Mind Map Gallery Sophie's World Themes
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Sophie's World Themes
Sophie's World is both a novel and a history of philosophy, and so it is not strange that philosophy is its unifying theme.
Edited at 2020-10-08 02:50:28
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Sophie's-World-Themes
Chapter 1
Sophie Amundsen finds asmall letter in her mailboxthat asks the question"Who are you?"
She can't explain this.
She contemplates this, then goes toreturd theletter to the mailbox where she finds anotherone that asks "Where does the world comefrom?"
Even if God created the universe, he himselfmust have come from somewhere
Sophie contemplates the concept of lifeand death.
"You can't experience being alive withoutrealizing that you have to die, she thought.But it's just as impossible to realize youhave to die without thinking how incrediblyamazing it is to be alive."
Sophie also finds a postcard fromLebanon addressed to Hilde Knag.
It wishes a happy birthday to Hilde, and tellsher that he is sending this card through Sophie.
There is no Hilde Knag in the phonebook.
Chapter 2
Sophie turns down the invitation to playwith Joanna
She does'nt tell anyone about the letters.
When she gets home from school the nextday she finds another letter written to her,describing philosophy
The letter says that philosophy is one of themost important parts of our lives.Attempting to understand our role in societyis a good excercise.
There are not many philosophicalquestions, but there are many ways toanswer each one.
After reading that letter she goes back tothe mailbox and finds yet another letter.
To be a philosopher, all you need is thecapacity to wonder.
"The only thing that we require to be goodphilosophers is the faculty of wonder."
The writer of the letters NEVER wantsSophie to lose her sense of wonder.
Sophie then tries to discuss philosophy withher mom, but it only leads her to questionwhether of not Sophie has been doingdrugs.
Chapter 3
After school the next day Sophie finds a letterfrom her dad, working far away, and thenanother on philosophy.
The philosophical letter describes the timeleading up to western philosophy.
People explained things through myths.
Greek philosophers questioned these myths
Sophie realizes that these ideas, the mythsare not so stupid after all, and if she didn'thave her own explanations already, shewould have made up stories to explain themas well.
Chapter 4
Sophie ponders philosophy
Her mom finds another letter and thinks it isa love letter so Sophie lets her think that tokeep her privacy.
There are three letters.
"Is there a basic substance that everythingis made of?"
"Can water turn into wine?"
"How can earth and water produce a livefrog?"