Understanding Literary Tradition

Understanding Literary Tradition A guide to reoccurring images, characters and plots in literature.

Please read the following: Hw lng wl it taK u 2 transl8 dis msg? f ur d 1st pRsN 2 transl8 dis, raise yr h& +U wl rx 1 xtra credit point. How long will it take you to translate this message? If you’re the first person to translate this, raise your hand and you will receive one extra credit point.

Make the connection… Reading literature is just like reading text messages. You need to understand what to look for to be able to decipher the meaning of the text. The more you practice, the better you become.

“Originality is the art of concealing your sources” – Benjamin Franklin • Northrop Frye argues that there is no new literature; all literature grows out of other literature. • All literature tells the same story, the story of humans and human nature. • “Intertextuality” - Recognizing that old and new stories are linked together can deepen the reader’s appreciation and experience.

Some common connections to look for

Rain“Into each life a little rain must fall” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow • If there is rain (snow, hail, sleet, etc…) in the story, the author always puts it there for a reason. • Rain is often used as either a destructive or restorative force (see baptism later). • Snow Negative – stark, inhospitable Positive – clean coating, pure • Fog - confusion

Daisy and Gatsby’s reunion - rain symbolizes the inner turmoil each character feels. The rain clearing and the sun appearing symbolizes their reunion. The murder of Simon - rain foreshadows and acts as a foreboding force to Simon’s murder. Look for the rain and what it symbolizes for Amir.

Eating“All sorrows are less with bread” - Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote • Eating and drinking with others is a form of unity – it symbolizes a bond between people. • A failed meal or the inability to eat can symbolize a character’s detachment from another or society. • Consider your own environment and the people that you eat with – your friends and your family.

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol – Scrooge’s purchase of the goose and joining the Cratchit family for Christmas dinner symbolize his reunion with humanity. The mother (Amanda) plans an elaborate dinner for Jim and Laura to allow them to bond, Laura does not attend and refuses to eat dinner. This symbolizes a failed union. Notice how Amir’s breakfast habits change after the kite contest.

Flying“You could not see a cloud, because / No cloud was in the sky: / No birds were flying over head/ There were no birds to fly” – Lewis Carroll • Flight is usually symbolic of freedom, escape (possibly spiritual) or a return home. • Flight is usually not literal, images of flight (birds, objects, etc) can be used. • Inability to fly or a disrupted flight can signify harm / restrictedness.

Robert Frost uses flight in “Birches” to show the speaker’s sense of freedom that he felt as a child swinging on the trees. It further symbolized his temporary escape from reality. Dorothy’s inability to “fly” back home signifies her inability to depend on herself. It is only when she believes in her own capabilities that she is able to make the return flight home. Notice the repeated images of birds and planes in the story.

Seasons“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” – Victor Hugo Seasons represent the circle of life. Stories take place during a particular season or in particular weather for a reason. • Spring (comedy) = youth, rebirth, fertility, life • Summer (romance)= adulthood, passion, love, prime of life • Fall (tragedy) = middle age, harvest, season of decay • Winter (irony)= sleep, lack of growth, old age or death, isolation, punishment

Daisy and Gatsby’s romance flourishes during the summer. The hottest day of the year is linked to the frustrations felt when Tom confronts Gatsby. Gatsby is murdered on the first day of autumn. Scout’s story is told over four consecutive summers. Summer represents the carelessness of youth. The final stage of the story takes place in autumn when Scout finally learns valuable life lessons. Holden’s journey takes place in winter, the season of irony. Holden is isolated from humanity and demonstrates a lack of emotional growth.

Characters as Parasites “…we use vampires as a metaphor for something else, something deeper than just the supernatural. There are really so many people trying to get control over you on a daily basis and steal your soul in some way, take a part of you...” Gerard Way Exploitation takes many forms. Denying someone else’s right to live or placing one’s desire above another occurs frequently in literature.

Alec places his sexual desires above the physical and mental desires of Tess. He is partially responsible for her downfall. Claudius kills his brother and put his desires and needs above the needs of the kingdom. As well, Polonius puts his desires for social advancement above his daughter’s welfare. Consider how Torvald put his needs above that of his wife, Nora.

Color Symbolism“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.” Georgia O'Keeffe Color symbolism is important in literature because it allows the author to incorporate ideas that are less concrete to create a fuller meaning in the text. Although colors may differ from culture to culture, it is important to consider why an author chooses one color over another and what that color might represent.

- immorality, passion, danger, daring, often associated with fire - seen as cold and negative, suggests death, ignorance or evil - innocence, life, light and purity, and enlightenment - hope, new life, sometimes inexperience (does NOT stand for jealousy or go.) - cool, calm, peaceful, hope – can relate back to the Virgin Mary - rotting, decay, old age, decrepitude

The scarlet letter suggest the immorality of Hester’s sin. Pearl’s letter made from the seaweed is green – the color of life and hope. Gatsby and hope; he lives in a green house, surrounded by a green lawn and pursues the green light. He hopes to repeat the past. The yellow of the Valley of Ashes symbolizes decay. Consider Vonnegut’s recurring use of blue and ivory colors.

Sex“Sex is the one thing you cannot really swindle; and it is the centre of the worst swindling of all, emotional swindling.... Sex lashes out against counterfeit emotion, and is ruthless, devastating against false love.” -- D.H. Lawrence • Before the mid 20th century, authors wrote about sex in coded terms to avoid censorship. • Female symbols include chalices, Holy Grails, rolling landscapes, empty vessels waiting to be filled and tunnels. • Male symbols include blades, lances and tall buildings

Sex, cont. When authors directly write about sex, most times they are writing about something else. Often they are referring to sacrifice, submission, rebellion or enlightenment.

After Mercutio and Benvolio think that Romeo has had sex with Rosaline, they use double entendres (Romeo is a herring without his roe and a pump well flowered). Hamlet refers to his mother’s “incestuous sheets.” Although he refers to sex, he is really referring to his uncle stealing his father’s rightful place as king. Consider Billy Pilgrim’s relationship with Montana and the real reason he has “sex” with her.

Sight and Insight“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” Jonathan Swift • Physical blindness can mirror moral, emotional and psychological blindness. • Often used in an ironic way – the blind have insight where the seeing are incapable of seeing (understanding).

Tiresias, the blind profit, tells Odysseus how to get back to Ithaca, and he allows Odysseus to communicate with the other souls in Hades. Piggy’s glasses symbolize knowledge and the ability to see things. When the savages steal Piggy’s glasses they become powerful. With no sight, Ralph’s group is left powerless. Consider Billy Pilgrim’s occupation and the intended irony by Vonnegut.

Water and rebirth“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It's always ourself we find in the sea.” e.e. cummings • The presence of water can indicate a baptism or cleansing of the soul. It is a symbolic death and rebirth. • Traveling on water (rivers, oceans) can indicate a rebirth for a character. • Rain, as spoken about earlier, can be a symbolic cleansing. • A character can also be baptized or reborn when he or she is renamed. (e.g. Jay Gatz - Gatsby)

Ophelia is driven to madness and takes her own life by drowning. She chooses to enter a new life by leaving her troubled life behind her. One of the first images of Ralph is when he strips himself of his uniform and dives into the pool of water. He is metaphorically cleansed of his old life. Consider Jacques the Anabaptist’s fate as well as Candide’s journey into Eldorado.

Biblical Allusions “The book to read is not one which thinks for you, but one which makes you think. No other book equals the bible for that.” Harper Lee Stories from the bible that are repeated in literature: Garden of Eden- the original sin (women tempting men and causing their fall), a serpent tempting man to do evil, fall from innocence David and Goliath- overcoming impossible odds

Biblical Allusions, cont. • Jonah and the Whale - rejecting a task and being overwhelmed by it anyways • Job - suffering because of others’ choices, but remaining hard-working • The Flood- rain as a form of destruction; a washing away of sins • The Apocalypse - the end of the world • Biblical names - often make a parallel between the bible and the literary character

King Arthur comes to a truce with Mordred; however, a knight draws a sword (thus breaking the truce) and Arthur is drawn into the war he tried to avoid. (Jonah/Whale) The island resembles the Garden of Eden (picturesque, abundant in fruit, and idyllic in weather). The boys are symbolically linked to Adam and Eve before the fall from innocence. Chillingworth is often described with images of a snake thus alluding to the biblical serpent (Satan) who tempts men to do evil and thus fall from innocence.

Christ Figures What to look for: • scenes of crucifixion (arms outstretch, palms or feet wounded) • self-sacrificing • employed as a carpenter • good with children • associated with bread and wine • resurrected • helps to redeem an unworthy world • exemplifies mystical qualities

Christ figures, cont. Reasons-why the author uses these: • deepens character’s sense of sacrifice • thematically deals with redemption, hope and miracles • makes the character appear smaller (humble) rather than larger

Gulliver: sacrifices himself and his beliefs for the good of the Lilliput. Simon: selfless, kind to the littluns and helps Ralph build huts. He wrestles with the devil (Lord of the Flies). He bring the message of truth about the parachutist and shows mythical qualities when he tells Ralph that he will get home. Billy Pilgrim: tries to bring his Tralfamadorian views to the world. Also, what about his name, Pilgrim?

Fairytales “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C.S. Lewis Authors use fairytales and children’s literature; they can assume that the readers are aware of this common body of knowledge. • lost children trying to find their way home • refusing to grow up • entering a completely different world that does not operate as the norm • abused orphaned child saved by outside intervention

Fairytales, cont. • marrying a prince/princess • girl becoming a woman who is put away (sleeping); is an avoidance of growing up and becoming married • evil man or woman who tries to bring death to an innocent-the innocent is then saved by a heroic prince • evil stepmothers • prince charming as a hero

Peter Pan - Holden refuses to grow up because he wants to hold on to an innocence that he does not believe adults have. Hansel and Gretel - Upon landing on the island the children realize that their new home will be nothing like the comfort of where they came from. They try to find a way home. Evil man / Prince Charming - Tess is thrown into danger by the evil Alec only to be redeemed by Angel.

Name Symbolism“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” William Shakespeare • Authors never randomly choose names for their characters. Names add significance and meaning to the character and the message the author hopes to convey. • Some common places authors borrow names from: • The Bible • Greek and Roman Mythology • Other literature • Traditional name etymology

Daisy – Pretty to look at. White and innocent on the outside, yellow and spoiled on the inside. Holden – desperately “holding on” to his youth and innocence. Simon – name of Jesus’ disciple. His name links him to Christ; like Simon he is kind and helpful. Pearl - Pearls are precious. They are formed from an irritant dirt (adultery) and grow to be beautiful. Angel Clare – Literally French for “bright angel.” He floats above all the happens. Gulliver – gullible, he never sees his own experiences as absurd.

Notes: Information and format for this Powerpoint taken from: Foster, Thomas C. How to read literature like a professor: a lively and entertaining guide to reading between the lines. (New York : Quill, 2003).

Understanding Literary Tradition