Your A Smybol, I'm A Symbol, We're All A Of Something......Well, Maybe!

WHAT IS A SYMBOL?.....The most asked question in high schools in all English classes across the world! I can't tell you how many times I've asked myself what does that one star in the sky mean?, what does the green snail symbolize?, and what does the wooden basket man? And, of course when you ask for assistance, most teachers answer," well, what do you think?, what do you feel like it symbolize?" It could mean anything!


Reading about symbols in this chapter, I learned that even though there are some symbols that'll always been the same things n mater what story, book, letter, o a show they're in....for the most part a symbol can stand for tons of things!


Also the difference between symbolism, the use of symbols to express or represent ideas or qualities in literature, art, etc., and an allegory, a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation.


Certain symbols can only be engaged by the individual reader. No one can give a wrong and or write answer to if the item is the symbol to something or not. It's what you take anyway from the story. Every reader takes away personal outlook on everything that they thought.

All in all, symbolic meaning is what you make it. It's all about what you think it means and after reading this chapter I  know that when I read something that says," the kite that the little boy flew was yellow", and I think that the yellow ,meaning happiness, and the kite, meaning childhood, means a great happy and well- lived childhood then I am  not wrong because that what I saw and that's what it is to me!

The Truth About The Existence Of Irony - Chapter 26

After reading chapter 26 of the book "How To Read Literature Like A College Professor" - Thomas C. Foster , I'd say that I have a different view on the true definition of irony. Before reading the chapter I was under the impression that irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. That's also Webster's definition. With this being true, Foster uses this chapter to elaborate on the meaning of irony in deeper detail. 

 

Now, It's understood that irony is the unexpected!

I read an article that described irony as something that

occurs when something other than what is expected occurs. That's the perfect way to describe what Foster described it as. It isn’t a "surprise" but

a way an author can turn expectations upside down in order to make a point.


Things that I knew about irony before reading :
1. Irony doesn’t work for everyone.
2. It's difficult to recognize it.
3. The concept of irony is often misused
4. Often mistaken for coincidence, which is a sequence of events that, although accidental, seems to have been planned or arranged (defined by Google).


Things that I learned from the chapter:
1. Irony is a deflection from the readers’ expectations and it forces our expectations to work against us
2. There are several different types off irony. In the chapter he mentioned comic, tragic,  wry, and/or perplexing ,which (in his words)  provides additional richness to the literary dish.
3. Nearly all writers employ irony sometimes
4. Verbal irony (character says opposite of what is expected)
Situational irony/Structural irony (situation or event plays out in an opposite or
abnormal way- not like expected)

He made it clear that "irony trumps everything" and the only way to know is to listen.

I like that he used several examples to help better understand. I also admire the cross comparing of the many different analysis and books that he used to prove his point and bring attention to the unnoticed.

The most important thing that I took from the chapter is that irony means many things, but what you take from it and what you want it to mean is the thing that's not. In other word's it's the complete opposite of what you thought it would be.