Analyse af 'Where the gods fly' af Jean Kwok

The title of the short story “Where the gods fly” by Jean kwok is intriguing because it does not reveal much about the plot of the story.

The story begins ‘in medias res´ (the middle of events) showing the narrator. Praying in a temple: “I kneel here before the gods and though of what I am about to do stings my eyes like incense”2

The opening sentence grabs readers´ attention because it is intriguing. We don´t know who the narrator is and what though torments her.

Given the reference to ´gods´, readers might expect the story to explore religious themes.

Upon reading the short story it is revealed that the title refers to a Buddhist religious idea:

“It is not easy to maintain your balance when the winds of fate blow upon your back; when they are strong, if you are not as strong as they, they can topple you over and roll you into the earth. But if you have the strength to withstand their blows, they can propel you to where the gods fly1. “