Everyone has their own unique and true personalities. They can choose to express it in a way that they are comfortable with or keep it inside. Everyone is different and separate in their own unique way. Not very many people try to fit in and be like everyone else, but there are a few people that do. In the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, the author uses symbolism, cause and effect, and characterization to prove that standing out is better than fitting in.
Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent an idea or quality that a person. The author incorporates symbolism into the book by comparing many of the characters to a variety of things. Stargirl’s effort to try and fit in with everyone. She held onto it right when she got it and did not let go until she arrived back at Mica. “As she got out of the car, the silver plate slid from her lap and rang like a dying bell against the asphalt.” (Spinelli 161). The silver plate dropping to the ground symbolizes all of Stargirl’s efforts of trying to fit in. Her chance of trying to be “cool” or “popular” all dropped to the ground.
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The cause is the action and the effect is the reaction. Cause and effect has played a major part in the book, Stargirl. Stargirl was clearly very different from everyone else. “I know what your problem is. All this weird stuff you do? It’s just to get attention.” (Spinelli 67).Stargirl stood out because that was just her personality. It was not just to get attention, it is because that is who she truly felt like she was. She was different from everyone else and got bullied or made fun of for it. She was trying to be herself but everyone else did not understand that she was not doing it on purpose, she was doing it because that was who she
Symbolism is the idea of representing things by using symbols or devoting things with a symbolic meaning or character. Symbolism can range from something miniscule or even something broad to something very specific, as long as it has some connection with something else or someone else. Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain, exemplifies quite a few examples of symbolism. From the crows to the roads, and even the title itself, the novel shows show many different points of symbolism. As the book goes on, the amount of symbolism appears, making the character and the symbolism more understand and attention grabbing towards the reader making them not want to put the book down.
For Stargirl, it let her true identity shine through. Another direct quote from the book that justifies the theme is "One morning we had a rare rainfall. It came during her gym class. The teacher told everyone to come in. On the way to the next class they looked out the windows. Stargirl was still outside. In the rain. Dancing" (Spinelli, page 11). This quote supports the theme because to Stargirl, this was a very typical thing for her to do. A final quote from the book that justifies the theme is "Star people are rare. You will be lucky to meet another" (Spinelli, page 177). This quote supports the theme because it describes what Stargirl's true identity is. Stargirl identifies as a 'star person'. I would recommend this text to a friend for three specific reasons. First, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction, young adult literature, and children's literature. Second, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Jerry Spinelli's work. Third, I would recommend this book to anyone who is an avid reader, like myself, looking for an excellent book. I believe the overall message of this book is "Be unique". This message fits the theme of "Search for Identity", because Stargirl found
The book, Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, taught me several lessons. While reading the book, I noticed that one of the main themes of the novel was the importance of being yourself. Or in other words, not letting what others think determine who you are. Stargirl is the perfect example of this. It is very hard to get Stargirl to change.
Symbolism is a characteristic that stands out in a person or thing. People usually use symbolism for something that means to them or represents to them. The symbols are used for many things, for example the apple on the iphone, laptop or iPod symbolizes the brand. Symbols are also used in churches, for example the cross symbolizes Jesus Christ. It symbolizes how he was crucified, put to death on a cross. The colors symbolize something’s to for example the colors white, red and blue symbolize freedom in the United States, it also represents the United States flag. Symbols are also used in movies like the hunger games catching fire; their symbol is a mocking bird with an arrow on it.
Symbolism is defined as the artistic use of imagery and indirect suggestion to portray mystical or non-literal meaning. An object representing something else is given an entirely different meaning that is much deeper can be considered a symbol. Allegory can be used as a device to aid in character development if used correctly by the author. In two works of literature Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin and in Zora Neale Hurston’s, Sweat, this can be appreciated and seen by the reader.
Symbolism is a major literary device that helps people see a book through symbols that often have a deeper meaning. A symbol is used to explain something in a different way, using images, objects, etc. instead of just saying it in words. As you search for a deeper meaning in a work of art or literature it can help you understand the authors intentions and the deeper significance of a work. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, symbols help reinforce the major themes of the book.
Symbolism is used in many ways and writers use symbolism to “enhance their writing.” It can give their work “more richness and color and can make the meaning of the work deeper.” In literary work the actions of the characters, words, action, place, or event has a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. The reader needs to look see the little things like a dove symbolizes peace, or like the red rose stands for romance. Mostly everything can have a symbolism meaning to it. For instance the flag symbolizes freedom and the stars represent the states. Even some signs are symbols like when a beaker has a skull with a bones placed like an ‘x’ behind it symbolizes that it’s toxic or bad. When people see the red light when driving that’s
Symbolism is usually used to represent things that are meaningful without actually saying so, you’ll sometimes have to read behind the lines. Symbolism can be used as an artistic or poetic way of writing to represent an idea. There is a lot of symbolism used in the novel “Kindred” by Octavia Butler, she uses symbolism through her character Dana’s constant physical and emotional pain, it’s a motif. The constant pain and abuse Dana goes through represents the fact that whenever Dana travels back in time and gets hurt weather emotionally or physically, she never comes back as she originally was, she brings back a reminder of the past with her.
In novels and other pieces of literature symbolism is the act of connecting the book’s events to character's personalities and/or feelings. It also connects it to the character's previous or current actions. One symbolic moment comes in Tangerine on p 130, “ Erik finally got up and walked to the sideline to get his kicking tee. His front was still clean and white, but his back was now filthy.”
The phrase “Why fit in when you’re born to stand out?” (Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl) is false in the context of how Stargirl acts. Throughout the novel, Stargirl acts differently from her classmates, which has negative effect on her classmates. During the novel Stargirl cheers for the opposing team- encouraging others to do so as well- and acts in a manner that other students see as desirable. The way that her actions affect the Mica High students is discouraging and competition and causing students to abandon their self-identity, respectively.
Have you ever thought about further meanings being held by symbols in books that you’ve read? Symbolism is defined as the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. The definition of symbol is a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract. In Nancy Farmer’s novel, The House of the Scorpion, several symbols are utilized; each of these symbols provide greater insight into the characters of El Patron, Celia, and Esperanza, allowing a reader to deeper understand both the characters and the novel. A few of the characters in The House of the Scorpion are shown through symbols in the novel.
Fitting in is a natural human desire. The idea of it goes through everyone’s minds at least once in their lifetime. No one wants to be cast aside. In the novel, Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli, fitting in is demonstrated in many ways, such as when Stargirl first attends Mica High School, when Leo gets ignored, and when Stargirl transforms to Susan.
Symbolism in literature is using an object to portray a different, deeper meaning in a story. Symbols represent ideas or qualities that the author has maneuvered into his or her story that has meaning. There can be multiple symbols in a story or just one. It is up to the reader to interpret the meaning of the symbols and their significance to the story. While reading a story, symbols may not become clear until the very end, once the climax is over, and the falling action is covered. In William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily,” there are multiple examples of symbolism that occur throughout the story.
Symbolism is a literary technique that is used to clarify the author's intent. Sometimes it is used to great effect, while other times it only seems to muddle the meaning of a passage. In "Young Goodman Brown," Nathaniel Hawthorne uses objects and people as symbols to allegorically reveal his message to the reader.
Symbolism is defined as the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships. The whole