Memory, symbol, and pattern affect the reading of literature in many different ways. In a sense, memory affects the reading of literature because it allows you to make connections between different pieces of text and recognize patterns that may occur as you read. As for patterns, they can stem out and allow you to reveal meanings that were hidden within the text. If something is repeatedly stated, it becomes clear that it is of vital importance in fully understanding what is happening in the text or a piece that is being read. Without this, reading literature can become very complicated in that we would not be able to realize the actual meaning of the text and what the author is trying to tell us as readers. Without patterns, the author would …show more content…
not be able to get the readers to take away the important lessons that are essentially hidden within the writing. This is why it is very important to be able to recognize patterns when reading any type of literature because it helps you to correlate ideas and their relationships with one another, thereby making it simpler to comprehend. Finally, when talking about symbolism or symbols in literature, we can see that they are used most commonly to get us as readers to understand some hidden underlying point that is being stated in the piece. If there was ever a time that my appreciation for a literary work had increased by recognizing a symbol in the text, it would have had to have been when I was reading Paper Towns by John Green.
In Paper Towns, the idea of just that, paper towns, was discussed a lot by the main characters, and it seemed to appear as a main theme in the novel. Upon understanding what a paper town is, a fake town put on maps by cartographers as a symbol of copyright, I began to wonder what exactly the significance was that it had to the novel, besides obviously the fake town aspect. As I continued to read the book over and over again, I finally stopped one day on a quote that Margo, one of the main characters says. She states, “A paper town for a paper girl.” Upon continually skimming over this quote, I realized that maybe paper towns was supposed to be taken as literally as possible. With words such as not real, fake, and other things that I correlated with paper like “weak” and “easily damaged” swirling around in my head, I began to realize that maybe when Margo said “A paper town for a papergirl” what she really meant was a fake town for a ‘fake’ girl. Not that necessarily Margo was a fake character but you could tell from the start of the novel that she didn’t belong with the people she was hanging out with. It was almost as if she was leading a fake life; and that, I take it, is essentially why she wanted to leave and go to a paper town so that she could finally embrace her real self.
Ultimately the paper town was a fake place where she could finally start over and embrace her true self.
Memory, symbol, and pattern are a big bulk of reading in literature. By reading more and more, you will begin to see patterns in different works. Once you begin to compare and contrast, it will help you understand the bottom line of books.It’s becomes fun and exciting when you make connections.
“ The horizon was the color of milk. Cold and fresh. Poured out among the bodies” (Zusak 175). The device is used in the evidence of the quote by using descriptives words that create a mental image. The text gives the reader that opportunity to use their senses when reading the story. “Somehow, between the sadness and loss, Max Vandenburg, who was now a teenager with hard hands, blackened eyes, and a sore tooth, was also a little disappointed” (Zusak 188). This quote demonstrates how the author uses descriptive words to create a mental image which gives the text more of an appeal to the reader's sense such as vision. “She could see his face now, in the tired light. His mouth was open and his skin was the color of eggshells. Whisker coated his jaw and chin, and his ears were hard and flat. He had a small but misshapen nose” (Zusak 201). The quotes allows the reader to visualize what the characters facial features looked like through the use of descriptive words. Imagery helps bring the story to life and to make the text more exciting. The reader's senses can be used to determine the observations that the author is making about its characters. The literary device changes the text by letting the reader interact with the text by using their observation skills. The author is using imagery by creating images that engages the reader to know exactly what's going on in the story which allows them to
Why do authors use symbolism in their literature? Many authors use symbolism in their literature to create or to add deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. They often use objects, people, actions and words to symbolize a deeper understanding of their story and to develop their themes. They also use symbols to give clue/hints for the story in which they also develop their main characters. In the story, “It Had to be Murder” by Cornell Woolrich, the author uses symbolism to develop his story and to send a message with a deeper understanding of the story to his readers.
Throughout the novel, the reader is presented with many different symbols. The symbols are clearly seen by Holden's constant repetition of their importance. The symbols are so important and their symbolism is directly related to the major themes of the novel.
A symbol is a person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols can be very useful in shedding light on a story, clarifying meaning that can’t be expressed with words. It may be hard to notice symbols at first, but while reflecting on the story or reading it a second time, the symbol is like a key that fits perfectly into a lock. The reason that symbols work so well is that we can associate something with a particular object. For example, a red rose symbolizes love and passion, and if there were red roses in a story we may associate that part of the story with love. Although many symbols can have simple meanings, such as a red rose, many have more complex meanings and require a careful reading to figure out its meaning. The first symbol that I noticed in Ethan Frome is the setting. It plays an important role in this story. The author spends much of the first few chapters describing the scene in a New England town Starkfield. When I think of a town called Starkfield, a gloomy, barren place with nothing that can grow comes to mind. As the author continues to describe this town, it just reinforces what I had originally thought.
A pattern of repeated words or phrases can have a significant impact in conveying a particular impression about a character or situation, or the theme of a story. In the story "The Storm," by Kate Chopin, and "The Chrysanthemums," by John Steinbeck, imagery is an integral element in the development of the characters and situation, as well as the development of theme.
Mare Barrow, the red blooded protagonist goes through several trials and tribulations dealing with the segregation and morals. A recurring pattern that blew me away was the repetitive idea of anyone can betray anyone. At first I did not recognize this as a pattern, but as the book progressed, it became more and more evident. The symbolism of Mare’s earrings, one rhinestone for each of her brothers that have gone war, was a beautiful symbol for the love of her family. Comprehending several of the symbols as well as the patterns with memory brought the novel onto a whole new level for me and only increased my appreciation and adoration for the characters. After reading the introduction of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, I recognize the importance of symbols, patterns and memory, and I plan to apply these devices on works I read in the
There are many examples of literature in everyday life that help people understand the world around them. Literature preserves the ideals of people- leaving the reader with numerous messages. Authors may use motifs in literature to give the reader a deeper understanding of the lives of people. In a piece of literature, Lord of the Flies, an overlooked but significant motif is clothing. William Golding uses clothing to show how human nature can revert to disorder in the absence of law and order.
Symbolism. Why is it important in a novel? Why do authors incorporate symbols into their writing? Symbolism aids the reader in understanding what the author wants to portray. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird, she writes about the racism in a small town in Alabama named Maycomb set in the 1930’s and about two children growing up and learning that their town is not as perfect as they thought. The theme topic appearance versus reality helps to get a better understanding of the symbols used in the novel and that you should not judge something by their appearance, you should judge by the reality of what it is. “As Atticus once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem’s skin and walk around in it.” (Scout page 77) In her novel, there are many symbols throughout the narrative that relate to the theme topic appearance versus reality. Harper Lee writes symbols into her novel, such as the snowman, Mrs. Dubose’s Camellia flower and Dolphus Raymond’s Coca-Cola bottle to help reinforce the theme topic of appearance versus reality throughout the novel.
...e of the meanings to be determined by the reader, but clearly conveys the meaning behind others. Such variety provides something or someone for any reader to relate to. Symbolism, hidden or obvious, serves to connect the reader with the characters of “The Things They Carried” and follow their development with interest and ease. In many cases, symbols answer the question which the entire story is based upon, why the men carry the things they do.
All forms of literature consist of patterns that can be discovered through critical and analytical reading, observing and comparing. Many patterns are discussed in the novel, How to Read Literature like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster. Among these patterns, he discusses the use of symbolism and the representation something can have for a different, underlying aspect of a piece of literature. These symbols tend to have multiple meanings and endless interpretations depending on who is reading and analyzing them. No matter
In almost every story, one can find symbolism throughout the text to help the reader better understand what the writer wants the reader to takeout from his/her story. Symbolism is something that must be analyzed and explored to experience a deeper meaning to the story. Sometimes, symbolism throughout a story may not be noticeable when first read, but going back to analyze the text can add a deeper meaning to words and can also help to enhance the meaning behind the story line. In some instances, symbolism can leave a reader to ponder what the writer is trying to express with the symbolism used in the story; for symbolism can be interpreted differently and can have many layers of meaning to it. Some good examples of short stories that use symbolism
Some of the main symbols of the novel are The Hanging Wall, the colours of the clothing of the different women and the Eyes. All these symbols add different features to the story which are important. Some add fear, suspense, and overall they all add an important understanding of the story line. Margaret Atwood, was able to successfully create symbols which added depth and helped with the understanding of the novel. With these symbols she used in the novel she proved the importance and the positive effects strong symbolism can have with plot and character
The first stage of memory is the sensory memory. Sensory memory holds sights, sounds, smells, textures, and other sensory impressions for only a few seconds, and it operates on an unconscious level. (Zimbardo, P., & Johnson, R. (2013). Memory. In Psychology: Core Concepts With Dsm-5 Update (pp. 177-179). Pearson College Div.)This stage of memory is the shortest element of memory. Sensory memory has the ability to retain impressions of different sensory information. Sensory memory is the ultra-short term memory and it retains brief impressions of the sensory stimuli after the stimulus has ended. It holds the shortest impression of sensory information and even when the sensory system does not send information the sensory memory still holds the shortest impression. There are many different issues and characteristics of the sensory memory; it has a high capacity to form memory registration of visual data, and the information that’s stored is un-interpreted, and the it the visual information fades away after less than a second. In order to use the information in your sensory memory, you must encode the information quickly. The sensory memory is the hardest memory to grasp and most of what we sense is forgotten. Sensory memory allows the eye to have a larger field of vision by remembering images that your eye has already focused on. The sensory memory, in general, allows us to maintain incoming sensory information long enough for us to screen it and determine if it is important. (Zimbardo, P., & Johnson, R. (2013). Memory. In Psychology: Core Concepts With Dsm-5 Update (pp. 177-179). Pearson College Div.)
Often in great works of literature, symbols are incorporated to add depth. These symbols make it more interesting to the reader by making connections from one idea to another. Herman Melville depicts a great number of characters and symbols in his 19th century novel Moby Dick. Melville uses symbols to develop plot, characters, and to give the reader a deeper interpretation of the novel. (Tucker) The author successfully uses the symbols of brotherhood, monomania, isolation, religion, and duality to make his book more interesting to its readers.