Midnight's Children

by Salman Rushdie

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Student Question

Name three intriguing quotes about noses in Midnight's Children.

Quick answer:

Three intriguing quotes about noses in Midnight's Children include the vivid description of the grandfather's nose: "nostrils flaring, curvaceous as dancers," symbolizing his patriarchal role. Another quote asserts the nose's significance in lineage: "Doctor Azia's nose...a nose to start a family on." Additionally, Rushdie plays with words, saying, "You could cross a river on that nose...its bridge was wide," highlighting its grandeur. These quotes emphasize the nose's symbolic and literal prominence.

Expert Answers

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In describing his grandfather's nose, Rushdie uses vivid imagery.  This quote also is an example of simile and metaphor - "My grandfather's nose:  nostrils flaring, curvaceous as dancers.  Between them swells the nose's triumphal arch, first up and out, then down and under, sweeping in to his upper lip with a superb...flick".

Grandfather's nose is symbolic of his role as patriarch of a dynasty, and all his descendants bear this identifying mark as well - "Doctor Azia's nose...established incontrovertibly his right to be a patriarch...a nose to start a family on...there'd be no mistaking whose brood they were".

Rushdie also uses some delightful play on words in describing Grandfather's nose - "You could cross a river on that nose...its bridge was wide".

(All quotes from Chapter 1)

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