Background Reading: Symbol, Allegory, and Fantasy
Take notes as you go through the chapter.
1. Explain what the following means: “Most successful stories are characterized by
compression”
2. By modifying, enhancing, and at times even abandoning such a factual or realistic
approach to storytelling what happens?
3. Define symbol as it pertains to literature:
4. What in stories can be seen as symbols:
5. In stories that are realistic in presentation the symbols fit right in and are there to
__________ and _________ to the meaning.
6. In stories that are less realistic on the surface symbols will be central and obvious
and the symbols __________the meaning.
7. Even though we did not read “A Worn Path,” make sure that you read the
discussion of the symbolism found in it- especially the discussion of the image f
birds.
8. The identification of symbols requires __________ and _________.
9. What is the danger in interpreting symbols?
10.
What do readers need to remember about stories?
11.
What does the text assert is better to do with symbols and why?
12.
List the cautions when looking for symbolic meanings:
a.
b.
c.
d.
13.
Define allegory:
14.
How is allegory different from symbolism?
15. Serious writers often introduce and element of ____________ into their
allegorical meanings, undercutting
_______________________________________________________________.
16. While you read a story readers should be aware of an author’s use of
____________ and __________ why?
17.
Define fantasy:
18.
After all, truth in ___________ is NOT the same as ___________ to fact.
19. The purpose of fiction is to communicate ____________ by means of imagined
_________.
20.
Fantasy stories require, as Samuel Taylor Coolridge stated:
21.
Explain “magical realism”:
22.
Why can stories that deal in fantast still be considered literary fiction?
23.
What should one ask about stories when judging stories of fantasy?