
“home” has a double meaning – play on
words.
Symbolism of the hook
Line of Discovery
Scene/Moment is formed
Repetition
that the man was not only lonely, but also
felt as if he was being targeted spiritually.
This line serves as the turning point in the
lyric. From recounting hi sadness and
loneliness, he comes across another man
with the same issues as he possesses.
This quote brings about a comparison
between the Sioux, who out of nowhere
appears, and the young and depressed
man. This is the centre of the encounter
and brief relationship formed between the
two characters.
Home is used not only by the Sioux in a
literal sense, but the author uses it to show
a sense of lost comfort and safety, which
the protagonist lacks. Home is the place
where he would be at peace.
This motion from the darkness to the light is
used to gesture illumination that comes
before the Sioux’s speech.
The previous stanzas lead to this moment,
where the young man discovers that both
men have achieved the same fate. The
word “here” is left to give a sense of
discovery, but allows the author to maintain
the moment that the lyric is stuck in.
This moment is not about commerce, but
communion. The man has found one man
much like him. He had previously roamed
the earth thinking he was the only one with
such problems, but this scene reveals the
opposite.
This repetition is used to convey the
It wasn’t the money I needed.
But I took it.”
On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer – John Keats
Quote
“Much have I travelled in the realms of gold, Metaphor
And many goodly states and kingdoms
seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-browed Homer ruled as his
demesne;”
“And many goodly states and kingdoms
seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.”
“Yet did I never breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and
bold:”
“Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;”
Technique
Phrases to symbolise that Keats was a
Greek scholar and follower.
Turning point/ climax
Simile/Comparison
conscious meaning where he took the
money, but also the unconscious meaning
where he discovers that there are other
people such like him and this Sioux was one
such person.
Reasoning
This extended metaphor states that Keats
has read many translations of Odyssey and
Iliad of which Homer the great Greek poet
had written.
These lines give a clear indication of Keats’s
ambition: his love to read Greek poetry. He
passes on this knowledge with phrases
which refer to Greek culture, “Apollo”.
This quote reveals Keats’s true intentions for
writing the poem. It was not to praise Homer
for his greak story telling, but to let out the
astonishment and enjoyment he felt after
reading George Chapman’s translation of the
Greek texts. He relates his discovery through
this poem.
Keats goes on to compare his awe with the
translation to that of an astronomer who
falls across a new planet. That same feeling
which the astronomer feels, of which seems
to be discovery, is what Keats is trying to
convey.
“ Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific — and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise —
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.”
“eagle eyes”
“stout Cortez”
“planet swims into his ken:
“deep-browed Homer”
“Yet did I never breathe its pure serene”
Quote
“”no, miss”
“Don’t you worry miss.”
“No need to apologise miss..”
“..don’t you let these coal-black glasses and
Simile/Comparison Keats explains another situation which best
describes and compares to his awe and
feeling of discovery over the translation.
This time he compares the explorer, Cortez,
and his discovery of the Pacific Ocean while
he was on the Darien, a mountain.
metaphor
characterisation
personification
imagery
metaphor States that he has never read the perfect
translation until Chapman’s version.
The Price of Experience – John Sales
Technique Reasoning
Dialogue Based Short Story This type of writing allows the writer to form
a relationship with a more genuine
approach. Speech promotes and illustrates
the true feelings that people express and
this type of writing does just that.
Repetition of the word “miss” and the type The word, “miss” is repeated several times
of English used and characterization. by the soldier when he responds to one of
the statements or questions that the
woman throws at him. This technique is
used to give a genuine speech structure to
the character, but also allows the reader to
understand that the wounded man is very
much humble and has been brought up to
respect people. This not only allows the
reader to assume/predict the man’s young
age, but is also a form of characterization.
Imagery/description The author, who substitutes speech for
these two white sticks fool you..”
“twenty-eighth of April nineteen-sixteen
and I’ll be twenty one years of age..”
“Just the same?”
“Poor chaps, how could they know what it’s
like? How could we have known?”
“Would you like me to walk you back up to
your home?”
“Seems a very nice place. Do you come
here every day?”
Clause of time/important phrase
Common relationship established between
the soldier and the wife’s husband
Relationship formed again
sentences, manages to retain description
and imagery through the conversation that
takes place.
This phrase not only sets the date for this
conversation through the clause of time,
but it allows the reader and the woman to
discover the true age of the soldier. His
previous plights have been at such a young
age, through this quote there is an
understanding of the tolls on war. It also
serves as the final lines of this illuminating
and emotional dialogue.
After the woman rhetorically questions the
man’s previous occupation as a soldier, she
receives an answer which forms a
connection between her husband, a soldier
leaving for war, and the wounded veteran.
This phrase allows the readers to recognise
that the woman has made her first
discovery through the formation of this
relationship.
This quote, through the use of two similar
questions each referring to the respective
generation of soldiers, allows a connection
or similarity to be established between the
wounded soldier and the woman’s fiancé.
Many questions are raised by the woman,
not out of curiosity, but pity for the plight
that the soldier is in. She had discovered
the truth about war, and seeing a man such
like her own, allows her to picture this
veteran as her fiancé itself. She is truly
unhappy and saddened by what suffering
 men go through after the wars.
-previous quotes- These quote also aid in the discovery the
woman makes about war.
-final points- A relationship is formed between the two
characters and through light conversation,
the woman comes to discover the truths of
war, while fearing that her husband may
end up in the same or similar condition.
The Magic Place – Anonymous
Quote Technique Reasoning
“..obsolete instrument Anna had played so Reference to Anna These continuous references to Jonathon’s
well” late wife are written to express the feelings
“pushed thoughts of Anna to the back of his that the father had towards his late wife.
mind” This serves as an important theme in the
“Anna had put his world into chaos” rift between father and son and also the
discovery made by Jonathan in relation to
his son.
“He is six now, old enough to be calling me Speech This quote directly reflects the broken bond
Dad or ever sir” between the father and the son. The father,
although recognising that the boy is his son,
still pretends as if he is of no relationship to
Jonathon himself.
“Daddy has you now” Speech This forms a juxtaposition from the
beginning, where the father despised the
word “daddy”, but he becomes a hypocrite,
when he starts to use the word himself. This
is achieved through the moment of
discovery. He has discovered that he is a
father and he has a son. This allows him to
understand and use the word “daddy”,
which he previously found immature.
“his frivolous activity so like Anna” comparison The author, through the use of comparison
“The boy was frivolous and flighty like between Anna and Christopher, slowly
Anna”
“the park below void of people and litter
and maintained its serene appearance”
“The trees and shrubs were so dense; they
formed a small room through which a
sparkling brook danced over the scattered
rocks”
“held the child tightly to his pounding
chest”
“His step was light, as was his heart, un
hampered by the grief and anger he’d
harboured for so long, but left behind..”
Extra information:
Imagery
Key sentences that reveal the discovery
transforms Jonathan’s character from one
filled with selfish grief to one where he sees
his loss (Anna) within the boy. This step is
taken to bring about the moment of
discovery which would soon arise.
Strong imagery is used to build to the scene
and moment of discovery. This is a key
factor to the short story as the whole
change in character occurs in “The Magic
Place”.
Discovery is made by Jonathan. He was
quite frightened by the boy’s accident. This
was revealed through, “..to his pounding
heart”. This reveals that Jonathan acts as if
he has no feelings or emotion attached to
the boy, because he doesn’t want to form
another relationship after his last
relationship was broken by the loss of his
late wife. Jonathon comes to realise this,
“His step was light, as was his heart, un
hampered by the grief and anger he’d
harboured for so long, but left behind..”,
and this quote shows the transformation
that has occurred due to his self discovery.