The rest of the book revolves around sophies and knoxs quest to escape the power of hildes father, the author of the overarching story. Another philosophical question raised in the book by the anonymous philosopher was the question. Everybody was concerned with what can we know about the world. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such.
In a sense, the subject is contextualised into a that includes reality as a reality. On june 15, the day she turns fifteen, hilde receives a birthday gift from her father entitled sophies world. Daily mail what is admirable in the novel is the utter unpretentiousness of the philosophical lessons, the plain and workmanlike prose which manages to deliver western philosophy in accounts that are crystal clear. Sophies world has rapidly become an international literary phenom. He taught highschool philosophy for several years before publishing a collection of short stories in 1986 and, shortly thereafter, his first two novels, the solitaire mystery and sophie s world, and several others since then. Coming home from school one day, sophie finds questions in her mailbox. Published in 1991, the book was a resounding success selling millions of copies and being translated into over 50 different languages the original book was written in gaarders native norwegian. Jostein gaarders world bestseller sophies world is a book about philosophy, as you may have guessed from the title of this article. An alternative cover for this isbn can be found hereone day fo.
Believed platos world of ideas did not exist but that the eternal idea was really a concept the idea of a horse that we have after seeing many of them. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics is a history of philosophy written in the format of a mystery novel by jostein gaarder. Sophies world is a novel by jostein gaarder that was first published 1991. But much as i enjoy a quest, i have no plans to visit every country in the world by a set time. Mothers analysis of sophies world holds that language is fundamentally elitist. Complete summary of jostein gaarder s sophie s world. Dec 22, 2007 sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. Sophies world, the first of his books to be published in english, has been translated into 60 languages and has sold over 40 million copies.
A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics paperback march 20, 2007. Sophies world themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Later sophie finds a scarf with hilde s name on it. This question i thought was the most puzzling of all questions, as well as the most crucial among all the others. Jostein gaarder does a very good job not just by writing a concise history of philosophy, but also by writing a very accessible book for as far as early teenagers, which in itself is.
The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a. The other protagonist of sophies world, hilde moller knag is a teenaged girlthe same age as sophie who, we learn, is reading sophies story in installments sent by her father, albert knag. Review of sophies world, by jostein gaarder richard gehr levity. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. Along with alberto knox, sophie is a part of hildes birthday present. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Sophies world became an alltime hit at the time of release and more when the english version got published. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. We follow the rest of sophies story from hilde s perspective.
One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from. Sophie s world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including sophies world. Sofies verden sophies world, jostein gaarder sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder.
Considering that the novels ending reveals she is fictional, albert knag, the author, actually made those choices for her, too, which seems to point to sophies complete lack of agency. This is a combination party for mid summer eve and for sophies 15th birthday that happens a week earlier. Sophies world is both a novel and a history of philosophy, and so it is not strange that. Sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. If realism holds, we have to choose between sophie as student and sophies world. A phenomenal worldwide bestseller, sophie s world sets out to draw teenagers into the world of socrates, descartes, spinoza, hegel and all the great philosophers. Check out sophies world by randall meyers on amazon music. The washington post book world just as remarkable for its playful premise as it is for its accessibility. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. The concept of the platonic forms is one of the most. A novel about the history of philosophy was not only a bestseller in. Jan 01, 2007 sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story.
A summary of themes in jostein gaarders sophies world. However, sophie calms the mother down by telling her that the mother will meet the philosopher at the party they are holding on mid summer eve. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. Sophies mother thinks sophie is in trouble with a boy or man or going crazy. An analysis of the sophies world book by jostein gaarder. They can be sure that their world is the creation of albert knag, but just because we lack. Topics a novel about the history of philosophy collection arvindgupta. She is the creation of albert knag in order to amuse his daughter hilde. Here, we come to the central twist of the book the strong possibility that sophie and alberto are just fictions, creature who only exist as words on a printed page. He is the author of many other bestselling, beloved novels and childrens books. The particular cookie may be imperfect, and different from other cookies, but the mold itself is perfectly formed.
Sophies world book summary united state philosophy jostien. Sophies world jostien gaarder sophie amundsen was on her way home from school. Sophie s mother thinks sophie is in trouble with a boy or man or going crazy. Mar 20, 2007 jostein gaarder was born in oslo, norway, in 1952. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europes oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner. As sophie learns more and more about philosophy from the mysterious alberto knox, she has to. Books similar to sophies world meet your next favorite book. I loved sophies world when i first read it in high school i should try it again now and see if it holds up. An international bestseller, it is both a mystery novel and a history of the major philosophies that have impacted the world. Socrates known as one of the three great classical philosophers along with plato and aristotle that strongly influenced europe and together represent a new era of thinking. Sophies world socrates by kirsten schwegler on prezi.
Certain conditions govern the minds operation which influence the way we experience the world, certain conditions in the human mind contribute to our conception of the world. It follows the events of sophie amundsen, a teenage girl living in norway, and alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher who introduces her to philosophical thinking and the history of philosophy. The essential charm of sophies world lies in the innocent curiosity of the young character, and the clever narrative structure gaarder designed to. Jostein gaarders sophies world provides a child like introduction to the world of philosophy. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Summarysophies worldmain characterssophie amundsenshe is very curious about the things surrounded her. A novel about the history of philosophy addeddate 20160324 07. It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher sophies world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994.
I also read one of jostein gaarder s other books, the solitaire mystery, and it has a similar feel, with intertwining and vaguely supernatural story lines, but it s not a beginner s textbook as sophie s world. The main theme of sophies world is that the key to surviving the world is understanding yourself. It is equal parts fiction and nonfiction, but the most purposeful content is to inform readers about key philosophers and their ideas in the western tradition. New era sophist vs philosopher insight and understanding modesty and the naturally or socially induced for. Have you read sophies world or have an interest in philosophy. Gaarder leaves a clue in this chapter to set up this twist with the line. It all starts when twelve year old sophie receives an anonymous letter. This intriguing question is only one of many which are encountered in the novel sophies world. A novel about the history of philosophy kindle edition by gaarder, jostein. Find books like sophies world from the worlds largest community of readers. While sophies world might be a little too advanced, there are other great books for answering childrens questions about the world wed 2 jan 20 06. An international bestseller, it is both a mystery novel and a history of the major philosophies that. Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. This is a combination party for mid summer eve and for sophie s 15th birthday that happens a week earlier.
Gaarders book provides readers with an overview of western philosophy embedded within the curious story of a young girl. Oct 23, 2014 overall, sophies world is a great novel, easy to follow, and a very enjoyable literary adventure. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europe s oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner. This is the question that sophie amundsen must ask as she tackles the history of philosophy in what begins as a personalized correspondence course for which she never signed up.
Dec 05, 1991 sofies verden sophie s world, jostein gaarder sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each. Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy. Rising action complications as sophie continues to study philosophy, her situation with receiving items for hilde start to become a bit more weird. The essential charm of sophies world lies in the innocent curiosity of the young character, and the clever narrative structure gaarder designed to pique it. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Sophie as student and sophies world sexual identity is intrinsically elitist, says hermes. What if we were all just characters from a book written by major albert knag as a philosophical present for his daughter hildes 15th birthday.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sophies world. Be sure to use specific evidence from the novel to support your ideas. Goodreads members who liked sophies world also liked. Originally published july 21, 2009 if you enjoy bizarre novels where nothing is as it seems, and the line between the real and the surreal blurs, sophies world, by jostein gaarder, is for you. Apr 09, 2017 sophies world is one of the most famous philosophical books in the history of literature. In the book, hermes says sexual identity is a legal fiction. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre. It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Immediately download the sophies world summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for. Believed plato s world of ideas did not exist but that the eternal idea was really a concept the idea of a horse that we have after seeing many of them. Complete summary of jostein gaarders sophies world.
This study guide and infographic for jostein gaarders sophies world offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a postcard. Sophies world characters from litcharts the creators of. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginner s guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. How does the end of the novel, and the resolution of the mystery, reflect the philosophical ideas presented in the novel. The philosophical world which is often complex, vast, and difficult to contemplate in a limited time we have needs simplified parables and analogies. Hilde becomes certain that sophie exists, that she is not just a character in a book. Sophies world is one of the most famous philosophical books in the history of literature. Chapter discussion questions have been revised and expanded using the 2007 paperback edition published by farrar, straus and giroux. Alberto knoxsophies teacher, alberto knox represents the ideal philosopher. The 7 habits of highly effective people summary duration. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including sophie s world. This period took place in different times in different countries, but largely to place in the 17th century 1.
Sophies world summary from litcharts the creators of. Thus, in the book, alberto knox says society is part of. The primary theme of the works of jeremy is a mythopoetical whole. Alberto is an excellent teacher because he forces sophie to think things out on her own and does not make things easy for her but he also cares about her and wants her to learn. The novel concerns a little girl, sophia, who gets a correspondence course in philosophy from a mysterious character further details into the plot would require spilling the beans. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on sophies world by jostein gaarder. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder.
A brilliantly original and fascinating story with many twists and turns, it raises profound questions about the meaning of life and the origin of the universe. Sophie feels that it is all related to her philosophy course in some way. The book simplifies the complex world of philosophy. The physical world through which sophie and alberto are moving may be real, or it may be nothing more than paper and writing, the product of hilde s father s imagination. Check out sophie s world by randall meyers on amazon music. This was my very first indepth reading on philosophy. I read this book over the course of a month, while reading other books in parallel, and sometimes taking a break from it on purpose. The english translation was published in 1995, and the book was. I also read one of jostein gaarders other books, the solitaire mystery, and it has a similar feel, with intertwining and vaguely supernatural story lines, but its not a beginners textbook as sophies world. A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophie s world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. In a particularly memorable and psychologically grotesque sequence, sophies birthday party is transformed into a scene of depravity and total absurdity a final display of the authors power.
As sophie amundsen becomes aware that her world is a literary creation in the mind of albert knag, she begins to wonder if she has any real. I loved sophie s world when i first read it in high school i should try it again now and see if it holds up. Considering that the novel s ending reveals she is fictional, albert knag, the author, actually made those choices for her, too, which seems to point to sophie s complete lack of agency. Sophies world by jostein gaarder audiobook chapters. Immediately download the sophies world summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching sophies world. He taught highschool philosophy for several years before publishing a collection of short stories in 1986 and, shortly thereafter, his first two novels, the solitaire mystery and sophies world, and several others since then.