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Literary notes about rebuild (AI summary)

The word "rebuild" in literature has been used both literally and metaphorically to signify restoration, renewal, and transformation. In some texts, it refers to tangible reconstruction, such as when railroad hands rebuild a damaged bridge [1] or a city is fortified after war [2]. In other works, it takes on a more symbolic role; it conveys the rejuvenation of one’s inner fortifications and fortunes, as seen when a character must rebuild his fortress to hide his soul [3] or restore his fortunes before attending to physical repairs [4]. The concept also stretches to moral and communal renewal, where rebuilding extends to repairing not just physical structures like temples [5] or treasuries [6] but also the social fabric and personal integrity, as characters take on the challenge of rebuilding their lives or fortunes despite past ruins [7, 8, 9]. This multifaceted use underscores the term’s flexibility in evoking both the pragmatic efforts of repair and the deeper, often aspirational, processes of renewal.
  1. The railroad hands went to work at once to rebuild the bridge.
    — from Memoirs of General William T. Sherman — Complete by William T. Sherman
  2. Immediately after the great war, he began to rebuild and fortify the city.
    — from Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1 (of 4) by Plutarch
  3. She played the girl, until he could rebuild his fortress and hide his soul from the world.
    — from Howards End by E. M. Forster
  4. Thereby, for one thing, could D'Aiguillon postpone the rebuilding of his Chateau, and rebuild his fortunes first.
    — from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle
  5. I also give you leave to repair and rebuild your temple, and that all be done at my expenses.
    — from Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus
  6. Some parties in Lu were going to take down and rebuild the Long Treasury.
    — from The Analects of Confucius (from the Chinese Classics) by Confucius
  7. I am willing to help rebuild your fortune, but I will not be an accomplice in the ruin of others.”
    — from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
  8. “You wouldn’t care to work for me—to help rebuild the wreckage you’ve helped create?
    — from The Lani People by Jesse F. Bone
  9. Then Juan ordered Carguin Cargon to rebuild the kingdom; but when the work was done, Jaime again refused to fulfil his promise.
    — from Filipino Popular Tales

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