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Symbols
The notebook symbolizes characters’ relationships with both the sorrow and hope in their pasts. Hugo’s notebook is a symbol for the connection Hugo feels with his deceased father. The notebook contains drawings Hugo’s father made of the automaton that Hugo is attempting to fix. Hugo cherishes the notebook and keeps it in his pocket at all times. He even rubs it when he gets nervous. Feeling the notebook reminds Hugo of his father’s soothing presence, which helps calm Hugo down. Hugo’s relationship with the notebook helps explain why he becomes so enraged when Georges takes it from him. To Georges, in contrast, the notebook represents the tragedy of his past. He created the automaton Hugo is trying to fix and when he sees drawings of it, they only bring him painful memories of his lost magical and filmmaking careers. This sad past explains why Georges resists giving the notebook back to Hugo—he doesn’t want to revisit happiness he can’t get back. Yet after Hugo gets the notebook back and fixes the automaton, both characters are on the way to reconciling with the pain in their pasts and thereby finding hope for the future.
The Notebook Quotes in The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The The Invention of Hugo Cabret quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Notebook. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Part 1, Chapter 1: The Thief
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“Ghosts. . .” the old man muttered to himself. “I knew they would find me here eventually.”
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Part 1, Chapter 6: Ashes
Quotes
Hugo touched the ashes and then let them fall to the floor with the handkerchief. He staggered backwards. All of his plans, all of his dreams, disappeared in that scattered pile of ash.
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The Notebook Symbol Timeline in The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Notebook appears in The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 1: The Thief
...as he watches. He tells himself to be calm and rubs his fingers on a notebook in his pocket. From where he sits, it looks like the little girl and the...
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...and carefully makes his way over to the toy shop. Once there, he gives his notebook one final rub and slowly reaches up to grab a blue windup mouse. However, as...
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...Inspector again. Hugo knows the Station Inspector could ruin his life, so he takes his notebook out of his pocket and shows it to the old man. The old man rips...
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...makes the old man angrier. Then, the old man asks Hugo if he stole the notebook. Hugo says he did not.
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...them to the old man. Then, Hugo tells the old man that he needs the notebook back. The old man says he plans to keep the notebook and might even burn...
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Part 1, Chapter 2: The Clocks
...must. When he peers through the clock, he sees the old man looking through his notebook. The sight makes Hugo furious, but he knows he cannot say anything. After tending to...
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Part 1, Chapter 3: Snowfall
Hugo asks for his notebook back. The old man refuses, and says he is planning to burn it instead. Then,...
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Part 1, Chapter 4: The Window
...and fiddles with his jacket. He rubs the jacket the same way he does his notebook. Then, Hugo grabs a stone and throws it at one of the building’s windows. Seconds...
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...to Hugo. Hugo explains who he is and says that the girl’s grandfather stole his notebook. In response, the girl tells Hugo that “Papa Georges” isn’t her grandfather. Then, she calls...
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...him inside, but she refuses. Hugo tells her that he will not leave without his notebook and then picks up another rock to throw. The girl takes the stone from Hugo...
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...and holds him there. She promises Hugo that she will not let Georges burn his notebook. She also tells Hugo to return to the toy shop the following day to ask...
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Part 1, Chapter 5: Hugo’s Father
...room doesn’t work. Satisfied, Hugo reaches in his pocket to rub his hand on his notebook, only to realize it is not there. In one corner of Hugo’s room is a...
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...for the next few days. During this time, he begins drawing the automaton in his notebooks. Then, he takes the automaton apart and draws each individual part. As he puts the...
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...barely registers what Claude says. He packs up his possessions in a daze, including the notebook his father gifted him. Hugo and Claude walk to the train station where Claude lives...
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...his apprentice in taking care of the clocks. As Hugo walks, he starts rubbing the notebook in his pocket. Then, he asks Claude what will become of his schooling. Claude says...
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...worse shape now because of the fire. However, he decides to try anyway, using the notebook his father gave him. If he is successful, at least he will feel less alone.
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...meant just for Hugo. However, Hugo will never know unless he can get his father’s notebook back from Georges.
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Part 1, Chapter 6: Ashes
...is excited, but then he realizes what the handkerchief contains: the ashes of his burnt notebook. Hugo starts to cry and then attempts to attack Georges. However, Georges is quicker, and...
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...but has a harder time than usual because his mind is still on the burnt notebook. When Hugo finishes with his last clock, he sits down, curls up in a ball,...
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...him to go to the bookstore in the train station. It also says that his notebook was not burned.
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Part 1, Chapter 7: Secrets
...a few nights ago. The young girl tells him that Georges did not burn his notebook. At first, Hugo does not believe her, but she assures him it is true. Hugo...
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...his way to Georges’s shop and tells Georges he doesn’t believe that he burned his notebook. In response, Georges says that he doesn’t care what Hugo thinks, but admits it is...
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...a broom and says, “Be useful.” Hugo sweeps for Georges and then asks for his notebook back. Georges gives Hugo some money and asks him to go buy them some coffee...
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...that he knew he was talented and asks him again about the contents of his notebook. Hugo does not answer his question and once again asks for the notebook back. Georges...
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Part 1, Chapter 8: Cards
...the bookstore. There, the young girl tells Hugo that she has been looking for his notebook but hasn’t found it yet. Hugo warns the girl that she cannot look in the...
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Part 1, Chapter 9: The Key
...first time he’s managed to fix something on the automaton without the help of the notebook. Although Hugo is unsure whether he can fix the whole automaton without the notebook, he...
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Part 1, Chapter 10: The Notebook
...is furious with him. Georges accuses Hugo of breaking into his house and stealing the notebook. He tells Hugo that he knows he’s been stealing from the store, but he didn’t...
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As Hugo starts to leave, he sees Isabelle behind the shop’s counter with the notebook in her hand. Hugo approaches Isabelle and she asks about the drawings. Hugo chastises Isabelle...
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Part 1, Chapter 12: The Message
...angry at Hugo for stealing from her after all she went through to get his notebook. Hugo yells at Isabelle in return and orders her to leave. He even tries pushing...
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...the page. Thinking himself a failure, Hugo gets upset and demands that Isabelle return his notebook. Isabelle does as he asks, and Hugo begins to compare his work with the drawings...
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Part 2, Chapter 5: Papa Georges Made Movies
...hurting his fingers and not telling Georges that she was the one who stole the notebook. She also tells Hugo that Georges is running a high fever, and she worries he...
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