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Literary notes about underpinning (AI summary)

The term "underpinning" has been employed in literature to convey a fundamental support or basis upon which something is built or established, both in tangible and conceptual contexts. In Jules Verne's work, the phrase is used to denote the literal structural support of Crespo Island [1], highlighting how natural formations serve as the essential base of larger ecosystems. Conversely, in George Santayana's reflection on human progress, the word embodies a metaphorical inevitability, suggesting that certain foundational elements are required for any desired outcome to materialize [2]. This dual usage exemplifies how the concept of underpinning bridges the concrete and the abstract in literary expression.
  1. This was the underpinning of Crespo Island.
    — from Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas: An Underwater Tour of the World by Jules Verne
  2. The structure was but the inevitable underpinning for the desired display.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

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