About Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

As a recommendation of a friend, I am reading “Jonathan Livingston Seagull - a story”, by Richard Bach, I have just finished the first of the three parts, but I am not sure about some expressions.

About Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

As a recommendation of a friend, I am reading “Jonathan Livingston Seagull - a story”, by Richard Bach, I have just finished the first <strike>part</strike> of the three <strike>ones</strike> parts, but I am not sure about some expressions.

In “the speed at which one’s wing goes unstable on the upstroke” Is the “upstroke” the act of flying up higher?

The seagull flaps its wings. The wings move up and down. A 'stroke' is a movement. An 'upstroke' is an upwards movement (of the wings) and a 'downstroke' is a downwards movement (of the wings).

The movement of the seagull, higher in the sky, would not be described as a stroke. A stroke refers to the movement of a 'part' of something. In this case the wings.

The swing of a baseball or cricket bat is a stroke. (you can also have a 'stroke of luck' but it doesn't help to understand the meaning)  

In “His wings were ragged bars of lead,…” What is the “lead” in this case?

The lead is 'chumbo'. A very heavy metal. To give the 'feeling' of something heavy, we often refer to 'lead' because it is a very heavy metal.  "After 3 hours of badminton my arms and legs felt like lead". They felt as if they were made of lead.

Lead is made in bars. A lead bar. So, the wings were "bars of lead". The word "ragged" is used to give the feeling of bars made of feathers. Or feathers made of lead...

And in “You’d have charts for brains!!!” Is it a sort of good memory? Also, the contraction “‘d” in this case is for “would“, right?

A chart is a map. In order to fly at night, his brain would have to contain maps/charts of the land so that he could navigate without seeing the land.

His brain would need 'built in maps'. His brain would need to be a 'SatNav'.  Yes, the contraction - you'd - is  - you would.

Thank you very much for the recommendation, the book is really full of answers, I am really appreciating it.

I found the book to be inspiring and extremely enjoyable. It is also quite short so it does not seem like an impossible task!

About Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

On the recommendation of a friend, I am reading “Jonathan Livingston Seagull - a story”, by Richard Bach, I just finished the first part of the three ones, but I am not sure about some expressions.

In “the speed at which one’s wing goes unstable on the upstroke” Is the “upstroke” the act of flying up higher?

In “His wings were ragged bars of lead,…” What is the “lead” in this case?

And in “You’d have charts for brains!!!” Is it a sort of good memory? Also, the contraction “‘d” in this case is for “would“, right?

Thank you very much for the recommendation, the book is really full of answers, I am really appreciating it.