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| Plot Summary of Journey to the Center of the Earth |
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"This is story of a scientist's determination to uncover a way to the earth's centre. The journey commences with a descent into an Icelandic crater by a group of three led by Prof. Otto Lindenbrock. Verne's description of the route to Iceland and the contemporary societal set-up in the remote north is elaborated and obviously well-researched. But, it is the discussion of the scientific theories pertaining to the earth that prevailed in those times that comprise the core of the novel. The mutual contrast between the three characters keeps the reader engaged - if Lindenbrock is too much optimistic, Axel is mostly unenthusiastic and Hans (the guide) rather neutral. Although there are no lead female characters, the old-fashioned romance is kept alive through Axel's thought for his lover. "
Poornendu, Resident Scholar
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"In the novel, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, author Jules Verne tells the fictitious story of three men and their adventures as they descend into the depths of the earth. The leading character in this expedition is a fifty-year-old German professor named Hardwigg. He is an uncle to the narrator, Henry (Harry), a simple Englishman. The other man is Hans, a serene Icelandic guide.
Professor Hardwigg finds a piece of parchment that says there is a way to get into the center of the earth through a mountain (Mt. Sneffels) in Iceland. Harry is reluctant to tell his uncle the message because he is afraid his uncle will actually want to visit the center of the earth. He was right because the professor wanted to explore as soon as possible.
They head off to Iceland, and, along the way, receive Hans as their guide. The journey to the mountain itself takes a while. They reach the entrance to the center, and from there, they head inside. Once in the dark labyrinths, they descend (this goes on for days). The three men then face difficulties: thirst, light, getting lost, injuries, and fatigue, were among them.
They make many discoveries. They find that there's a sea, with fish and sea monsters. They find forests, giant mushrooms, animals that look like dinosaurs, and even what seems to be giant human beings.
The idea of writing this story came from a scientist who explored the crater of a certain mountain. Verne got the idea that maybe it would be possible to descend even further into the earth. Many of Verne's “fantasy” stories have come true in the years following his death in the year 1905. A Journey to the Center of the Earth is farthest from reality. Even with the technology we have today, it would be impossible for one to descend into the earth. For one thing, we know now that the earth can't be hollow because of extreme pressures and temperatures.
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aswin francis, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Journey to the Center of the Earth |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- doctor
Age:
- 40's-50's
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- natural phenomena
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- student
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a lot
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
Terrain
- Water
- Mountains
Earth setting:
- 19th century
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- some scientific explanation
- a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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