Morrison: strung-up

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Marius Hancu - 15 Jan 2010 12:19 GMT

Hello:

"strung-up"
is this
"as suspended by a string (from say up in the ceiling)"
or
"nervous, excited?"

---
[Hagar wants to kill Milkman, but can't get herself to do it. He's
passively waiting, in a test of wills.]

Hagar raised the knife again, this time with both hands, but found she
could not get her arms down. [...]

At the thirtieth second Milkman knew he had won. He moved his arm and
opened his eyes. His gaze traveled to her strung-up, held-up arms.

Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 137
---
--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 15 Jan 2010 12:43 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

I'd say "nervous, excited"

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Cheryl

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CDB - 15 Jan 2010 13:45 GMT

>> "strung-up"
>> is this
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> I'd say "nervous, excited"

Agreed, but I think it means the other as well: paralysed by nervous
tension.

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Marius Hancu - 16 Jan 2010 11:17 GMT

> >> "strung-up"
> >> is this
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Agreed, but I think it means the other as well: paralysed by nervous
> tension.

Thank you all.
Marius Hancu

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Chuck Riggs - 16 Jan 2010 15:29 GMT

>> Hello:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
>I'd say "nervous, excited"

From the context, "Hagar raised the knife again, this time with both
hands, but found she could not get her arms down", "strung-up"
obviously refers to Marius's first choice, "suspended by a string
(from say up in the ceiling)"

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Regards,

Chuck Riggs,
An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE

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Paul - 16 Jan 2010 10:37 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Thanks.
> Marius Hancu

In another context, this could mean someone had been messed about.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

Morrison: strung-up