Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future

In literary texts, the representation of symbols as one of the most prevalent and essential components of the cultural continuum is not always explicit and therefore needs the development of approaches to the identification of implicit symbolic narratives in fictional discourse. One of the most repr...

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Main Authors: Oksana Bohovyk, Andrii Bezrukov
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Istanbul University Press 2022-05-01
Series:Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
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Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/B624FCBD49484950AE98D890E74886DC
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author Oksana Bohovyk
Andrii Bezrukov
author_facet Oksana Bohovyk
Andrii Bezrukov
author_sort Oksana Bohovyk
collection DOAJ
description In literary texts, the representation of symbols as one of the most prevalent and essential components of the cultural continuum is not always explicit and therefore needs the development of approaches to the identification of implicit symbolic narratives in fictional discourse. One of the most representative contemporary novels in terms of ‘symbolicalness’ is considered the epic novel Bridge of Clay (2018) by Markus Zusak. This breath-taking story revolves around the ‘ramshackle tragedy’ of the Dunbar family and brims with energy and pathos. The tale of an existential riddle is told inside out and back to front, rendering confusion to the readers and encouraging them to decipher various symbols. That is why this article focuses on literal and metaphorical symbols to trace their meaning-making capabilities in creating a perfect chaos in the book. The novelty of the study lies in the explication of the symbol as a hermeneutic intratextual mechanism of meaning-making and identifying its artistic potential, as well as interpreting the symbol as a way of comprehending the semantic sphere of the text. Furthermore, Bridge of Clay is a profoundly heartfelt story of brotherhood that offers an alternative model of masculinity. It is Clay, the most determined of the Dunbar sons, who builds the bridge to transcend humanness. It is the bridge, the central symbol of the novel, which appears to be a link between the past and the future.
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series Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-dbb7f115e9e04660b7892b2b953ef5882025-08-20T03:52:38ZdeuIstanbul University PressLitera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi2602-21172022-05-0132126729410.26650/LITERA2021-901447123456Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better FutureOksana Bohovyk0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4315-2154Andrii Bezrukov1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5084-6969Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies, Dnipro, UkraineUkrainian State University of Science and Technologies, Dnipro, UkraineIn literary texts, the representation of symbols as one of the most prevalent and essential components of the cultural continuum is not always explicit and therefore needs the development of approaches to the identification of implicit symbolic narratives in fictional discourse. One of the most representative contemporary novels in terms of ‘symbolicalness’ is considered the epic novel Bridge of Clay (2018) by Markus Zusak. This breath-taking story revolves around the ‘ramshackle tragedy’ of the Dunbar family and brims with energy and pathos. The tale of an existential riddle is told inside out and back to front, rendering confusion to the readers and encouraging them to decipher various symbols. That is why this article focuses on literal and metaphorical symbols to trace their meaning-making capabilities in creating a perfect chaos in the book. The novelty of the study lies in the explication of the symbol as a hermeneutic intratextual mechanism of meaning-making and identifying its artistic potential, as well as interpreting the symbol as a way of comprehending the semantic sphere of the text. Furthermore, Bridge of Clay is a profoundly heartfelt story of brotherhood that offers an alternative model of masculinity. It is Clay, the most determined of the Dunbar sons, who builds the bridge to transcend humanness. It is the bridge, the central symbol of the novel, which appears to be a link between the past and the future.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/B624FCBD49484950AE98D890E74886DCmeaning-makingtimepathoschaosrelationship
spellingShingle Oksana Bohovyk
Andrii Bezrukov
Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future
Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
meaning-making
time
pathos
chaos
relationship
title Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future
title_full Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future
title_fullStr Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future
title_full_unstemmed Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future
title_short Symbols of a Perfect Chaos in Markus Zusak’s Bridge of Clay: Through Traumatic Past to Better Future
title_sort symbols of a perfect chaos in markus zusak s bridge of clay through traumatic past to better future
topic meaning-making
time
pathos
chaos
relationship
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/B624FCBD49484950AE98D890E74886DC
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AT andriibezrukov symbolsofaperfectchaosinmarkuszusaksbridgeofclaythroughtraumaticpasttobetterfuture