Essay Questions

What is the implication of the printing press?

Sibylla expounds, “The invention of the printing press lay far ahead of them as the wonders of the 3700s from us: all books were copied out by hand. Mistakes crept in, especially if you were coping a copy of a copy of a copy; sometimes the copyist would have a bright idea and add bogus lines or even entire bogus passages, and then everyone after him would innocently copy the bright idea along with the rest. One solution was to get as close to the original as you could.” Manifestly, the printing press is a milestone that improves the publication of books by reducing the errors which are inherent in manual copying. Moreover, the printing press reduces the cases of distortion which occur when the copies are reproduced manually.

Why does Sibylla recommend “The Seven Samurais” for Ludo?

Sibylla explains, “today I read these terrible words in the paper: In the absence of a benevolent male, the single mother faces an uphill battle in raising her son. It is essential that she provide the boy with male role models-neighbours, or uncles, or friends of the family, to share their interest and hobbies. This is very well. But Ludo is an uncleless boy, and I don’t happen to know any well-meaning stamp collectors…I thought: well, if L needs a role model let him watch Seven Samurai & he will have 8.” Sibylla trusts that the samurai possess benevolence which Ludo should emulate. The acts and ideologies would influence Ludo positively. Consequently, he will emulate them and be like another samurai (the eight).