The Tale of the Unknown Island
Encyclopedia
"The Tale of the Unknown Island" is a short story by Portuguese author José Saramago
. It was published in Portuguese
in 1997, and English
in 1999.
greatly uses uncomplicated yet metaphor-rich language instrumental in the development of the story. It concludes with the king granting him a boat.
Second part is where the man's quest to know himself matures and expands into vaster regimes of introspection. There he finds, much to his amazement, that the journey of exploration has started even before he has set the sails on the ship. He brings the floor cleaner from the Castle of the King to help him in his journey. Throughout the trip the two reveal feelings for each other and, perhaps, though it is not certain, they discover the Unknown Island.
is known for: criticism of bureaucracy, discovering the unknown, a smooth text flow and profound messages in concise sentences. Saramago
was awarded Nobel prize in literature a year after this book was published in 1998.
José Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago, GColSE was a Nobel-laureate Portuguese novelist, poet, playwright and journalist. His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human factor. Harold Bloom has described Saramago as "a...
. It was published in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
in 1997, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1999.
Plot
When the King questions him about the existence of such an island, the man simply states that he knows so. In this part of the book, SaramagoJosé Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago, GColSE was a Nobel-laureate Portuguese novelist, poet, playwright and journalist. His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human factor. Harold Bloom has described Saramago as "a...
greatly uses uncomplicated yet metaphor-rich language instrumental in the development of the story. It concludes with the king granting him a boat.
Second part is where the man's quest to know himself matures and expands into vaster regimes of introspection. There he finds, much to his amazement, that the journey of exploration has started even before he has set the sails on the ship. He brings the floor cleaner from the Castle of the King to help him in his journey. Throughout the trip the two reveal feelings for each other and, perhaps, though it is not certain, they discover the Unknown Island.
Writing Style
This book, while only a short story and using comparatively lighter themes than in other books, has everything that SaramagoJosé Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago, GColSE was a Nobel-laureate Portuguese novelist, poet, playwright and journalist. His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human factor. Harold Bloom has described Saramago as "a...
is known for: criticism of bureaucracy, discovering the unknown, a smooth text flow and profound messages in concise sentences. Saramago
José Saramago
José de Sousa Saramago, GColSE was a Nobel-laureate Portuguese novelist, poet, playwright and journalist. His works, some of which can be seen as allegories, commonly present subversive perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human factor. Harold Bloom has described Saramago as "a...
was awarded Nobel prize in literature a year after this book was published in 1998.