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Literary notes about Trident (AI summary)

The word "trident" has worn many hats in literature, serving both as a potent symbol of divine power and a vivid image of armament. In some texts, such as those by John Newton and Thomas Inman [1, 2], the trident is imbued with religious connotations—evoking the ancient symbol of Siva and representing the dynamic interplay of masculine and feminine elements. Conversely, Jane Austen's brief and almost rhetorical use of "trident" [3] introduces the word in a lighter, more enigmatic manner. Meanwhile, Edgar Thurston’s works offer a spectrum of applications, from the threatening declaration of using a trident as a weapon [4] to its depiction as an emblem among temple servants [5] and even as part of vivid, ritualistic imagery that blends power with the natural world [6]. Nathaniel Hawthorne further nuances this motif by linking the trident to cultural identity with a playful suggestion of femininity through the figure of Britannia [7].
  1. In the other figure, the sacred tree takes the place of the linga, rising above the throne, as if from the trisul or trident, male emblems of Siva.
    — from Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism by Thomas Inman and M.R.C.S.E. John Newton
  2. The fourth figure represents two emblems of the male creator, a man and trident, and two of the female, a dolphin and ship.
    — from Ancient Pagan and Modern Christian Symbolism by Thomas Inman and M.R.C.S.E. John Newton
  3. Or a trident?
    — from Emma by Jane Austen
  4. I will pierce you with my trident.
    — from Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7 by Edgar Thurston
  5. Rāvulo (temple servants), trident.
    — from Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7 by Edgar Thurston
  6. Oh! thou with the great sword in thy hands, the great trident, dry up the cow’s udder even as a tiger, I swear by thee and my preceptor.
    — from Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7 by Edgar Thurston
  7. Or, if you prefer a female figure, what say you to Britannia with the trident?" "All very fine, Drowne; all very fine," answered the mariner.
    — from Mosses from an old manse by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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