Analysis and Interpretation of Data Maps:
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_ Analysis of Data and Maps
Thesis: Finding Literary London
In a class focused so much on London, we decided to compile and tally every London-area location mentioned in A Journal of the Plague Year, Oliver Twist, The Waste Land, Mrs. Dalloway, and Saturday. Plotting this data to a current map of London, we determined that there are several places, streets, and areas throughout London that are universal throughout all 5 works we studied. The data plotted to a map of London establishes a positive correlation between these “universal locations” found in the literature and the iconic images and ideas of the city. These icons of the city, of the real London, inspire authors to create a “Literary London.” By mentioning such places in their work, a physical Literary London can be pinpointed by the most densely referenced regions of the city per area.
Part I: The Correlation
The location with highest density of references per square kilometer is the London Bridge/ Whitechapel area. The London Bridge/Whitechapel area included 59 references per km2, a significantly higher ratio than any of the other regions. To prove the positive correlation between the density of references per area, general knowledge icons and ideas associated with the London Bridge are listed to exemplify that a high density of data points correlates to the most idealized and iconic places within the city. For example, the London Bridge/Whitechapel portion of London, specifically the London Bridge, is the one of the most stereotypical areas of London. Nearly every child knows the age-old “London Bridge is falling down, falling down” nursery rhyme, yet the nursery rhyme can still not be considered in the same scope as what the London Bridge symbolizes. The bridge itself, which has been in use for hundreds of years, symbolizes the historic nature of the entire city of London. Thus, often when people imagine London, the London Bridge stretching across the Thames River most frequently comes to mind, one of the most popular and iconic images of the city. Turning to Whitechapel specifically, the Whitechapel district has historically been a home to famous crime and criminals. Jack the Ripper’s horrendous yet infamous murders occurred in this literary “hot spot” in fact. Also, in Dickens’ Oliver Twist, several of Fagin’s criminal deeds occur in this area; furthermore, Fagin himself may be based on the famous Isaac Solomon, originally from the Whitechapel/London Bridge area. These, and many other, examples occurred in the London Bridge/Whitechapel area; thus, for this location, there is a strong positive correlation between the reference frequency and the iconic-nature of this region as shown by the plethora of common knowledge and symbolic images (even nursery rhymes) associated the London Bridge and Whitechapel area.
To further verify the positive correlation between the density of references and the iconic-nature of London sites, instead of only exemplifying that higher reference frequency translates to more iconic areas, the opposite approach can also be taken. The less referenced areas, in fact, are associated with less iconic areas of the city which adheres to the positive correlation found. For example, Hammersmith, an area about 5 miles west of the historic city London, and Kentish Town, an area north of central London, are mentioned only once respectively in the literature analyzed. Hammersmith is known for its reputation as a transport hub while Kentish Town is famous for its public nudist baths of all things. Neither of these characteristics can be considered common knowledge especially when compared to the universal nursery rhyme of the London Bridge; thus, these two locations within London have less of an iconic impact of one’s perceived image of the city. These locations have only one reference to each; therefore, a positive correlation is established between a low frequency of references per area and a minimal relative impact on the image of London.
Thus, thinking graphically to visualize this correlation, if the density of references is plotted on the x-axis and the iconic-nature (rated holistically on a scale of 1-100 with 100 being the most iconic) of that area is plotted on the y-axis, there is a strong correlation coefficient in terms of a trend-line that represents the data because not only are upper values accounted for, but the lower values too. This idea is represented graphically as such:
Thesis: Finding Literary London
In a class focused so much on London, we decided to compile and tally every London-area location mentioned in A Journal of the Plague Year, Oliver Twist, The Waste Land, Mrs. Dalloway, and Saturday. Plotting this data to a current map of London, we determined that there are several places, streets, and areas throughout London that are universal throughout all 5 works we studied. The data plotted to a map of London establishes a positive correlation between these “universal locations” found in the literature and the iconic images and ideas of the city. These icons of the city, of the real London, inspire authors to create a “Literary London.” By mentioning such places in their work, a physical Literary London can be pinpointed by the most densely referenced regions of the city per area.
Part I: The Correlation
The location with highest density of references per square kilometer is the London Bridge/ Whitechapel area. The London Bridge/Whitechapel area included 59 references per km2, a significantly higher ratio than any of the other regions. To prove the positive correlation between the density of references per area, general knowledge icons and ideas associated with the London Bridge are listed to exemplify that a high density of data points correlates to the most idealized and iconic places within the city. For example, the London Bridge/Whitechapel portion of London, specifically the London Bridge, is the one of the most stereotypical areas of London. Nearly every child knows the age-old “London Bridge is falling down, falling down” nursery rhyme, yet the nursery rhyme can still not be considered in the same scope as what the London Bridge symbolizes. The bridge itself, which has been in use for hundreds of years, symbolizes the historic nature of the entire city of London. Thus, often when people imagine London, the London Bridge stretching across the Thames River most frequently comes to mind, one of the most popular and iconic images of the city. Turning to Whitechapel specifically, the Whitechapel district has historically been a home to famous crime and criminals. Jack the Ripper’s horrendous yet infamous murders occurred in this literary “hot spot” in fact. Also, in Dickens’ Oliver Twist, several of Fagin’s criminal deeds occur in this area; furthermore, Fagin himself may be based on the famous Isaac Solomon, originally from the Whitechapel/London Bridge area. These, and many other, examples occurred in the London Bridge/Whitechapel area; thus, for this location, there is a strong positive correlation between the reference frequency and the iconic-nature of this region as shown by the plethora of common knowledge and symbolic images (even nursery rhymes) associated the London Bridge and Whitechapel area.
To further verify the positive correlation between the density of references and the iconic-nature of London sites, instead of only exemplifying that higher reference frequency translates to more iconic areas, the opposite approach can also be taken. The less referenced areas, in fact, are associated with less iconic areas of the city which adheres to the positive correlation found. For example, Hammersmith, an area about 5 miles west of the historic city London, and Kentish Town, an area north of central London, are mentioned only once respectively in the literature analyzed. Hammersmith is known for its reputation as a transport hub while Kentish Town is famous for its public nudist baths of all things. Neither of these characteristics can be considered common knowledge especially when compared to the universal nursery rhyme of the London Bridge; thus, these two locations within London have less of an iconic impact of one’s perceived image of the city. These locations have only one reference to each; therefore, a positive correlation is established between a low frequency of references per area and a minimal relative impact on the image of London.
Thus, thinking graphically to visualize this correlation, if the density of references is plotted on the x-axis and the iconic-nature (rated holistically on a scale of 1-100 with 100 being the most iconic) of that area is plotted on the y-axis, there is a strong correlation coefficient in terms of a trend-line that represents the data because not only are upper values accounted for, but the lower values too. This idea is represented graphically as such:
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Part II- Pinpointing Literary London
Having established a direct relationship between the iconic places of London to the data, the focus shifts to how to interpret this positive correlation found through our data. The initial research question of “where exactly is literary London” can be answered using the relationship found in our data. In order to answer this question, however, we first must define what inspires a writer. Often the greatest difficulty in writing is finding such inspiration and as author Jack London said best, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Rooted in such deep history and engraved into our minds with such iconic images and places, London is therefore a prime location as the city in itself evokes this creativity in many writers. These very iconic images and places in the city from which writer’s draw their inspiration, like Big Ben in Virginia Wolfe’s Mrs. Dalloway, are frequently mentioned and often times even the setting for the aspired literature simply because that specific place within the city inspired the author to write. Therefore, the most frequently mentioned places throughout London literature can be considered “literary hot-spots” and by measuring these “hot-spots” a central “Literary London” can be precisely pinpointed. Using our data, we have identified the five locations with most density of references per square kilometer which we have dubbed “literary hot-spots,” or more simply, the physical literary London. These five areas in order of most to least dense locations are as follows: the Whitechapel/London Bridge Zone, the Buckingham Palace Zone, the City of London Zone, the Regent’s Park Zone, and the Medical District/Bloomsbury Zone.
Interestingly enough, Bloomsbury (of the Medical District/Bloomsbury Zone), while for years has been a center of education and healthcare, is also home to a multitude of famous writers. In fact, Dickens, Keyes, and Yeats were all residents of this region. Even Virginia Woolf spent time in Bloomsbury with a group of writers whom discussed literature. The Medical District/Bloomsbury zone accordingly was found to be one of the 5 “homes” to literary London. This indeed solidifies the connection between the most reference-dense areas in London and “Literary London” as these authors undoubtedly drew from their surroundings and included them in their work. Since so many writers call Bloomsbury their home, it is no wonder that the Bloomsbury/Medical District is so prominent in literature.
Part III- Conclusion
To conclude, the data, using the five most frequently referenced areas throughout London, pinpoints a physical literary London. The usefulness of our research to find a true “literary London” is indeed vast. Within this specific London-based class, the research and online display of the conclusions of this project is especially relevant. For example, the resource provides a more tangible visual of the setting in the literature by providing an interactive, graphic map of all the locations of the individual novels. This would allow for a reader to follow, geographically, events and plots of novels that would otherwise be hard to visualize like in Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolfe.Not only is this resource pertinent to London-literature focused class, but it also carries significance in a broader literary perspective. If a central, most literary area of London can be found using London-based books, an extensive search of other novels could be used following these same guidelines to statistically determine the most literary cities in the world.
Part II- Pinpointing Literary London
Having established a direct relationship between the iconic places of London to the data, the focus shifts to how to interpret this positive correlation found through our data. The initial research question of “where exactly is literary London” can be answered using the relationship found in our data. In order to answer this question, however, we first must define what inspires a writer. Often the greatest difficulty in writing is finding such inspiration and as author Jack London said best, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Rooted in such deep history and engraved into our minds with such iconic images and places, London is therefore a prime location as the city in itself evokes this creativity in many writers. These very iconic images and places in the city from which writer’s draw their inspiration, like Big Ben in Virginia Wolfe’s Mrs. Dalloway, are frequently mentioned and often times even the setting for the aspired literature simply because that specific place within the city inspired the author to write. Therefore, the most frequently mentioned places throughout London literature can be considered “literary hot-spots” and by measuring these “hot-spots” a central “Literary London” can be precisely pinpointed. Using our data, we have identified the five locations with most density of references per square kilometer which we have dubbed “literary hot-spots,” or more simply, the physical literary London. These five areas in order of most to least dense locations are as follows: the Whitechapel/London Bridge Zone, the Buckingham Palace Zone, the City of London Zone, the Regent’s Park Zone, and the Medical District/Bloomsbury Zone.
Interestingly enough, Bloomsbury (of the Medical District/Bloomsbury Zone), while for years has been a center of education and healthcare, is also home to a multitude of famous writers. In fact, Dickens, Keyes, and Yeats were all residents of this region. Even Virginia Woolf spent time in Bloomsbury with a group of writers whom discussed literature. The Medical District/Bloomsbury zone accordingly was found to be one of the 5 “homes” to literary London. This indeed solidifies the connection between the most reference-dense areas in London and “Literary London” as these authors undoubtedly drew from their surroundings and included them in their work. Since so many writers call Bloomsbury their home, it is no wonder that the Bloomsbury/Medical District is so prominent in literature.
Part III- Conclusion
To conclude, the data, using the five most frequently referenced areas throughout London, pinpoints a physical literary London. The usefulness of our research to find a true “literary London” is indeed vast. Within this specific London-based class, the research and online display of the conclusions of this project is especially relevant. For example, the resource provides a more tangible visual of the setting in the literature by providing an interactive, graphic map of all the locations of the individual novels. This would allow for a reader to follow, geographically, events and plots of novels that would otherwise be hard to visualize like in Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolfe.Not only is this resource pertinent to London-literature focused class, but it also carries significance in a broader literary perspective. If a central, most literary area of London can be found using London-based books, an extensive search of other novels could be used following these same guidelines to statistically determine the most literary cities in the world.
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