baron in the trees powerpoint (animal motifs)

Baron in the Trees: Animal Motifs

By Jennifer L.

Linda L.

Jessica W.

“Quotation”, “Key Image Phrases and Diction

Choices”, and “Connotations/Symbolic Meaning”

“It was a protest against this macabre fantasy of our

sister’s that my brother and I were incited to show

our sympathy with the poor tortured creatures, and

our disgust, too, for the flavor of cooked snails- a

revolt really against everything and everybody; and

from this, not surprisingly, stemmed Cosimo’s

gesture and all that followed after.” (Ch 1, Pg. 10)

1. Creatures – Animals, dumb beasts that don’t know any

better.

2. Snails – Unappetizing, slow to make any progress.

3. Gesture – A deliberate, human made movement.

Summary Interpretation and AnalysisCosimo represents new thinking and the ideals of

the Age of Enlightenment. Battista, the stay at home nun who serves snails, seems to represent

the old way of thinking where scientific phenomena and day-to-day life was headed by

the religion of the church. This old way of thinking is also shown by the snails she serves. They are

slow, as in old-fashioned, and immensely distasteful to Cosmiso, who dislikes them so much that it plays it key role in his separation from the

life of a noble.



“No, Mino, do take me!” I exclaimed. “You musn’t

blame me about the snails, they were foul, but I

couldn’t bear the scolding!” (Ch. 3, P. 24)

1. Snails – Symbolizes thinking prior to the Age of

Enlightenment. Slow for old-fashioned, distasteful to the

thinkers of the new era.

2. Foul – Spoiled, disgusting, not fresh.

3. Scolding – Anger and punishment

Summary Interpretation and Analysis

While Cosimo is the representation of the Age of Ideals, Biagio is the cowards who does not want

to receive a scolding for thinking outside the box. He does not like the snails, the old ways, but

neither does he wish to push the limits and be disapproved by the people in society at that time. His words aren’t just referencing a scolding from his parents; They hold true for every person who

does not embrace the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment.


Choices”, and “Connotations/Symbolic Meaning”“On the ground the dogs, with all their men scattered about on trees, did not know at first where to head for

and wandered around barking away with muzzles in the air. So the little thieves were able to jump quickly to the ground and run away in different directions among the

confused dogs, and though one or two got a bite on a calf or a blow from a stone, most of them got away safe and

sound.” (Ch 4, Pg 35)

1. Scattered about on trees – Disorganizaed. Only animals go on trees.

2. Barking – Shouting orders or being loud for the heck of it.

3. Muzzles in the air – Searching or hunting for something.

4. Confused dogs – Confused is stupid or slow, and being called a dog is an insult in many languages.


The men who bring the dogs to capture the boys as scattered about on the trees, meaning they are a disorganized mess. The dogs bark, which is just

senseless noise, and look for something by putting their muzzles in the air. The dogs are also described as “confused” and therefore hinted to

be stupid. All in all, this paragraph hints that these gardeners are too disorganized and stupid to ever

successfully get rid of the boys.



“What sort of master have you got?” the others

asked Guia della Vasca. “A man or a wild

animal? Or is he the devil in person?” Guia

della Vasca was gasping. He crossed himself.

(Ch 4, Pg 36)

1. Wild animal – Savage, wild, and not human.

2. Devil in person – Devil is evil; symbolizes death and the

flaming underworld.

3. Crossed himself – Crossing one’s self is a form of blessing and in books/ movies its used to ward off evil.


These gardeners are describing Cosimo as savage, wild, and inhuman by calling him a wild animal. He is also compared to the

devil – evil and reveling in death. Guia della Vasca crosses himself – either a

blessing to Cosimo, or warding him away.


Choices”, and “Connotations/Symbolic Meaning”“Then he would jump up and, agile as a cat,

scramble over branches and across orchards and gardens, humming some tense little song

between his teeth, his eyes set as if seeing nothing, balancing by instinct just like a cat.” (Ch. 5, p.38)

1. Agile as a cat – Very quick and free like a cat.

2. Tense little song – Playful, yet careful; Youthful appearance.

3. Eyes set – Cautious; Aiming to not get caught in the trap of the noble life.

4. Balancing by instinct – He is steady like a cat; Steady and organized in life.


The comparisons to a cat symbolize Cosimo’s wild and free nature. At the same time, he is careful and is able to

control and balance himself like animals. This unpredictable lifestyle shows the

characteristics of new ideals of the Enlightenment against dogmatic values –

new, but not extremely unfamiliar.



“In the middle stood an isolated pine tree, unreachable, with oblong cones. Tree creepers, swift little birds with stippled brown wings, were perching on the thick

clusters of pine needles, askew on the ends, some with their tails up and their beaks down, pecking at worms

and pine nuts.” (Ch. 6, p.48) 1. Isolated pine tree – The pine tree is alone; Nature is

unique.

2. Unreachable – The pine tree is unreachable; Nature is undisturbed.

3. Askew – The needles are lopsided; Nature is not perfect.

4. Pecking at worms and pine nuts – The birds are doing ordinary things; Nature is natural.


The described scene is very beautiful and undisturbed, and, although not perfect, shows

the life we all strive for. The animals live a simple life, one that is without worry. The meaning of this is that if we act ourselves

instead of being burdened by things we dislike, then, like Cosimo, we will be undisturbed and

happy.

baron in the trees powerpoint (animal motifs)

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