Death in Venice
by Thomas Mann

Death in Venice: Style 1 key example

Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis:

The style of the novella is defined by its many allusions to classical (Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman) myth, history, and philosophy. Perhaps influenced by the Mediterranean surroundings, Aschenbach spends much of his time in Venice thinking about ancient history, often comparing Tadzio to various figures drawn from classical mythology, including Narcissus (a beautiful young man who falls in love with his own reflection in a pool of water) and Phaedrus (a student of the philosopher Socrates.)