Fictio

//__Fictio __//


 * Definition:: ** **(v.) the attribution of rational qualities to non-rational objects.**


 * Origin:: Latin **


 * See also:: anthropomorphism **

Definition taken from: Latin Dictionary: http://www.latin-dictionary.org 


 * Examples ** from text:

1) In //Everything That Rises Must Converge,//the idea of racism is shown through two people of different generations. Julian, an educated male, understands that racism is in the world and understands how to deal with it. His mother, on the other hand, represents a "blind" racist. Fictio is shown through the shaping of Julian's mother's characterization of being a "blind" racist: “You remain what you are, your great-grand-father had a plantation and two hundred slaves."

2) Fictio can also be discovered in the tale of // El Beso //, the story of a French Captain who falls in love with a statue. Crazy to think at first, but I'm not joking. During the invasion of Toledo, the Captain discovers a statue that shows simple beauty. As the story progresses, however, the Captain is starting to become consumed by the rational qualities he is giving to the female statue. By the end, the Captain tells the statue: " Oh!… yes, a kiss! Only your kiss can calm the ardor of my consuming passion!" The Captain is struck down by the statue after kissing it, leaving his officers astonished and dumbfounded.

3) Walt Disney's // Silly Symphonies: Skeleton Dance // is a prime example of fictio. In this tale, skeletons are given the ability to dance and act as if they are living. The skeletons dance to the Macabre (the dance of death) to show their rejoice over the living. The bone-compiled creatures in this short tale are having a great time with their addition of normal living qualities!

(JH)