Knut Hamsun

Name: Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI
Author: Knut Hamsun

Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

Summary

“Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI”, published in 1917, is a work by Knut Hamsun. It explores elements such as Isak, Leopoldine and Inger.

Quotes from Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (Knut Hamsun)

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ Isak glanced aside, and said, "No, you think not? But you've grown so grand and all."
"Ha ha! Nay, I'm an old woman now," said she jestingly.
It was no use trying to hide the fact: Isak was not a bit sure of himself now. He could find no self-possession, but still kept aloof, shy, as if ashamed of himself. How old could his wife be now? She couldn't be less than thirty — that is to say, she couldn't be more, of course. And Isak, for all that he was eating already, must pull up a twig of heather and fall to biting that.
"What — are you eating heather?" cried Inger laughingly. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ Isak drives on till he comes to a tarn, a bit of a pool on the moor, and there he pulls up. A pool on the moors, black, deep down, and the little surface of the water perfectly still; Isak knew what that was good for; he had hardly used any other mirror in his life than such a bit of water on the moors. Look how nice and neat he is today, with a red shirt; he takes out a pair of scissors now, and trims his beard. Vain barge of a man; is he going to make himself handsome all at once, and cut away five years' growth of iron beard? He cuts and cuts away, looking at himself in his glass. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ He cuts and cuts away, a certain amount of beard falls into his patent mirror. The horse grows impatient at last and is moving on; Isak is fain to be content with himself as he is, and gets up again. And indeed he feels somehow younger already — devil knows what it could be, but somehow slighter of build. Isak drives down to the village.
Next day the mail boat comes in. Isak climbs up on a rock by the storekeeper's wharf, looking out, but still no Inger to be seen. Passengers there were, grown-up folk and children with them — Herregud! — but no Inger. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ They walked up to where Isak had left the horse and cart.
"New horse, you've got?" said Inger. "And what's that you've got — a cart with a seat in?"
"Tis but natural," said Isak. "What I was going to say: Wouldn't you care for a little bit of something to eat? I've brought things all ready."
"Wait till we get a bit on the way," said she. "Leopoldine, can you sit up by yourself?"
But her father won't have it; she might fall down under the wheels. "You sit up with her and drive yourself." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ They cross the moors and get into the woods again.
"Ptro!" says Inger, and the horse stops. She takes the child from Isak, gets him to shift the chest and the sewing-machine, making a place for Leopoldine in the bottom of the cart. "Shaken? not a bit of it!"
Isak fixes things to rights, tucks his little daughter up in the rug, and lays his jacket folded under her head. Then off again.
Man and wife gossiping of this and that. The sun is up till late in the evening, and the weather warm. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ An hour later the sun goes down, and it grows colder. Inger gets down to walk. Together they tuck the rug closer about Leopoldine, and smile to see how soundly she can sleep. Man and wife talk together again on their way. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ They've just been planting potatoes."
"Oh!" said the mother, smiling, and shaking her head. "Can they plant potatoes already?"
"Why, Eleseus, he gives a hand with this, and little Sivert helps with that," said Isak proudly.
Little Leopoldine was asking for something to eat. Oh, the pretty little creature; a ladybird up on a cart! She talked with a sing in her voice, with a strange accent, as she had learned in Trondhjem. Inger had to translate now and again. She had her brothers' features, the brown eyes and oval cheeks that all had got from their mother ”

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Source: Wikisource

Knut Hamsun, Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (1917)

“ But when the boys came nearer they stopped running all of a sudden and stared. They had forgotten what their mother looked like, and little sister they had never seen. But father — they didn't know him at all till he came quite close. ”

Knut Hamsun

Summary

Quotes from Growth of the Soil — Book One, Chapter XI (Knut Hamsun)

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