Whitman was heavily influenced by transcendentalism and the romanticism that inspired it, thus indicating forms and influences of particular importance to Nicholas Sparks and The Notebook. Leaves of Grass is the poetry collection that Walt Whitman spent his entire life editing, rewriting, and adding to. The connection between the speaker of the poem and his soul mirrors the connection that Noah has - albeit yet unknown to new readers - with Allie. The poem "A Clear Midnight" is not merely emotional, nor is it merely intellectual. The Soul foreshadows the idea of soul mates - and by the end of the chapter, Allie is clearly Noah's soul mate. Clearly the speaker of the poem symbolizes Noah, and the apostrophe to the Soul creates a spirituality that exists within him. This poem is one long sentence, expressing the paradox of compression and expansion all in one. The poem moves from the individual to the greater world, moving outward like a prayer. The poem to which Noah refers is "A Clear Midnight," a poem that illustrates both Whitman's and Noah's tender side. Readers familiar with Whitman's seminal text and its importance to the development of Whitman as an artist will gain significant insight into Noah's character. Although knowledge of this poetry collection is not essential to an understanding of The Notebook, it does serve as an important allusion. The old book with a torn cover reveals the importance of the book for Noah. One of the most important symbols in the novel - the Walt Whitman collection of poems called Leaves of Grass - is introduced in this chapter. Noah's fond remembrance of the simple sounds of the country develops Noah's character while simultaneously developing the thematic topic about what is indeed important in life. When the narrator tells us that Noah contemplates if he were "destined to be alone," this again refers to the idea of fate. These two details demonstrate that Noah has a sense of roots and family and that he is holding on to something extremely personal and important. Noah's return to what is probably his home town as well as his lack of dating since his return further develop his character. it always did." The attitude is particularly revealing in regards to Noah's character development because it serves as a sign of both faith and fate - two topics that have already been established in The Notebook and serve to foreshadow future revelations. Noah's attitude, as stated in this chapter, is significant: "It would work out for him. These examples illustrate Sparks' style of narrative being used to support the development of both character and theme. This choice of narrator is significant, for it enables readers to know what is happening in the minds of both main characters.Īt the beginning, the text does not directly state that Noah's father is dead, nor does it state that Noah served in the war, though astute readers will infer both of these things. An omniscient narrator begins telling the love story of Noah and Allie. The narrative point of view shifts from a first person to a third person perspective. Although it is not stated directly, readers have a sense that this story is the one that is recorded in the pages of the notebook. The opening sentence of the second chapter provides the setting of the inner-story of the frame narrative. After drinking his tea, Noah gets his copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and quotes an entire poem. Memories of his father include the mention of "God's music," a reference to the sounds of nature, the sounds that enabled Noah to help keep his sanity during the chaos and confusion during the time he spent fighting in a war. He has not dated since he returned to New Bern. Noah has a hound dog, Clem - short for Clementine - and at 31 years old, he is beginning to feel lonely. Noah does not currently have a job, but he is not particularly concerned with finding one because he still has a few months worth of savings left. The house was originally built in 1772, and Noah has spent the past eleven months fixing it up.īoth his guitar and his memories of his father occupy Noah's time. Noah enjoys thinking about nothing in particular in the evenings after a hard day at work repairing the house he purchased in New Bern, North Carolina. The narrative flashes back to October 1946 and a character named Noah Calhoun.
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