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Questions tagged [name-significance]

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For questions related to the literary significance or meaning of names that appear in literature.

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9
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1answer
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Is the name Crowley in Good Omens a reference to the famous occultist?

The main demonic character in the humouristic-apocalyptic story Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman goes by the name Anthony Crowley - a name which instantly jumped out at me because of its similarity ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views

What's the significance of the witches' name change in Sandman?

As mentioned in another question, the three witches are very significant in The Sandman. While that other question asks for their significance in general, I have a much more specific question to ask. ...
13
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1answer
4k views

Why did Bill Watterson choose the character names he did?

Several major characters in Calvin and Hobbes are named after fictional or historical characters. Calvin is named after theologian John Calvin Hobbes is named after Thomas Hobbes Miss Wormwood is ...
7
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1answer
1k views

Why is Josef K.'s last name never revealed?

Throughout the novel, the main character's name is given only as "Josef K." In fact, as I recall, several characters even actually refer to him as Josef K. Why isn't he given a last name? Is this ...
5
votes
1answer
287 views

What is the significance of “Jonathan” in Strange and Norrell?

At least four major characters have the name "John" or "Jonathan", including Jonathan Strange, John Segundus, John Childermass, and John Uskglass. This is potentially confusing to a reader. In ...
2
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1answer
828 views

Why did Yossarian sign letters with “Washington Irving”?

When he's in the hospital and is forced to censor letters, Yossarian signed his "name" as "Washington Irving." Later in the book, Major Major does the same thing on official documents. What's the ...