Symbolism How do we know if something is a symbol? How do we know what a symbol represents?

Symbolism When you find yourself asking the question, “is that a symbol?” the answer is nearly always “yes.” This is because what a symbol means is up to the reader as much as it is to the author. If a vulture in a text seems like it represents death and that explanation enhances your understanding of the text then you’re right!

Symbolism Sparknotes has taught us to believe that a symbol has only one accurate meaning This is only true in the case of allegory Orwell takes this approach with Animal Farm. Why do you think this is? When would a writer want to use allegory and when would they want to use symbolism?

Symbolism How about the caves in A Passage to India? Well, what kind of questions, experience, or preexisting knowledge do we have about caves? This is a good place to start.

Symbolism We might start by thinking of Cavemen and the ancient drawings they’d make inside of caves. Is the author trying to connect to something primal and instinctual about the human experience? Or we might think of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.” How could this tie to the text?

Symbolism Forster emphasizes that the caves can not be described (even by the natives) Does one have to experience the cave to understand it? Does it mean something different to everyone? If so, what do they symbolize for Adela? Caves are also empty. Could they represent nothingness? The void?

Symbolism If we take time to ask questions of symbols they will start to reveal meaning to us. The depth of a symbol that we piece together simply by “looking it up” is bound to be pretty shallow since there is no personal connection to the symbol

Symbolism “Every reader’s experience of every work is unique, largely because each person will emphasize various elements to differing degrees, ans those differences will cause certain features of the text to become more or less pronounced. We bring an individual history to our reading, a mix of previous readings, to be sure, but also a history that includes, but is not limited to, educational attainment, gender, race, class, faith, social involvement, and philosophical inclination. These factors will inevitably influence what we understand in our reading, and nowhere is this individuality clearer than in the matter of symbolism.” – Thomas C. Foster

Symbolism While we’d like to believe that a river will always mean the same thing every time we run into it, that would be too simple What are some possible things a river could symbolize? Oh and don’t forget about irony! Remember, when irony comes into play all bets are off!

Symbolism We should also remember that actions can be symbolic as well as things Let’s consider the poem “Mowing” by Robert Frost What action in the poem seems symbolic What do we think it symbolizes and why?

“Mowing” by Robert Frost There was never a sound beside the wood but one, And that was my long scythe whispering to the ground. What was it it whispered? I knew not well myself; Perhaps it was something about the heat of the sun, Something, perhaps, about the lack of sound— And that was why it whispered and did not speak. It was no dream of the gift of idle hours, Or easy gold at the hand of fay or elf: Anything more than the truth would have seemed too weak To the earnest love that laid the swale in rows, Not without feeble-pointed spikes of flowers (Pale orchises), and scared a bright green snake. The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows. My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make.

Symbolism Think symbolically and locate symbols. If they feel like symbols assume that they are! Try to connect to past literary experiences Try to connect to past personal experiences Brainstorm! What associations do you have with the symbol? How these work in the context of the novel? Organize these thoughts and see where they take you!

Symbolism This is tough at first, but it gets easier the more you practice. It’s a muscle that some of us don’t use that often! A symbol “means” whatever you decide it does as long as you have well-grounded argument to back up your claim!

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Identify two symbols in the text Come up with at least two interpretations of what each of these symbols mean and provide an argument for WHY. Pick one symbol and one interpretation and explain how this symbol helps the reader to create meaning in the text. (one page min.)