Symbolism, Setting, and Objects from Humboldt's Gift

Object Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major objects in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Objects

Chicago - Humboldt's Gift can be said to be a travelogue of this American city. The author clearly loves this city he has chosen as Charlie's birthplace and childhood home.

Chicago TB Sanatorium - Charlie is confined to the public children's ward in this place. The scenes here shape Charlie's life-long preoccupation with the nature of death.

New York City - This place is Humboldt's home turf. It is where he finally succumbs to his madness and dies.

Greenwich Village - The center of art and literature for Marxists...
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