Block Quote by Djuna Barnes
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Nightwood by Djuna Barnes, 1936
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.
