Symbolism to Convey Meaning

ENG 125 Introduction to Literature

Symbolism to Convey Meaning

The way a reader analyzes a story is a direct result of the experiences that he or she has had, as well as, his or her environment (Clugston, 2010). That is important to remember because each reader will see any given story in a different way. Even though views are differing it does not make one view right and the other wrong. It is just based upon where the reader is at this point in his or her life. In the short story "Used to Live Here Once" by Jean Rhys and the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost there are many ways in which the reader may interpret what he or she has read. If the reader chooses to learn more about the author; the true meaning that the author is intending to convey may be revealed. Learning about the reader allows for the reader to get a sense of the writing style of the author. Furthermore, if the Author has had similar experiences in his or her life, it may show the inspiration behind the piece. The form the author has chosen may also reflect what is attempting to be portrayed in the story. "The Road Not Taken" and "Used to Live Here Once" are both stories of a journey. However, the stories actually go deeper then what the reader may originally see. Both Robert Frost and

Jean Rhys use symbolism in order to convey a deeper meaning into the story. In "The Road Not Taken" the deeper meaning is the importance of choosing the right path. "Used to Live Here Once" on the other hand, has a deeper meaning of looking back on life after death. The symbolisms used in these stories gives clues into the meaning behind the journey and clues of the author's life as well.

Jean Rhys writes "Used to Live Here Once" in the form of a short story. A short story is generally in the form of several different paragraphs. It is structured using proper punctuation and grammar. The short story "usually consists of between 500 and 10,000 words which typically set up and resolve a single narrative point or depicts a mood or atmosphere (Anonymous, 2010) Additionally, the author is allowed to go into great detail about the setting. In this short story, the reader is demonstrated this form throughout the story. At the beginning of "Used to Live Here Once", Rhys shows this in the statement; "There was a round unsteady one, the pointed one, the flat one in the middle-the safe stone where she could stand and look around (Clugston, 2010)." This description of the stones across the river allows the reader to picture what the author was seeing. Additionally, as the story progresses,

the use of detail is shown once again when Rhys writes; "Very fair children, as Europeans in the West Indies so often are; as if the white blood is asserting itself against all odds (Clugston, 2010)." Is another great example of how Rhys paints a picture in the reader's mind from the details of the scene she has described. All of the details throughout the story allow for the reader to be drawn in and see what the writer is trying to portray.

On the other hand, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is written in poem form. When writing in a poem form, the author must follow a certain restrictions, patterns, and rules. For instance; the sonnet which restricts the writer to 14 lines in which specific lines must rhyme. Another example of the strict rules of poetry is Limerick. The Limerick "structure consist of five lines: The first two lines and the third and fourth lines have rhyming end words, and the first and last lines often end with the same word (Clugston,2010)." This shows how much thought the author really has to put into the poem. However, poems do not require the author to write use perfect spelling and grammar. "The Road Not Taken" is an example of an ode. An ode is "a form of lyric poetry in which a single subject or purpose is exalted in a serious, dignified way (Clugston,

2010)." This shows in the verse "long I stood and looked down one as far as I could (Clugston, 2010)." This quote shows that he is putting a lot of serious thought into which road was the best to take.

While short stories and poem have a few similarities, they have a lot more differences. One similarity that both short stories and poems have is that they both tell a story. In both "The Road Not Taken" and "Used to Live Here Once" both authors tell a story that conveys a deep meaning. Also, they are both centered around a theme. There are a lot more differences in the two, one of which is, a poem is subjected to many rules and style restrictions where as the short story is not. However, the short story must be written in proper paragraph form using correct spelling and grammar. The poem is given much more leeway when it comes to spelling and grammar. Additionally, short stories go into great detail about the setting. In contrast, the poem says as much as possible say as much as possible in as little words as possible. For instance; instead of saying something like; one fall day, I was walking through the woods where I came upon two roads as a short story might, Robert Frost says "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood (Clugston, 2010)." This shows how a lot can be crammed into

very few words. Poems always put as much meaning into as few words as possible. Though it is saying little, the reader can still put together the same meaning that he or she might see in the short story.

One of the things that "The Road Not Taken" and "Used to Live Here Once" have in common is how they are presented to the reader. Or what point of view the author has decided to write. Point of view is "how the action is presented to the reader (Clugston, 2010)" In both "Used to Live Here Once" and "The Road Not Taken" both seem to be written in the first person. A first person point of view develops "when the narrator describes his or her personal action and thoughts as a participant in the story (Clugston, 2010)." In both "The Road Not Taken" and "Used to Live Here Once" both authors describe the settings as their own thoughts and feelings. For example: the closing in "The Road Not Taken" states: "I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference (Clugston, 2010)" is a clear feeling of the writer. The statement is saying that the path that was taken may have been harder but it was the best thing he could have done. It is the same way with the final statement in "Used to Live Here Once". It states "that was the first time she knew (Clugston, 2010)" which also

shows feelings of the writer. What that is saying