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From: Colby Cavaliere
T1: Caval19@aol.com
Date: 3/22/98
Time: 6:41:03 PM
Remote Name: 38.26.133.233
Name of the Rose Assignment
I'm not really sure if this "preface" has all that much to do with the novel itself. It seems to me like a fictional aside of what the author had to go through to just be able to right the book. His translation of the original Adso script was stolen, so he had to go with the few notes he copied to write this final manuscript. This "preface" sort of mirrors the themes of the novel. There is the second book of Poetics written by Aristotle that is the focal point of the book. In this preface, the manuscript of Adso, and it's translation are the sought after writings. Our fictional author, who wishes to produce as an accurate account of Adso's manuscript must overcome many hurdles. First his translation of the original is stolen, then he uncovers some facts that make it seem as though the translation might be a fake, but a twist of fate tells him otherwise when quotes of Adso show up in another book. Then he must decide what language, and in what style he should write the book. In the end he produces the most accurate piece he can, based on his findings. The athor's plight is similar to that of William in the book. William is only allowed to read a small portion of Aristotle's book, and then the book is destroyed. William's only recollection is what is in his mind, so he will have to try and piece together his own conclusions based on other works. In the end though, the author's recollection of Adso's manuscripts can never fully be accurate, it had changed hands, and translations so many times of the years, that it could never be pieced together fully