Literary notes about staff (AI summary)
The term “staff” is employed in a variety of ways in literature, often straddling the literal and metaphorical realms. In military and administrative settings, it denotes not only the body of officers and personnel who help manage and execute operations ([1], [2], [3]), but also specific roles such as chiefs and aides whose expertise is critical to command ([4], [5]). Meanwhile, “staff” frequently describes a physical object—a stick or baton imbued with symbolic power—that heroes wield or that gods carry, emphasizing attributes ranging from authority to mystical support ([6], [7], [8]). Additionally, the word takes on abstract nuances, such as in the expression “the staff of life,” where it metaphorically represents sustenance and essential support ([9]). This multifaceted usage highlights the term’s versatility across genres and narrative contexts.
- Besides this, the whole staff of the Russian army was now reorganized.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - † Credits given by the Captains of the Staff, Chiefs of Brigades.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - The division of the staff into adjutant-general’s and quartermaster-general’s department does not exist in the French service.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - The colonel looked silently at the officer of the suite, at the stout staff officer, and at Zherkóv, and he frowned.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - Except Jackson himself, and his chief of artillery, not one of the staff had more than a year’s service.
— from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll - As messenger of the gods he wears the Petasus and Talaria, and bears in his hand the Caduceus or herald's staff.
— from Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E. M. Berens - And he twirled his staff in his fingers till it whistled again.
— from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle - Then, raising his staff, stout Arthur dealt him another blow upon the ribs.
— from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle - Bread, the staff of life, earn your bread, O tell me where is fancy bread, at Rourke’s the baker’s it is said.
— from Ulysses by James Joyce
