* 5: The number 5 is often associated with balance, harmony, and the center. In Knowing, the number 5 appears in several significant ways:
* The film is set in the year 2009, which is the sum of the digits 2+0+0+9 = 11, which can be further reduced to 1+1 = 2. This suggests that the events of the film are part of a larger cycle of balance and renewal.
* The main character, John Koestler, is a professor of astrophysics who is studying five stars that are about to align in the sky. This alignment is believed to be a sign of the end of the world.
* The five children who receive the mysterious drawings are all born on the same day, September 11th. This date is significant because it is the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.
* 11: The number 11 is often associated with duality, opposition, and conflict. In Knowing, the number 11 appears in several significant ways:
* The film is set on September 11th, which is the 254th day of the year. This number can be further reduced to 2+5+4 = 11.
* The five children who receive the mysterious drawings are all born at 11:11 pm.
* The main character, John Koestler, is working on a project to predict the future using a series of algorithms that are based on the number 11.
* 42: The number 42 is often associated with the answer to life, the universe, and everything. In Knowing, the number 42 appears in several significant ways:
* The main character, John Koestler, is a professor of astrophysics who is studying a star that is 42 light years away from Earth.
* The five children who receive the mysterious drawings are all born on the 42nd day of the year.
* The sum of the digits in the date September 11, 2009 (9+1+1+2+0+0+9) is 22, which can be further reduced to 2+2 = 4. This suggests that the events of the film are part of a larger cycle of rebirth and renewal.
The Colors:
* Red: The color red is often associated with danger, violence, and passion. In Knowing, the color red appears in several significant ways:
* The mysterious drawings that the children receive are all drawn in red pencil.
* The sky turns red at the end of the film, signaling the arrival of the end of the world.
* The blood of the children who are sacrificed is also red, symbolizing the violence and sacrifice that is necessary to bring about the new world.
* Blue: The color blue is often associated with water, the sky, and peace. In Knowing, the color blue appears in several significant ways:
* The main character, John Koestler, is a professor of astrophysics who studies the blue sky.
* The ocean is also blue, and it is a symbol of the new world that is coming after the end of the world.
* The children who are sacrificed are also wearing blue clothing, symbolizing the purity and innocence of the victims.
The Shapes:
* Circles: The circle is often associated with unity, wholeness, and perfection. In Knowing, the circle appears in several significant ways:
* The mysterious drawings that the children receive are all drawn in a circle.
* The stars that are about to align in the sky form a circle.
* The Earth is also a sphere, and it is a symbol of the wholeness and interconnectedness of all things.
* Squares: The square is often associated with stability, order, and balance. In Knowing, the square appears in several significant ways:
* The houses of the children who receive the mysterious drawings are all square.
* The city of New York is also square, and it is a symbol of the order and stability of the modern world.
* The cross is also a square, and it is a symbol of the sacrifice that is necessary to bring about the new world.
The Symbols:
* The Tree of Life: The Tree of Life is a symbol of fertility, growth, and immortality. In Knowing, the Tree of Life appears in several significant ways:
* The children who are sacrificed are all given a seed from the Tree of Life, which will grow into a new tree after the end of the world.
* The tree also symbolizes the connection between the old world and the new world.
* The fruit of the Tree of Life is also a symbol of the knowledge that will bring about the new world.
* The Ark: The Ark is a symbol of salvation, protection, and rebirth. In Knowing, the Ark appears in several significant ways:
* The main character, John Koestler, builds an ark to protect his family from the end of the world.
* The Ark also symbolizes the new world that will come after the end of the world.
* The children who are sacrificed are also passengers on the Ark, symbolizing their role in bringing about the new world.