Symbolism and the Concious and Uncounsius Mind in The Assault by Harry Mulisch

Throughout English literature there are a number of authors who use symbolism to get a point across to the reader. Symbolism is a chance for the author to show the reader instead of tell. The futuristic book Fahrenheit 451 is a novel based around symbolism and ulterior meanings. Water and fire are symbols commonly used in all types of literature. These elements are especially apparent in mythology. Also, within the novel the parlor walls proved themselves to be more than what was initially apparent. These symbols give this book a very specific tone and mood.

Symbolism is a major literary device that helps people see a book through symbols that often have a deeper meaning. A symbol is used to explain something in a different way, using images, objects, etc. instead of just saying it in words. As you search for a deeper meaning in a work of art or literature it can help you understand the author’s intentions and the deeper significance of a work. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, symbols help reinforce the major themes of the book.

Symbolism plays a huge role in the story “A Wall of Fire Rising” because Edwidge Danticat, the author, uses objects and characters to help represent qualities of the story. Danticat adds meaning to these symbols in a way that it becomes engaging to the readers. The s

In the novel “How to Read Literature like a Professor” the author, Thomas Foster, analyzed and broke down many literary techniques and reoccurring themes in literature. One of the most widely used literary techniques as shown in the novel was Symbolism. Symbolism is heavily used in literature from precipitation and weather to politics, almost everything we read in literature is a form of symbolism.

One example of this is when the lady on the train kept yelling “fire!”. She continued to say she saw fire, even though nobody else saw this. Everyone on the train thought she was crazy. This woman was very afraid that she might be burned by the fire she saw. I think that this event could symbolize the fear that everyone had during the Holocaust. Another example of symbolism in this book is all the dead bodies laying around in the end of the book. Towards the end of the book there are lots of bodies lying around that have not been disposed of. I think that this event could symbolise how the people in the camps that were still alive had lost all of their humanity. This can cause the reader to have a feeling of fear when they read the book

Thomas C. Foster utilizes various allusions and forms of symbolism to apply a multifaceted meaning or message to any piece of literature. In “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” Foster theorizes how an author can assist a reader in getting a better grip on the message or purpose of a work using figurative language including symbolism, tones, allusions, and techniques. The chapters “…Or the Bible”, “It’s Never Just Heart Disease”, and “Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion” all demonstrate how Foster’s theories can be applied to the way authors have written and will continue to write.

Literature teaches many things, sometimes even coaches readers on how to correctly read and analyze other works of literature. The novel How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas Foster, teaches the analysis of symbolism in chapter 12 “Is that a symbol?”, used to evaluate the meanings of certain passages and quotes throughout works such as The Tragedy of King Lear, by William Shakespeare. Using the definition of symbolism, the readers background information, and learning about correct application now allows readers to develop a more in depth analysis of the words spoken by King Lear.

In the book ‘How to read literature like a professor’ the author uses symbolism throughout the book. Foster uses this technique so he can use objects, and short stories to help the readers understand what is really going on without being blunt about it. Symbolism is using an object or word to represent an idea. This style of writing challenges the reader to use their imagination to really grasp what is really going on.

In the novel The Assault, by Harry Mulisch, a young boy named Anton, endures a traumatic event. His house is set ablaze, and all of his immediate family is killed. As the novel follows Anton through the course of his life, he is given multiple explanations about the night of the incident. These explanations both simple and complex. What makes an explanation complex is that the descriptions of the event are very detailed, and the reasoning behind each action are quite in depth. The novel ultimately states that complex explanations are more effective for reasons such that with simplicity, some lose truth, and contextual evidence of why the event occurred is lost. With complexity, more details are gained about the events that happened, and more

As Anton involves the guilt of Fake Ploeg, the conversation escalates and turns into a quarrel, thus distancing Anton from the event. In their conversation, Anton attributes all the causes of violence to Fake junior’s father, for the Fascists, which Fake Ploeg sides with, are responsible for the death of Anton’s families. (3-3) Apparently, what Anton assumes from his perspective is reasonable, because the inappropriate presence and the untimely death of Fake Ploeg indeed draws the attention to the Germans, therefore, causing the violence and tragic results. As the victim of the violent assault, Anton sees Fake Ploeg as the spark of the inception of the assault, which makes Fake culpable throughout the whole event. Also, the same accusation can be seen when Anton says: “After all, it doesn’t take much to love a saint. That’s like loving animals” (3-3). The meaning of this is Anton makes an irony, saying that Fake Ploeg’s fault is dirty as animal. The use of “saint” and “animal” here functions as a perfect emphasis for the irony, that to Fake junior, he loves Fake Ploeg as his father, and Fake Ploeg appears to be as innocent as saint since he does nothing wrong. Nevertheless, to Anton, Fake Ploeg is culpable and accusable for his fault. Anton insists his opinion although Fake Junior explains that his father is a just Fascist and he dies for a good cause. The hate for Fake Ploeg, as well as Anton’s upsetting feeling to Fake Junior, can be seen as one abstract factor of Anton’s distance from the event. Moreover, it is the combination of this upsetting feeling and the accusation for Fake Ploeg that leads to Anton distancing himself from seeing the whole picture of the true cause of the violence. (Anton only knows the truth that Fake Ploeg’s death is what causes Anton’s families’ death, but not the fact that Fake Ploeg dies defending a good

John Steinbeck and John Knowles both are huge advocates for symbolism, like most writers. Symbolism is what sets apart an average book from an exceptional book. Symbolism is using ordinary objects to show a deeper idea. The use of symbolism allows the reader room for their own interpretation of the book. Both The Pearl and A Separate Peace use lots of symbolism to create more in depth conclusions of characters and the meaning of the book.

Graham Greene’s “The Destructors” (1954) is set in London nine years after the end of World War II. The protagonist is Trevor who is the new leader of the Wormsley Common Gang. Trevor leads the gang to destroy an old house that belongs to an old gentleman named Mr. Thomas, whom the boys call Old Misery. Symbol is one element that supports the plot. The “Glossary of Terms” defines symbol as follows: “Something that means more than what it is; an object, person, situation, or action that in addition to its literal meaning suggests other meanings as well”(1647). Two symbols from the story that support the plot are the burning of the money and the house itself. These two symbols play a huge part in the main character’s life and have a much deeper

Symbolism is a literary technique that is used to clarify the author's intent. Sometimes it is used to great effect, while other times it only seems to muddle the meaning of a passage. In "Young Goodman Brown," Nathaniel Hawthorne uses objects and people as symbols to allegorically reveal his message to the reader.

The literary world contains a vast collection of works, each employing diverse techniques in writing. One technique commonly found in literature is the use of images and symbols. Symbols are sometimes complex and contain both literal and figurative significance. Symbolism in literature is commonly used to bind the attributes of an object with various segments of a story to provide the reader with a deeper understanding and sometimes hidden meaning. In the short story, “A Rose for Emily” William Faulkner utilizes a vast collection of symbols, as a means to enhance the reader’s visual perceptions but also prompts consideration into theories of motive surrounding the murder of Homer Barron.

Symbolism is a very important aspect of writing good literature. Symbolism can han have a major impact on a piece of literature, it can make a bad writing really interesting or it can make a good writing have a totally different meaning. Most readers miss the symbols the first time reading through the work and they don't get it until someone teaches them or if they read it again, sometimes the symbols are hard to detect in the story or poem, and other times they can be super easy to find such as a giant red A on your chest. In 1984 the many Symbol was pretty easy to figure out and a had a big meaning for part of the book which was really fascinating once you figured it out. Overall symbolism is very important and hopefully everyone who reads this will realize that.