Symbols In Literary Poetry Essay

Throughout the chapter Tomas Foster, the author of the book How to Read Literature Like a Professor consistently mentioned that symbolism was relative and it is different for each reader. There is no debate on whether something is a symbol or not because in most cases it is. Foster mentions that the meaning of the symbol differs between readers because each person has a different perspective on the story. He also presents the idea that if a symbol can be reduced to have meaning that it actually isn’t symbolism being used, but allegory. Foster presents that a symbol has multiple possible meanings and that it changes between literary work and even between reader. He states that if a person wants to figure out the meaning of a symbol they have to look deeper, use their previous knowledge, and question what is happening in order to crack the code on the meaning of the symbol. These are new ideas because most casual readers usually believe that symbols have one specific meaning in each novel. By having Foster say that there are a limitless amount of interpretations for a simple it blows the door wide open. Symbols are used throughout novels of all genres, and sometimes even ironically. Foster’s belief in the importance of intertextuality shines through throughout

Using the process described in How To Read Literature Like A Professor, I analyzed a specific place in The Catcher in the Rye by asking myself questions, brainstorming meanings of other symbols, and focusing on the significance of this place in order to create a symbolic meaning that I see in the novel. More specifically, The Museum of Natural History in the novel represents more than just a simple museum, as it symbolizes the desired world in which Holden wants to live in. When Holden described how the museum appealed to him because it is “frozen and unchanging”, it is clear that he dislikes change and wishes to stay in the time that he is right now. This supports his desire to be “the catcher in the rye”, as he wishes to save children from

In the Japanese light novel “Akuma no Eros,’’ Miu Sakurai acts as the young, virginal, innocent female and Satan acts as the both attractive and illusive older figure with corrupt values. The story revolves around Miu Sakurai; a high-school girl who is in love with her classmate, Shion Amamiya. Miu summons Satan through a book and wishes for Amamiya to fall in love with her and Satan demands her virginity in return. Satan’s spells do not work on Amamiya because he is revealed to be the archangel Michael who ends up confessing his love to Miu without the spells, but Miu has feelings for Satan at this point and Satan is more than willing to make the still maturing teenage girl decide between living her normal life or marrying him and living in hell. Thus Satan robs Miu of her innocence while fueling his desires.

In the novel How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas Foster gives evidence of every season having a symbolic meaning in different pieces of literature. In most cases, the seasons can represent certain times in a person’s life, such as death or the renewal of life. Foster states that the seasons may also represent times of decline, dormancy, awakening, and even times of passion. Foster then gives examples of how the seasons are interpreted in other pieces of literature, such as Shakespeare. This makes the reader question if the seasons are symbolic in other pieces of literature and if the author used a specific season on purpose to help portray the meaning of the story they are trying to tell.

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster explains how every thing has a symbolic meaning but finding what the symbols stand for is where it becomes tricky. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain presents to his readers many symbols that can be easily seen for their true meaning such as the rain, fog, and fear of drowning. According to Thomas C. Foster, rain symbolizes life; fog symbolizes confusion; and drowning is always one of our deepest fears. However, there are also innumerable accounts of symbols that need to be interpreted with a lot of thought from the reader. One example can be seen in the Mississippi River. The

The paths taken in each person’s lifetime can associate with any factor or situation that one may come across. For example, one could come across a path that stands for tradition and the effect of traditional beliefs on a society like the one represented in “Dead Man’s Path.” Another example could be a path that stands for the power of love and the effect of unselfishness that makes one continue with life like the one represented in “A Worn Path.” An additional example could be a path that stands for overcoming doubts of beliefs as these may uphold or tear one apart like the path represented in “Young Goodman Brown.” No path is easier than another and they all hold a spectacular significance in each person’s life. Therefore, in this independent

Landra Lee Mrs. Mary Smith AP Literature 6 21 September 2017 A Symbol isn’t a Symbol unless it’s a Symbol Symbolism is a major part of every story. It’s crucial to stories for getting the point across without using the obvious signs. It also allows for the reader to interpret an object or specific situation in their own way. In the book How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, Mr. Foster walks us through the many literary techniques used in literature and how to find and analyze them as through a professor’s eyes.

Poems can be interpreted in many ways; however, every reader has their preference. One interpretation of “The Journey” is that it is a story about battling depression. The

In life and in literary text hidden meanings are quite common. There is basic level of understanding by the majority and a concealed meaning that requires a deeper level of critical thinking and analysis. Terrance Hayes provides a “poetic style that resist style” which proves hard to interpret, but I conclude he provides a common theme many might mistake for just an element of poetry (Fabu 1). A common theme present within two of his poems “Lighthead’s Guide to Galaxy” and “Antebellum House Party” as well as ”Mausoleum” from his signature book Wind in a Box is the idea of symbolism and underlying meanings within itself and how individuals tend to look for something more in things even in life instead of being as it is.

Many great authors use symbolism numerous of time in their stories. A symbol is a noun or word that represents a different idea. An author displays the symbols as a hit rather than blurting it out. Symbols are not only used in novels or poems, they are also used in everyday use. For an example, the American flag has fifty stars on it which each star represents a state. On the other hand, the thirteen stripes plays the part of our thirteen colonies; the beginning of our country. Even with our high school, a tiger pawl represents us as a fighting tiger that will strive to do what’s right, and to show our strength against our greatest rivals.

Life’s journey begins with a simple unwinding road trying to seek attachment and purpose due to our human nature of finding our seat at the table. For example, virgins with much time ahead of them, yet not enough experience behind them will soon stand in a vacant vast surrounding craving a purpose because human beings are naturally dynamic due to our intrinsic growth. In analyzing,“A Noiseless Patient Spider,” “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” and “The Road Not Taken,” the author used symbolism to emphasize different life decisions that human beings go through.

The short story Everyday Use by Alice Walker differentiates between a fake and a real heritage. To illustrate her point she uses one family consisting of a mother and her two daughters and the way each of them views their ancestry and heritage. Through the behavior of these three people Walker is able to clearly show the little things that separate a real heritage from the assumed fake mask. During the time of many positive changes to the lives of black people across the America, the author illustrates what the true African American heritage should look like, compared to empty claims by those who have no understanding it.

During the Medieval time period that Canterbury Tales was written in, there was a general depiction of women that they weren’t even looked at as humans, but looked at as objects. Women were thought of as weak, untrustworthy, and even less intelligent beings than men. Chaucer did not necessarily agree with the general consensus of women during the time period. Now there are tales that go along with the general impression of women, but there are also signs that Chaucer looked at women for what they really are and he might have saw them as equal beings. Chaucer was a great mind and that mind was far past his time, as he went against the tide when he wrote and he was not afraid to write whatever came to his head. Canterbury tales can show us what women had to go through in medieval times, and through Chaucer’s tales we can see what he thought of how women were were perceived and treated.

Symbolism is a very important aspect of writing good literature. Symbolism can han have a major impact on a piece of literature, it can make a bad writing really interesting or it can make a good writing have a totally different meaning. Most readers miss the symbols the first time reading through the work and they don't get it until someone teaches them or if they read it again, sometimes the symbols are hard to detect in the story or poem, and other times they can be super easy to find such as a giant red A on your chest. In 1984 the many Symbol was pretty easy to figure out and a had a big meaning for part of the book which was really fascinating once you figured it out. Overall symbolism is very important and hopefully everyone who reads this will realize that.

Wherein this is the extent of the metaphor, where in this poem it is a changeable anomaly subject to the readers interpretation of taking the road less travelled and whether it be a positive (sigh of satisfaction) or negative (sigh of regret). This is all one can hope when using a metaphor relating to the readers life, that they substitute their own feelings and create their own meaning, their own attitude towards to such decisions and subsequently, such journeys.