Symbolism In Writing

[AnnaMarie]

Famous Novelists on Symbolism in Their Work and Whether It Was Intentional | Mental Floss

It was 1963, and 16-year-old Bruce McAllister was sick of symbol-hunting in English class. Rather than quarrel with his teacher, he went straight to the source: McAllister mailed a crude, four-question survey to 150 novelists, asking if they intentionally planted symbolism in their work. Seventy-five authors responded.

This article made me laugh. It's an argument I had so many times in school. I remember saying things like; sometimes snow is just cold wet stuff that falls from the sky; and; did anyone ever ask the author? Maybe he was just writing a story to be enjoyed and people (like you mr teacher) are just over-thinking it.

 

[staropeace]

Famous Novelists on Symbolism in Their Work and Whether It Was Intentional | Mental Floss



This article made me laugh. It's an argument I had so many times in school. I remember saying things like; sometimes snow is just cold wet stuff that falls from the sky; and; did anyone ever ask the author? Maybe he was just writing a story to be enjoyed and people (like you mr teacher) are just over-thinking it.

I agree with you totally on this. Nothing spoils a good story more than looking for symbolism.

 

[Dana Jean]

Read the Grapes of Wrath and then go look at the symbolism of everything. Tumbleweeds and dirt and turtles and oranges and every other word written in the book is a symbol for something else.

 

[Lepplady]

Sometimes it's just a cigar.
The Freud dude.

 

[kingricefan]

Read the Grapes of Wrath and then go look at the symbolism of everything. Tumbleweeds and dirt and turtles and oranges and every other word written in the book is a symbol for something else.

turtle-turtle-turtle-turtle-turtle-turtle-turtle-turtle-crossing-the-road-what's-it-all-mean???????????

 

[kingricefan]

Read the Grapes of Wrath and then go look at the symbolism of everything. Tumbleweeds and dirt and turtles and oranges and every other word written in the book is a symbol for something else.

I know that this is your most favoritest book in the whole world!

 

[kingricefan]

Wow, there's alot of attitude from the responding authors, especially Ayn Rand.

 

[AnnaMarie]

Wow, there's alot of attitude from the responding authors, especially Ayn Rand.

Absolutely.

I think some who responded that he should do his own research would have changed their answer if they realized how many authors he wrote to. Making up your own answer is a lot easier then what he did. Write and mail the letter...and no Internet to quickly look up addresses...wait for responses, and go through them all.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...I read for the story...to hell with symbolism...I'll grin if it smacks me in the puss...otherwise....meh....

 

[AnnaRose]

Thanks for posting this--I just wrote an essay on symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye. I wonder what J. D. Salinger would say about it...

 

[Dana Jean]

Thanks for posting this--I just wrote an essay on symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye. I wonder what J. D. Salinger would say about it...

There's a very interesting documentary on Salinger on Netflix.

 

[AnnaRose]

There's a very interesting documentary on Salinger on Netflix.

Just added it to "My List."

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Thanks for posting this--I just wrote an essay on symbolism in The Catcher in the Rye. I wonder what J. D. Salinger would say about it...

I wondered the same thing as The Catcher in the Rye is a favorite story...including everything else Salinger wrote and I can read. To bring it home to the board here, Stephen King has talked about the pool where we all go to drink, clearly a symbol, one I enjoy...and if the frozen pond in Rye is not a like-kind of symbol, then I'm a duck who has found haven in an unlikely place. Words...the right word...a better word maybe, given the aversion to the word symbols...carry all manner of meaning...and we do know that...we get to know that all-too-much when the subject is politics and the symbols are everywhere. (Happy Thanksgiving! )

 

[AnnaMarie]

If you search symbolism in King's work there are many discussions.

 

[AnnaRose]

There's a very interesting documentary on Salinger on Netflix.

Watched it tonight. Loved it--thanks for telling me!

 

[days be strange]

I wondered the same thing as The Catcher in the Rye is a favorite story...including everything else Salinger wrote and I can read. To bring it home to the board here, Stephen King has talked about the pool where we all go to drink, clearly a symbol, one I enjoy...and if the frozen pond in Rye is not a like-kind of symbol, then I'm a duck who has found haven in an unlikely place. Words...the right word...a better word maybe, given the aversion to the word symbols...carry all manner of meaning...and we do know that...we get to know that all-too-much when the subject is politics and the symbols are everywhere. (Happy Thanksgiving! )

you might like this J.D. Salinger short stories leaked online; one apparent prequel to 'Catcher in the Rye'  - NY Daily News

 

[Walter Oobleck]

you might like this J.D. Salinger short stories leaked online; one apparent prequel to 'Catcher in the Rye' - NY Daily News

Whoa! Thank you! Haven't got time to look into now...only took a quick glance...but I've always figured Salinger has a pile of manuscripts lying around some place. I hope we don't have to wait a hundred years...like Twain's autobiography.

 

[Garriga]

I believe symbolism is more for us as readers. It gives us the opportunity to relate literature to our own lives. We are able to reflect back on the story and ponder a deeper meaning. Personally, I believe foreshadowing and symbolism is an important aspect of literature as well as contemporary fiction.

 

[Chuggs]

I don't look for symbolism, I just enjoy the story. When I write...well, I'm not sure how to respond to this. But man oh man I hated having to look for this type of crap in my Fiction class in college. I just wanted to read and enjoy the story. Plus, in a lot of cases, a story means something different to every reader.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think the problem people run into is that they sometimes treat fiction and art like riddles where they can figure out a "right answer" to the meaning of a work. It doesn't really work that way. I remember being in high school and college and students would try to find the "correct" meanings to fiction. It can take the pleasure out of the work.

However, finding symbolism in fiction can add depth to a story. For example, in the Shawshank Redemption it's clear that birds represent freedom. For example, when

Spoiler

Red opens Andy's package in the field, there is a bird chirping that scares Red (). The bird sounds are pretty loud. It's suppose to represent Red's fear of being free from institutionalization. Red uses the bird metaphor several times to describe Andy spreading his wings and being free. Also, Brooks has a caged bird, but when he is released and frees his bird Jake, it didn't end so well for him. It's subtle, but it's there and it adds to the story telling IMO.[/spoilers]