6. Find three examples of names that need to be spoken aloud in order to catch the allusion. Discuss the examples as well as the reading technique that requires you to read aloud in order to make connections. Why does King want us to read aloud?
In Green Grass, Running Water, there are a lot of allusions that are really subtle that just passes our mind when reading it. Sometimes, just as the question states, we have to read it out loud in order to catch the allusion King put in his novel.
1. Dr. Joe Hovaugh
Probably the most common one from the novel itself would be Dr. Joe Hovaugh. He is a doctor who runs a mental hospital that the Indian elders escape from. His full name would be Joseph Hovaugh and readers will not get the allusion made by King with this name if it is read with the full name. However, if the readers read aloud the shortened name for Joseph, which is Joe, the name of the doctor will very much sound like Jehovah, the God of Christianity. Also, readers would have to speak as quickly as possible in order to catch the allusion made by King. In my opinion, King wants us to read aloud so that the allusions are noticed, which will help us have a deeper understanding on his novels, and the connection between the allusion and the novel itself.
2. Ahdamn
As I read through the novel, this particular name stuck out to me because it reminded me of Adam, the first man on earth created by God in the bible. He is the male character in the first creation story. He goes on adventures with the First Woman and that alone makes another allusion to the bible where Adam and Eve are the first to live in this world. If read slowly, it may sound like Ah, Damn! But at the same time, the word and how it is said out loud already makes a clear allusion to Adam.
3. Nissan, Pinto, and Karman-Ghia
In the novel, the natives stole Charlie, Alberta, and Dr. Hovaugh’s cars. The allusion made in this particular names are the names of three of Colombus’ ships, Niña, Pinta, and Santa-Maria. There is also some connection of putting those as cars because it would be the means of transportation people use to get everywhere, while ships were means of transportation as well. These particular allusions would be quite difficult to catch the first time it is read aloud, however, understanding that their cars (tranportation) have been stole, the connection can be made that King is making an allusion to the ships Columbus used.
Works Cited
“The Niña & Pinta – The Columbus Foundation.” The Niña & Pinta – The Columbus Foundation, www.thenina.com/.
“What Does the Name Jehovah Mean? – Bible Definition.” Bible Study Tools, www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/jehovah/.
Fairchild, Mary. “Get to Know Adam in the Bible: First Man and Father of the Human Race.” Learn Religions, Learn Religions, 25 June 2019, www.learnreligions.com/adam-the-first-man-701197.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Santa María.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 11 Mar. 2020, www.britannica.com/topic/Santa-Maria-ship.