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Una's face was an unbroken block of calculation, saving…

“Una's face was an unbroken block of calculation, saving where, upon her upper lip, a little down of hair fluttered. Yet it gave one an uncanny feeling. It made one think of a tassel on a hammer.” quote by Djuna Barnes
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“Una's face was an unbroken block of calculation, saving where, upon her upper lip, a little down of hair fluttered. Yet it gave one an uncanny feeling. It made one think of a tassel on a hammer.”

Djuna Barnes

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator perceives a woman's expression as mechanically precise yet oddly unsettling, likening it to a decorative hammer tassel.

In simple terms: A calculated face feels strange, like a hammer tassel.

Key Takeaway

Notice how precision can feel eerie.

Themes

perception appearance uncanny detail

Mood

intriguing analytical

Type

literary descriptive

When to use this quote

  • character analysis
  • literary critique
  • artistic description

Key Concepts

psychology visual metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does a calculated demeanor affect trust?
  • What does the hammer tassel symbolize?
A Different Perspective

The description may overemphasize physical traits, ignoring inner life.

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