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.
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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