The Power of Books and the Library

The Name of the Rose

The novel's meditation on the importance of books as repositories of knowledge and the dangers of controlling them.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Library as a Symbol The Library as a Symbol from "The Name of the Rose". A Treasure of Knowledge The Greatest Library The abbey's library is the largest in Christendom. It contains books from all over the world.

The Library as a Symbol from "The Name of the Rose". A Treasure of Knowledge The Greatest Library The abbey's library is the largest in Christendom. It contains books from all over the world.

A Treasure of Knowledge The Greatest Library The abbey's library is the largest in Christendom. It contains books from all over the world. It is a symbol of learning. The Forbidden Books But not all books are accessible. Some are hidden, some are poisoned. The library is also a place of secrecy and control. The Destruction The fire destroys the library. The knowledge is lost. The novel mourns the loss but also questions whether such control was ever justified.

The Book as a Weapon The Book as a Weapon from "The Name of the Rose". A Dangerous Object The Poisoned Pages The forbidden book is coated with poison. It kills those who read it. The book itself becomes a weapon.

The Book as a Weapon from "The Name of the Rose". A Dangerous Object The Poisoned Pages The forbidden book is coated with poison. It kills those who read it. The book itself becomes a weapon.

A Dangerous Object The Poisoned Pages The forbidden book is coated with poison. It kills those who read it. The book itself becomes a weapon. The Power of Ideas Jorge fears the ideas in the book more than the physical object. He believes that laughter can destroy faith. The book is dangerous because of its content. The Survival of Fragments After the fire, only fragments of books remain. Adso collects them. The power of books endures even in ruins.

Throughout the story