bridge of san luis rey, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “bridge of san luis rey, the” mean?
The title of a 1927 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Thornton Wilder, which explores the themes of fate, love, and the interconnectedness of human lives.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of a 1927 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Thornton Wilder, which explores the themes of fate, love, and the interconnectedness of human lives.
The phrase can refer to the novel itself, its philosophical themes, or be used metaphorically to denote a seemingly random event that reveals hidden connections between people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or understanding. The title is identical in all English-speaking regions.
Connotations
Connotes mid-20th century American literature, philosophical inquiry, and historical fiction set in colonial Peru.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday conversation, encountered almost exclusively in literary or academic contexts. Frequency is equally low in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bridge of san luis rey, the” in a Sentence
[Subject] read/references The Bridge of San Luis Rey.[Subject] is an analysis/essay about The Bridge of San Luis Rey.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bridge of san luis rey, the” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tutor advised us to revisit The Bridge of San Luis Rey before the seminar.
American English
- The professor assigned The Bridge of San Luis Rey for next week's class.
adjective
British English
- Her essay offered a Bridge of San Luis Rey-style analysis of the accident.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature, American studies, and philosophy courses discussing fate, narrative structure, or 20th-century fiction.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might be mentioned by avid readers or in a book club.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bridge of san luis rey, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bridge of san luis rey, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bridge of san luis rey, the”
- Omitting 'The' at the beginning.
- Misspelling 'Luis' as 'Louis'.
- Confusing it with a book about an actual, historical bridge.
- Pronouncing 'Rey' as /riː/ instead of /reɪ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The bridge in the novel is fictional, though set in the historical context of 18th-century Peru.
It is the conventional and official way the title is presented, much like 'The Great Gatsby' or 'The Old Man and the Sea'.
The central theme is an exploration of fate, love, and the seemingly random yet interconnected nature of human lives and deaths.
It is a staple of American literature syllabi at university level and sometimes in advanced high school courses, but it is less common than more contemporary texts.
The title of a 1927 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Thornton Wilder, which explores the themes of fate, love, and the interconnectedness of human lives.
Bridge of san luis rey, the is usually literary, academic in register.
Bridge of san luis rey, the: in British English it is pronounced /ðə brɪdʒ əv sæn luːˈiːs reɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ðə brɪdʒ əv sæn ˈluɪs reɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None directly, but the concept can spawn metaphorical uses like) 'a Bridge of San Luis Rey moment' - an event that unexpectedly links disparate lives.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BRIDGE in SAN Luis Rey collapsing, connecting five people forever in a story by WILDER.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY across a bridge; FATE IS A STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE; HUMAN CONNECTIONS ARE INVISIBLE CABLES.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary subject of 'The Bridge of San Luis Rey'?