Megan Kuhle
July 31st, 2006
Ms. Reed
“Destiny is a snake which is so hungry it devours itself,” reads the microscopic book 12-year-old Hans Thomas is handed by a mysterious baker. So begins the extended, magical journey in The Solitaire Mystery, written by Jostein Gaarder, in which Hans Thomas must find his lost mother, but also carry out his own destiny that is written within the Sticky Bun Book. In this extraordinarily charming novel split between reality and fairy tale, family and destiny prove to overcome the obstacles set before them. This novel is written in lively tone, and includes five strong literary devices: the author’s background, imagery, point-of-view, foreshadowing, and symbolism.
The author’s background contributes greatly to the imagery and plot of the novel. Jostein Gaarder was born in 1952 in Oslo, Norway, and began teaching high school philosophy in 1981. His keen observations and phenomenal intellectualism in this subject allow him to successfully incorporate lessons in philosophy within a fairy tale of a magical island. Gaarder’s ability to intertwine two completely opposite topics is what makes his novels so appealing. Both his Norway heritage and love of philosophy intervene effortlessly in The Solitaire Mystery. Hans is traveling with his humorous, alcoholic, philosophical father from Norway to Athens in order to find his mother, who left them years ago to “find herself”. A mysterious dwarf gives Hans a book within a sticky bun at a bakery, and Hans passes the car travel time away reading it. The novel alternates between the reality of Hans and his father, to the seemingly enchanted island where a deck of cards is alive enclosed in the Sticky Bun Book. Gaarder’s brilliant use of imagery in the Sticky Bun Book is not only entertaining, but introduces us to new vocabulary, such as The Magic Funnel, Rainbow Soda, and Joker Day. All the while, his imagination dances around serious topics containing ideas of philosophy and theology. Not only does Gaarder entertain, but he also surfaces thought-provoking questions, exposing the teacher within him.
Another way Gaarder combines two literary devices is when he uses the point-of-view to exhibit foreshadowing. In The Solitaire Mystery there are many different points-of-view, five to be exact, all laced together smoothly. This approach creates mystery and wonder, as the reader tries to connect the relations of the different characters to one another. There is a puzzle within the Sticky Bun Book that Hans is trying to put together while reading the book, only to learn that he has been reading his own future. Gaarder subtly uses foreshadowing of Han’s real life through the Sticky Bun Book and its characters. The Sticky Bun Book reveals that Hans’ grandfather is the third generation of bakers who work at the same bakery Hans was given the Sticky Bun Book. At the end, he finally connects that the same baker who gave him the book is really his grandfather (whom they thought was dead). Gaarder implies this detail to the reader early on, as if he is setting the scene for dramatic irony. The dexterity and ease of Gaarder’s writing with changing points-of-view and foreshadowing produces easy reading and understanding.
Symbolism is the most commonly used literary device in The Solitaire Mystery. Being a philosopher, Gaarder often relates one thing to another in order for the reader to see something in a new light. In The Solitaire Mystery, Gaarder’s use of associating playing cards to humans is as ingenious as it is valid. In the novel, a “joker” in a card deck is compared to philosophers. They are not a spade, club, diamond, or heart, and they are neither a two, a jack, nor an ace; they are not like others. On the island, the joker card/man is the only one who questions where he is from, how he got there, and who’s in control of all of the cards, just like philosopher’s do in the real world. Another card that symbolizes a person is the Ace of Hearts who continuously gets lost on the magical island. She signifies Hans’ mother, who herself is “lost” in Athens. And last, the Rainbow Soda, a senses-paralyzing drink concocted by one of the elders on the island, that the joker drinks symbolizes the alcohol that paralyzes Hans’ father from thinking clearly. The clever and creative way that Gaarder relates the fairy tale to Hans’ real life is every bit captivating as it is realistic. The reader is consumed into this huge fable story, while at the same time is able to pertain it to everyday life. Gaarder’s sharp use of symbolism gives a whole new panorama to something as simplistic as a deck of cards.
Jostein Gaarder’s style of writing and use of literary devices to teach philosophy through fairy tales make his works highly amusing. Through his background and heritage, he is able to present philosophical lessons while also revealing his delightful imagination. Because of his innovative skill, Gaarder has proved to be a very successful author, with over ten novels written in over 45 different languages around the world.