Literary notes about Plaza (AI summary)
The term "plaza" in literature often evokes a multifaceted space that serves as both a physical setting and a symbol of communal life, cultural gathering, and historical significance. It may appear as a bustling urban center where everyday drama unfolds, as seen when characters cross its lively paths or witness dramatic encounters [1, 2, 3]. In some narratives, the plaza underscores monumental events, ranging from military confrontations and strategic maneuvers [4, 5, 6] to solemn public rituals and historical ceremonies [7, 8]. Authors like José Rizal and Edgar Rice Burroughs use the plaza not merely as a backdrop but as a dynamic participant in the unfolding story, imbuing it with the pulse of the city and the collective consciousness of its inhabitants [9, 10, 11]. Whether portrayed as the quintessential town square, a fortified focal point of social order, or a vibrant center for political and cultural exchanges, the word "plaza" consistently anchors the narrative in a specific time and place, enriching the reader’s understanding of the setting and the interwoven lives of its characters [5, 12, 13].
- He came back on Fifth Avenue at 57th and flew past the Plaza and by the park with its hushed babies and silent throng, until as he was rushing past
— from Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil by W. E. B. Du Bois - My home now was upon an avenue leading into the plaza from the south, the main artery down which we had marched from the gates of the city.
— from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Already the big plaza teemed with commuters who neatly sidestepped the homeless people begging there.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - When within a square of the plaza this small command, ten companies in all, was brought to a halt.
— from Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete by Ulysses S. Grant - The Spaniards then assailed Ternate; the fort and plaza were bombarded, and then the town was carried by storm.
— from A History of the Philippines by David P. Barrows - The 3d and 4th regiments of infantry made an advance nearly to the plaza in this way and with heavy loss.
— from Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Complete by Ulysses S. Grant - El palacio nacional, fabricado en 1693, domina una plaza hermosa cubierta de árboles y flores.
— from A First Spanish Reader by Alfred Remy and Erwin W. Roessler - "The entire history of San Francisco was made around this Plaza."
— from The Lure of San Francisco: A Romance Amid Old Landmarks by Elizabeth Gray Potter - The tumult in the plaza awoke him from his reverie.
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal - Tiago as Ibarra stepped into the carriage, which at once started in the direction of the plaza of San Gabriel.
— from The Social Cancer: A Complete English Version of Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal - " The plaza was now commencing to fill with people going and coming upon the daily activities of their duties.
— from A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs - The principal streets are wide, and contain many good houses; and the plaza is particularly well worth a visit from the lovers of the picturesque.
— from Excursions in the mountains of Ronda and Granada, with characteristic sketches of the inhabitants of southern Spain, vol. 2/2 by C. Rochfort (Charles Rochfort) Scott - Then Juan called a man and told him to drag this little wagon along the street toward the palace, and then to the plaza.
— from Filipino Popular Tales