“The Grandfather”

1. “The Grandfather” Pg. 359-361

2. Add to Symbolism and Allegory Lecture Notes • Multiple Meanings • A symbol may have one clear-cut interpretation. • A wedding ring = represents marriage OR • A symbol may be open ended and have more than one interpretation. If this is the case, the symbol has multiple meanings. • The ocean = ??? • Main Ideas • Central message that the writer wants to communicate to the reader. • Directly Stated Main Idea – the author comes right out and tells you in the text. It’s directly stated… you can point to it. • Implied Main Idea – the author implies the main idea, rather than directly stating it. You (the reader) must use inferences to figure out the main idea.

3. “The Grandfather” Analysis • Characterize Soto’s grandfather. *Consider his move to California and his attitude toward his backyard and the avocado tree. • What is the main idea of this short story? *Consider…what point is Soto making about his grandfather? • The avocado tree has multiple meanings. Use evidence from the story to support each of the following meanings: • The grandfather • Soto • The grandfather’s family • Answer the following symbolism questions: • What does the grandfather associate with money? (pg. 359) • In what way might the grandfather’s rise to packer then to watchman resemble a donkey’s labored climb? (pg. 359) • What details suggest the author intends the avocado tree to have symbolic meaning? (pg. 360) • What do the tree and Soto have in common? (pg. 360) • To what does the narrator compare the growth of the family? (pg. 361) • What part of the tree might the sons represent? (pg. 361) • What part of the tree might the grandfather represent? (pg. 361)