(1) 1. Select a novel or play; 2. Select one symbol from it;
3. Analyze (a) how the symbol functions in the work, (b) what the symbol
reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole
(2) Siddhartha
(river); The Great Gatsby (green
light; eyes of Dr. TJ Eckelburg); Othello
(handkerchief); Lord of the Flies
(conch shell). Selection: Siddhartha’s river.
(3) (note: The definition intro and quotation intros are
two of my usual go-to’s; the action/image intro is usually a pretty good option
as well)
They say the pen is mightier than
the sword, and for many writers, the symbol is the sharpest blade available.
Poets, playwrights, and novelists alike often use a variety of symbols to
communicate their insights and themes with elegance. Although these symbols can
prove frustrating for some readers (why can’t they just say what they mean!?),
many others, this reader included, find the device to be integral to creating
an intriguing and memorable work of literature. Herman Hesse, author of Siddhartha, certainly seems to subscribe
to this latter mindset; in Siddhartha,
one of his most famous and tightly crafted novellas, Hesse utilizes the symbol
of the river to represent the work’s themes regarding the timelessness of
existence and the unity of all beings.
(4)
- Analyze
how the symbol functions in the work
- Where
and when Siddhartha first
encounters it, in the context of the work.
- Where
and when Siddhartha later
encounters it, in the context of the work.
i. What
the symbol reveals to Siddhartha (this is both character and theme related).
About the timelessness of existence (put your foot in the river, but river
always changing). The river is a
river, but it is also an insight into the connections between our personal
experiences in time, both positive and negative, and the necessity of all these
experiences.
ii. What
the symbol reveals to Siddhartha (both character and theme) about the unity of
all beings. Leads to his final epiphany and enlightenment. The river is a river, but it is also the
connection of all creatures great, small, friend, and foe. Only when we realize
that everyone we encounter in life is a necessary part of our journey and
someone to learn from will we achieve our own personal enlightenment.
This is part of a document that you download when you click on this
Funny how this came up when I typed the same search in.
In order to answer any of these questions, I would need to really read the book over again as a refresher. I know I could answer that as an essay in a month but I would want to review the material because it doesn't cover what is in the passage at all.
I would need to look closely at symbolism and analyzing the effect it has on the characters and story. Which isn't quite difficult but I would want to include the different types of literary elements that go along with it in order to give my essay an extra edge on the rest.
CAN WE PLEASE READ SIDDHARTHA AS AN ASSIGNMENT OR LIT. CIRCLE?!
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