Rhetorical Elemnents
Recurring Image Patterns
Several recurring image patterns within The Da Vinci Code are "The vitruvian man", "The Mona Lisa", and "The Golden Ratio", and ironically they are all connected to each other in someway. The golden ratio, which is a mathematical proportion (1.618-PHI), is considered to be the "perfect" dimension because it is visual appealing to the human eye. Both paintings The Vitruvian Man and The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, have The Golden Ratio incorporated within, hence the popularity and attraction. The protagonist Langdon, gives a lecture to his class as to the important of The Golden Ratio, in society, and how majority of people are unaware of so. He states "Measure the distance from your shoulder to your fingertips, and then divide it by the distance of your elbow to fingertips. Hip to floor divided by knee to floor. Finger joints. Spinal division. Toes. PHI. PHI. PHI" (Brown, 99). Langdon stresses on how The Golden Ratio is literally right in front of our eyes, yet we fail to realize. In saying this, Langdon reveals that the world is filled with hidden synbols, and hidden concepts as well. The Vitruvious man and The Mona Lisa constantly reappeared within the novel because Sauniere hid many clues within Da Vinci's art work. The Mona Lisa can also be a representation of balance between male and female, in this case representing Langdon and Nevue. Both characters possess masculine and feminine traits much like The Mona Lisa.
Several recurring image patterns within The Da Vinci Code are "The vitruvian man", "The Mona Lisa", and "The Golden Ratio", and ironically they are all connected to each other in someway. The golden ratio, which is a mathematical proportion (1.618-PHI), is considered to be the "perfect" dimension because it is visual appealing to the human eye. Both paintings The Vitruvian Man and The Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, have The Golden Ratio incorporated within, hence the popularity and attraction. The protagonist Langdon, gives a lecture to his class as to the important of The Golden Ratio, in society, and how majority of people are unaware of so. He states "Measure the distance from your shoulder to your fingertips, and then divide it by the distance of your elbow to fingertips. Hip to floor divided by knee to floor. Finger joints. Spinal division. Toes. PHI. PHI. PHI" (Brown, 99). Langdon stresses on how The Golden Ratio is literally right in front of our eyes, yet we fail to realize. In saying this, Langdon reveals that the world is filled with hidden synbols, and hidden concepts as well. The Vitruvious man and The Mona Lisa constantly reappeared within the novel because Sauniere hid many clues within Da Vinci's art work. The Mona Lisa can also be a representation of balance between male and female, in this case representing Langdon and Nevue. Both characters possess masculine and feminine traits much like The Mona Lisa.
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Symbols
Red Hair: Neveu's red hair represents her connection to Mary Magdalene and that she is a part of the bloodline. Teabing foreshadows her relation to Mary in a way when he comments on her hair being red, then looks at a painting entitled "The Last Supper" and points out that Mary's hair was red as well, although no logical connection between to two was established.
Cellphones: Although cellphones are pretty modern, they are used all throughout The Da Vinci Code. For example, Teabing uses a cellphone to conceal his identity while communicating with Silas, although they are both seated one foot away from eachother. On the other hand, Langdon often worried about being traced down by Fache by keeping his cellphone with him. Even though this was a risky thing to do, Langdon could not live without it.
Chalice/Blade:
Representation of man and women. The chalice is "V-shaped" symbolizing a women's womb, while the Blade which is an upside down V Shape (^) symbolizes a phallus. Both chalice and blade signify the unity between man and women.
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Allusions
In the novel, many historical references are made to compare or relate to an idea discussed. For example, many art pieces done by Leonardo Da Vinci were constantly being brought up, as well as the renascence period. References to Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and religion in general were also made.
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Symbols
Red Hair: Neveu's red hair represents her connection to Mary Magdalene and that she is a part of the bloodline. Teabing foreshadows her relation to Mary in a way when he comments on her hair being red, then looks at a painting entitled "The Last Supper" and points out that Mary's hair was red as well, although no logical connection between to two was established.
Cellphones: Although cellphones are pretty modern, they are used all throughout The Da Vinci Code. For example, Teabing uses a cellphone to conceal his identity while communicating with Silas, although they are both seated one foot away from eachother. On the other hand, Langdon often worried about being traced down by Fache by keeping his cellphone with him. Even though this was a risky thing to do, Langdon could not live without it.
Chalice/Blade:
Representation of man and women. The chalice is "V-shaped" symbolizing a women's womb, while the Blade which is an upside down V Shape (^) symbolizes a phallus. Both chalice and blade signify the unity between man and women.
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Allusions
In the novel, many historical references are made to compare or relate to an idea discussed. For example, many art pieces done by Leonardo Da Vinci were constantly being brought up, as well as the renascence period. References to Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and religion in general were also made.
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