I really liked this chapter. It was nice to finally hear an "authority" tell me that not every symbol has to mean the same thing to every reader. I think I am more like those of you who want someone to tell me exactly what the symbol stands for, but it is nice to realize that I can figure it out for myself and get it right--even if it's only right for me.
I agree with him that there are things that have a certain meaning--The Road Not Taken is always going to symbolize a choice we did not make--but that choice is different for everyone.
So what do you think about symbols? Are you one of those readers who sees symbolization in everything? Do you have difficulty identifying symbols? What books, stories, or poems can you think of with a symbol? What did it symbolize?
I am one of those people who like the be told what something means because I feel like what I think about it sometimes may not be right. Books that help me see symbolism goes back to the weather. When it rains you know that it is a cleansing process or when they talk about it being spring. Spring usually means rebirth.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking AP English 3, i definitely point out a lot more symbolization than i did before. I have difficulty a lot of times identifying symbols. When i think of symbolization, I automatically think of the Scarlet Letter, with symbolization in the scaffold scene and the letter that Hester is forced to wear symbolizing her shame and mistakes
ReplyDeleteI think symbols are one of the most effective methods of indirect communication. I don't think I'm at the level yet to be able to see all the symbolization in everything. Yes, I do have difficulty "reading in between the lines" and releasing indirect communication from the author. This made me thing of Footprints In the Sand. The footprints symbolized the journey he had made.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am the type of reader who likes the symbols to be obvious. Not necessary blankly telling me what the symbol represents but to automatically know what it means without thinking about it over and over. Sometimes when I read i find myself symbolizing things that might not necessary be a symbol, but at least I don't have difficulty identifying them. One book I can think of that has a ton of symbolization is The Scarlet Letter. Throughout the book the letter A is a symbol of adultery and the red represents the sin and possibly foreshadowing the ending.
ReplyDeleteI still have some difficulty picking out symbolism. There's some things like the red letter Hester wore in The Scarlet Letter that are more obvious to readers. Until I took AP English last year I didn't really understand how movie directors used weather to symbolize different things in movies.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those people that I don't see symbols until they are pointed out to me, or if I do see something as a symbol then its usually something that is a stretch or that others don't see. After taking AP English 3 I have found myself noticing more symbolism in movies and books though and in one book that we have read "Scarlet Letter" there was symbolism with the red letter she had to wear showing she had committed adultery, and with it being red it symbolized that something was going to happen. I say it being red because usually things to look for are like rain or the color red.
ReplyDeleteI usually have trouble pickig upon symbols, ut just like everyone else since aftr AP English III I've been alot better at it. I feellike alot of stuff we are eading in this book we lernd ast year, like how weather and seasons represent things as do places and the names of characters.The best book I can think of for symbolism is the Scarlet Letter, which is alreadylisted. This is because the scarlet red "A" that Heter Pryne has to wear symbolizes her sin of adultery and th color hints to something bad is going to happen.
ReplyDeleteSymbolism is probably my favorite part of literature. I love the feeling of actually identifying a symbol and what it means. I can usually identify most symbols, but sometimes they just go way to deep into meaning. I know I use Harry Potter a a lot but it's really easy to use. Remus Lupin's name is a symbol and also foreshadow, Lupin shares the latin root for the word 'Wolf" ,and Remus is the name for one of the brother's that founded Rome and they were nurtured by a wolf. So its not a real big surprise that Lupin was a werewolf in the series.
ReplyDeleteI think that some things in stories or movies have symbolic meaning and others don't. I remember last year we watched The Lion King in homeroom then talked about how symbolic it was in Mr. McElrath's class, (yes the Lion king is very symbolic). For Example; the scene when its in Scars cave, the cave is very symbolic of evil, darkness, etc. Then when at the end when pride rock is on fire and it rains, the rain is very symbolic of rebirth and new life, etc.
ReplyDeleteI am the type of person that will notice some symbols, but not all of them. I think that symbolism in any story is a very important part and usually essential in the story. I still have trouble picking up on a lot of the symbols in stories, but like most of the other people have said, taking AP English 3 has helped a lot with the archetypes and other symbols like that. One example I can think of is the symbol of rain. Rain usually means a cleansing of something bad, or it could also mean that there is something bad going to happen.
ReplyDeleteI think that stories/movies that include symbols are that much more interesting. I'm the reader that sometimes pick up on symbols and sometimes I don't. I sometimes have difficulty identifying them and trying to figure out what the author wanted the reader to get from the symbol. When I read this chapter I realized that everyone interprets symbols differently and that symbols don't have a specific meaning.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely one of those people that like to be told what the symbol is. I have a little difficulty picking out the symbols in books. But in some cases like the author said is that you can have your own idea of what the symbol is, and it doesn't have to have the same meaning to someone else as it does to you. As long as you understand and have some feel for it.
ReplyDeleteI think that symbols help you out when reading literature if you can understand what it symbolizes, and I really like to try and pick them out. Every time I watch a movie, or a read a book I try to look for hints or clues that will help me figure out what is going to happen. In the movie Inception, whenever it rained or an earthquake took place in a dream it meant that something was not going right.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those people who liked to be told what a symbol means. I have a hard time picking up on symbols in a story until someone points it out to me. I think that symbols don't have to mean one exact thing, whatever you think of a symbol can be totally different from someone else's. There really isn't a right or wrong answer. In the Scarlet Letter some scenes in the book take place in the forest which represents danger.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say i am one of those people who have to have the symbols pointed out. After taking AP English last year it really is easier to pick out certain things and recognize some symbols, but majority of the time i need help. In my opinion though, as long as you understand and it makes sense not everything has to agree. It is more of how you interpret and understand it. In a lot of movies and literature they will use things to signal things aren't going right. For example, composers will use specific music in films to signal something is wrong or to evoke a certain emotion.
ReplyDeleteI like to have the symbols of the story pointed out to me and then tell me what they mean. I don't see symbols in every part of the story when a writers says that something is red, to me it means that it is red not that the person is angry. I think of the Scarlet Letter when it comes to symbols. The letter A that she had to wear to show her crime and how it started to shit to a positive out look.
ReplyDeleteI dont really look for symbolism. Im the kind of reader who just sists and enjoys the story
ReplyDeleteI don't really look for symbolism. I do sometimes see things in the story that can be considered symbolism but rarely do I study the books I read. I don't think everything the teacher points out in stories is correct but I do believe somethings in stories are suppose to be in there. Its really a matter of opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think that I try to find the symbol in what I am reading and sometimes I get it but then sometimes I don't and then other times I try and find a symbol in something that there is not symbol in... Books, stories, or poems hmm... Animal Farm has lots of them, O Captain, My Captain has some also, and The Scarlet Letter also does. In Animal Farm the main symbol was Communism, O Captain, My Captain it was Lincoln dying, and The Scarlet Letter, the letter means many different things throughout the story not just Adultery.
ReplyDeleteI like being able to come up with my own understanding for symbols. Like in the harry potter books, when Severus Snape kills Dumbledore in the sixth book, i like to think that as a symbol of jesus being killed for our sins. In the book, Dumbledore had to die otherwise they would have killed everyone in the entire school looking for him. So this makes me want to have my own understanding of the story and make it fit me.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time i have a good idea of what the symbol is, but i don't really look for them. I feel like if i sit there and look for all the symbols I'm not going to enjoy the book. Plus i also feel like some people cant take a story at face value and think that there's some deep meaning to everything.
ReplyDeleteFor me i over analyze stuff, i think that ever little thing is a symbol and a lot of the time i miss the point of the story or poem completely because i have put WAY to much thought into it than needed. But when something really is symbolizing something else i am very quick to pick up on it and point it out.
ReplyDeleteI really like symbols. Well, I am really good at identifying symbols. I can thank Mr. McElrath for that. He did a really good job at drilling that into my brain. Now I do it all the time. I can usually see a symbol in just about anything, whether i want to or not. It gets kinda annoying when my already analytical brain starts identifying all the symbolism in movies, books, poetry, etc. when i am trying to just enjoy the book. Other times though, I love to do it. It intrigues me on how i can identify them without even thinking about it. As if it is a subconscious ability. As i have said already, I find symbolism everywhere. Well, sometimes. Usually when i am not thinking about it or when i don't want to. But, anyway. Examples of this include: Star Wars is symbolic of faith and religion in our world overcoming evil; In the Harry Potter books, Slytherin House serpent symbolizes evil; In MacBeth, the raven represents ill fortune; and in Citizen Kane, a child's sled symbolizes the lost innocence of childhood. Those are only a few examples.
ReplyDeleteWhen I sit and read a book, I don't look for symbols. I just read the story. The only way I really know if there are symbols is if we talk about them in class or if I look REALLY hard. If I am going to sit down and read though, I just want to read, not pick through it.
ReplyDeleteI like to be told what a symbol stands for. I am one of those who over thinks things. So something simple could turn into something to deep. I don't always understand what the writer is trying to say, but when I do get it, it makes me glad that i can understand it.
ReplyDeleteIf the symbolism is blatantly obvious, I can pick it out no problem. I can pick up on some of the subtle stuff, but there are times I have no clue at all that there is any symbolism. However, if I'm watching a movie or looking at a painting, I can pick up on symbolism pretty darn quick. I guess that comes from being a visual person? If I had it my way, though, I'd want the symbolism to be hard to figure out. I like a story that takes a while to understand. It becomes like a puzzle, where you REALLY want to know how everything fits together.
ReplyDeletei like symbols to be shown to me right in the text. i dont want to have to think deeply and figure the symbol out. i think of the scarlet letter, it was rediculously packed with symbols. her being on the scaffeled and getting the letter A on her.
ReplyDeleteSo what do you think about symbols? Are you one of those readers who sees symbolization in everything? Do you have difficulty identifying symbols? What books, stories, or poems can you think of with a symbol? What did it symbolize?
ReplyDeleteI love symbolization, whether they meant to include it or not. I don't identify it all of the time, but my mind will go back and forth between seeing it clearly in everything or needing to be told to get my mind going. One poem I can think of is Lady of Shallotte. She's in this high tower, protected, and sees her love ride away. She gets tired of the tower, and knows when she leaves, she'll die. But she leaves anyways. This can be seen in Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho. We desire a life worth living. Once faced with the knowledge that we do not feel, nothing will ever change, we will not fall in love, we will not escape, we will not /live/, what do we do? Many would willingly die. Hope is what's required to live. Without it, none of it matters. I love the symbolism Shamalyn uses. The way he uses the color red. Everytime you see it, you know something isn't quite right, that something is amiss. The red doorknob in The Sixth Sense. The red capes in The Villagers. So on and so forth. You see red, you know stuff's going down. Writing about all of this by myself downstairs in the middle of the night with the light's out and all the shades pulled up so I can see into the night is kinda creeping me out, so I'm going to stop. Point is, symbolism is where it's at. There's always more to a story than just a story. It's about the way you read it. A story may be well and good, but when you're willing to truly read it, to pay attention? It can be mindblowing.