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Symbolism In Tom Jones, By Thomas Foster

Satisfactory Essays

Connor MacAdam
Mrs. Mary Smith
AP Literature 6
21 September 2017
Title
Symbolism is present in almost every piece of literary fiction. Symbolism is used in many different forms to accomplish different needs that the author possesses within their literature and the literary environment as a whole. Within How to Read Literature Like a Professor Thomas Foster provides common examples of what authors like to symbolize in their writing to get the most out of each sentence. Foster shows how communion, seasons, and even weather can represent a plethora of literary opportunities for an author when writing.
Foster points out from the beginning how communion can symbolize companionship and foster insight into the true relationship of characters. For instance, in Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones the sexual nature of two characters is almost graphically depicted in a scene of the two eating voraciously at a feast. The act of eating together implies a kinship of some sort or other relationship requiring the impression or maintenance of companionship. Foster also exemplifies the story of a man with a hatred towards the physically and mentally disabled. The act of communion shows the bigot that the disabled man he dines with is not very different to himself. The act of partaking in food, in this instance, stood as a great equalizer between all persons to illustrate the commonality between all humans. Foster then tells of failed meals and the bad omen a failed meal carries with it. While a

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