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Q&A Sometimes a banana is just a banana

Sometimes authors write in ways to drive future literary critics crazy. Then they laugh. Because everything is potentially a symbol. If you've ever taken a lit-crit class, it's quite an experien...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:40:40Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42944
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T11:08:02Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/42944
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T11:08:02Z (almost 5 years ago)
Sometimes authors write in ways to drive future literary critics crazy. Then they laugh.

Because everything is potentially a symbol. If you've ever taken a lit-crit class, it's quite an experience. It's not that I can't see symbolism or that I don't want to, it's just that everyone sees something different. Some symbols are dead obvious and others are subtle but it's still easy to ascertain that's what the author meant. But other times, it's all a bit much.

Yes, be aware as much as possible about what certain things mean. Like with Sara's example...I speak Spanish so I knew about eggs. But tomatoes is a new one for me. But sheesh, if your characters are making a tomato omelet, go ahead and let them.

This is yet another reason for beta readers. Other people may catch stuff you miss. Maybe your characters are better off with broccoli in their omelet instead. Maybe not.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-03-04T04:48:57Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 6