Cold Mountain . . . soared in his mind as a place where all his scattered forces might gather… He no longer thought of that world as heaven, nor did he still think that we get to go there when we die. Those teachings had been burned away. But he could not abide by a universe composed only of what he could see, especially when it was so frequently foul.” (pg. 23) This quotation comes from the very first chapter of the novel called “the shadow of a crow.” In this chapter, Inman heals from a potentially fatal gunshot wound in his neck at an army hospital before embarking on his epic journey home to Cold Mountain. Inman sees Cold Mountain as a healing place, a place where his “scattered forces” or thoughts, can gather. Hence, where he believes
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From any direction she came at it, the only conclusion that left her any hope of self-content was this: what she could see around her was all that she could count on.” (pg. 50) In the second chapter, “the ground beneath her hands,” the point of view shifts from Inman to Ada, who is living alone and penniless at Black Cove. Her home is deteriorating before her eyes. Her father, Monroe, died of a heart attack and she’s left alone to care for the land (even though she was never taught how to do so). The woman she was—a Charleston debutante--has no belonging now. Ada is lost, confused, and feels like an “outsider.” This quotation demonstrates how Ada struggles to find out who she is and how she fixes on Cold Mountain as her anchor. Its solid, never-changing presence reassures her.
“But she could not shake the picture from her mind. A wood. A clearing. A man, walking. The feeling that she was meant to follow. Or else to wait.” (pg. 50) In this scene, Ada goes into a well and looks at her reflection, hoping to see her future. What she sees is a man in the woods walking away from or towards her, she isn’t sure. This quotation is significant because it’s foreshadowing Inman’s arrival or departure. However, it’s up to Ada if she decides to follow or not. She ends up staying where she is and waits for him to arrive. This quote proposes many questions: Will Inman make it home to Ada in Cold Mountain? Will Ada end up following him? Will Inman or Ada survive their
From any direction she came at it, the only conclusion that left her any hope of self-content was this: what she could see around her was all that she could count on.” (pg. 50) In the second chapter, “the ground beneath her hands,” the point of view shifts from Inman to Ada, who is living alone and penniless at Black Cove. Her home is deteriorating before her eyes. Her father, Monroe, died of a heart attack and she’s left alone to care for the land (even though she was never taught how to do so). The woman she was—a Charleston debutante--has no belonging now. Ada is lost, confused, and feels like an “outsider.” This quotation demonstrates how Ada struggles to find out who she is and how she fixes on Cold Mountain as her anchor. Its solid, never-changing presence reassures her.
“But she could not shake the picture from her mind. A wood. A clearing. A man, walking. The feeling that she was meant to follow. Or else to wait.” (pg. 50) In this scene, Ada goes into a well and looks at her reflection, hoping to see her future. What she sees is a man in the woods walking away from or towards her, she isn’t sure. This quotation is significant because it’s foreshadowing Inman’s arrival or departure. However, it’s up to Ada if she decides to follow or not. She ends up staying where she is and waits for him to arrive. This quote proposes many questions: Will Inman make it home to Ada in Cold Mountain? Will Ada end up following him? Will Inman or Ada survive their