happy monday
What is the message of the story?
The most important idea that the author expresses in the process of developing the theme is the message of the story.
True or False: Circling of action back to the beginning usually implies that everything has changed dramatically.
False. This circling of actions implies that nothing has changed, and this may be the whole point.
Name the types of symbols.
Traditional and personal.
May the title acquire a symbolic meaning?
Yes. The title may acquire a symbolic meaning.
True or False: Recurrence in plot helps return the reader to the central problem of the story.
True. Though the events in the plot generally vary among themselves, they have a similarity in function – each of them recalls the reader to the central problem.
Give the example of a traditional symbol.
The rose as a symbol of beauty.
Define the term “theme” in a literary work.
The theme of a story is the main area of interest treated in the story.
What is implication?
Implication is the suggestion that is not expressed directly but understood.
Define the term “key‑word”.
A key-word is a repeated word (or phrase) which has acquired emotional charge.
What is the function of the theme?
The theme performs a unifying function.
Define the term “symbol”.
A symbol is an object that stands for something else. It has a larger meaning than its surface meaning.
How is the message generally expressed?
The message is generally expressed implicitly, i.e. indirectly, and has a complex analytical character, being created by the interaction of numerous implications which the different elements of the literary work have.
What is semantic repetition?
Semantic repetition is when one and the same idea is repeated, though every time it is formulated differently.
What may develop into a symbol and how?
An artistic detail may develop into a symbol when it is repeated throughout the story and acquires a larger, more abstract meaning.
What is the objective message?
The objective message is the final conclusion that the reader draws from the analysis of his own response to the story and from the author’s message. The objective message is based on more profound historical experience.
Monday is yours!
Take your 400 points)
Name and briefly explain the functions of the title.
- Conveying the author's message: Some titles actually formulate the author's message.
- Means of cohesion: The title may unite the components of a story to form a whole.
- Focusing the reader's attention: The title directs attention to the most relevant characters or details.
- Characterizing the protagonist.
- Orienting the reader: Any title orients the reader towards the story. It may serve as a means of foreshadowing or may disorientate the reader when it contrasts with the story and acquires an ironic ring.
Name the types of messages by L.I. Timofeyev.
- Message that suggest definite solutions
- Message that raise a problem
- Message in which the solution of the problem is not adequate
Explain the symbolism of "winter", using an example from the book.
The story "Winter in July" by D. Lessing clarifies the meaning of one of the components of the title. In this case, "winter" appears to be not a season, but a period of decline.
What is the function of the title of the story "Mistaken Identity" by M. Twain?
The title of Mistaken Identity by M. Twain serves as a means of foreshadowing.
What is the difference between the author’s message and the objective message?
The author’s message is the most important idea that the author intentionally expresses through the development of the theme. The objective message is the final conclusion that the reader draws from analyzing both their own response to the story and the author’s message.
Explain the symbolism of "the apple and tree".
The repetition of "the apple tree" and its constant associations attach to it a symbolic meaning – that of love, spring and beauty.
Describe how parallelism creates implication, using an example from the book.
Parallelism creates implication by inviting the reader to compare two or more similar actions, situations, or events. For example, in O’Henry’s The Roads We Take, there is a parallel between the dream and reality: in the dream, Shark Dodson murders his companion “with cold ferocity” to get the booty; in reality, Dodson (now a businessman) ruins his friend “with cold ferocity” to increase his profits. This parallelism suggests not only the ugly nature of the protagonist but also the immoral means he uses to make money.
Explain the difference between theme and message.
The theme of a story is the main area of interest treated in the story (e.g., love, war, family relations, human relations in society). The message is the most important idea that the author expresses in the process of developing the theme. While the theme indicates the subject matter, the message conveys the author’s specific view, attitude, and conclusion about that subject.
Explain how a neutral word “cold” becomes an artistic detail, using an example from the book.
A neutral word such as “cold” becomes an artistic detail through recurrence and contextual significance. In J. Cheever’s story The Pleasures of Solitude, the word “cold” (and its derivatives like “coldness”) is repeated in descriptions of the wind, the rain, the weather, and the boys who came “shaking with cold.”