In my american literature class I had to choose a quote about Hernan Cortés's Second Letter to the Spanish Crown and this is the one I chose,
“Amongst these temples there is one, the principal one, whose great size and magnificence no human tongue could describe, for it is so large that within the precincts, which are surrounded by a very high wall, a town of some five hundred inhabitants could easily be build.”
However, I need help finding the following:
Literal meaning, Literary elements/devices, and Thematic analysis.
I will really appreciate your help.
Literal meaning -- exactly what did Cortés say (write) to the Spanish king? Just bare bones -- what did he tell the king?
Literary elements/devices -- "no human tongue could describe" is an example of exaggeration, otherwise known as hyperbole. There are other devices in here. Use this site's definitions to help locate and name them:
https://literary-devices.com/
Thematic analysis -- https://literary-devices.com/content/theme/
Let me know what you think the overall theme of this passage is. What is the main message Cortés wanted the king to understand?
Post what you decide about each question, and I'll check your work.
Literal meaning -- exactly what did Cortés say (write) to the Spanish king? Just bare bones -- what did he tell the king?
It does not really talks about that on the section provided by my teacher. It is basically just a 5 and 1/2 page section describing Tenochtitlan.
Thematic analysis -- What I understood from what I read is that in Tenochtitlan people have lots of temples or houses for their idols (figures). Cortés had some of those chapels cleaned for they where full of blood of sacrifices. The citizens did not wanted him to do it because they believed their idols will be angry at them and stop providing them food. Cortéz tried to make them understand that there is only one God, Lord of all things. Mutezuma and other chieftains were with him and eventually the idols where removed and the sacrifices stopped.
1. Re-do the literal meaning -- rephrase this into 1 or 2 simple/direct sentences summarizing what he wrote to the king:
“Amongst these temples there is one, the principal one, whose great size and magnificence no human tongue could describe, for it is so large that within the precincts, which are surrounded by a very high wall, a town of some five hundred inhabitants could easily be build.”
2. No other literary devices besides what I told you?
3. You wrote a summary of the letter, not a thematic analysis. What is the underlying message he wanted the king to understand?
“Amongst these temples there is one, the principal one, whose great size and magnificence no human tongue could describe, for it is so large that within the precincts, which are surrounded by a very high wall, a town of some five hundred inhabitants could easily be build” (Cortés 85).
Literal meaning: The principal temple is larger than the rest which symbolizes that it is the most important out of all of them.
Literary elements/devices: "no human tongue could describe" is an example of exaggeration
Thematic analysis: The most important temple in Temixtitan (Tenochtitlan) is the larger one. We can tell that the people portray the power of their temples depending on the size it is given. The bigger it is, the more important it is considered.
Very nice!
=)
Please note the corrections I made in your text above. The content is good, so the grammar should be as close to perfect as you can make it.
Sure! I'd be happy to help you analyze the quote from Hernan Cortés's Second Letter to the Spanish Crown. Let's break it down step by step.
1. Literal Meaning:
The literal meaning of the quote is that there is a temple, the largest and most magnificent one, which is so huge that it cannot be adequately described by words alone. The temple is surrounded by a very tall wall, and the space inside is so vast that it could easily accommodate a town of around five hundred people.
2. Literary Elements/Devices:
In order to analyze the literary elements and devices used in the quote, we can identify a few key ones:
- Hyperbole: The quote contains hyperbolic language when Cortés states that "no human tongue could describe" the great size and magnificence of the temple. This exaggeration emphasizes the grandeur of the structure and creates a vivid image in the reader's mind.
- Imagery: Through the use of vivid language, such as "great size and magnificence" and "surrounded by a very high wall," the quote creates a visual image in the reader's mind, allowing them to better envision the temple and its surrounding environment.
3. Thematic Analysis:
To analyze the thematic significance of the quote, it is important to consider its broader implications. One possible thematic analysis of this quote could be:
- The encounter of different civilizations: The description of the temple showcases the stark contrast between the indigenous Aztec civilization and the invading Spanish explorers. The temple's vastness and grandeur highlight the cultural richness and advanced architectural prowess of the Aztecs. This theme reflects the broader context of European colonization and the clash of civilizations during the Age of Exploration.
Remember, thematic analysis can be subjective, and different readers may interpret a text in various ways. It is essential to provide evidence from the text to support your thematic analysis and consider the historical and cultural context surrounding the text.
I hope this helps you in analyzing the quote from Hernan Cortés's Second Letter to the Spanish Crown!