“For having lived in Westminster—how many years now? over twenty,--one feels eve in the midst of the traffic, or waking at night, Clarissa was positive, a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause; a suspense (but that might be her heart, affected, they said, by influenza) before Big Ben strikes” (4).
Big Ben is the name of the bell located in the Clock Tower in London. The Clock Tower itself is often mistakenly referred to as ‘Big Ben’, which is the way Woolf is using it here. Big Ben is a symbol to the people of London, uniting them and representing strength, time, and glory. Woolf’s use of Big Ben places the setting of the novel in London, which is until this point unknown. In the novel, Big Ben represents the elapsing of time, as its chime is heard at various points throughout the novel indicating that the day is passing.
Works Cited:
"The Clock Tower (Big Ben): Facts and Figures." About Parliament. 26 Sept. 2008 http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/big_ben/facts.cfm.
Big Ben is the name of the bell located in the Clock Tower in London. The Clock Tower itself is often mistakenly referred to as ‘Big Ben’, which is the way Woolf is using it here. Big Ben is a symbol to the people of London, uniting them and representing strength, time, and glory. Woolf’s use of Big Ben places the setting of the novel in London, which is until this point unknown. In the novel, Big Ben represents the elapsing of time, as its chime is heard at various points throughout the novel indicating that the day is passing.
Works Cited:
"The Clock Tower (Big Ben): Facts and Figures." About Parliament. 26 Sept. 2008 http://www.parliament.uk/about/history/big_ben/facts.cfm.
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nice and solid -- a perfect example of a succinct and complete concordance entry
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