In AP lit class, it has definitely been an eventful week. Mr. Schoenborn has given us a lot to chew on. The thing that has really stuck out to me was our elements of fiction project. My group is working on symbolism and theme, but to me symbolism is very interesting. It has really opened me up to a big part of many of the stories I read and have read.
The idea behind symbolism is that the author can compress his/her story by making either a reference to a well known event or story, or by adding details that can have multiple meanings to them. It's all about compression. The author can reference something well known, like the bible, and he/she doesn't really have to elaborate for the reader to understand the point of this occurrence. This is huge for fiction writers because it can save them time and give their pieces a little more food for thought. Writers can also add a detail about something that would be just your average object or noun, but with symbolism it can represent something completely unrelated. This makes reading it more complex and entertaining, while also saving the author some time.
Understanding what a fiction writer has to work with is rather intriguing because it can really help you see where they are going with something you may not have understood originally. You can connect with what their idea is because you understand what they are working with and can spot it. It definitely makes you feel smarter while reading.
I enjoyed reading your blog post. I thought the bit about symbolism was really interesting. I like the idea of symbolism as a way to add weight and meaning without adding long explanations. As you said, "It's all about compression."
Reading what you have to say about symbolism made me think about other ways authors achieve depth of meaning. I think an unusual or even jarring description can do it. The first thing that comes to mind is from "The Eagle," from week one, when the speaker is describing the ocean: "The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls." The sea is incredibly old and the surface is made up of millions of little ripples--but Tennyson doesn't say that, doesn't have to. The unusual description of the sea as being "wrinkled" encompasses all that and causes those images to form in the mind of the reader.
I think the concepts of compression and economy of language are really interesting and useful. Anyhow, thanks for sharing your writing, and I look forward to your next post!
--Kate
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