Weather is an element which can occupy
numerous roles within fiction. While weather is predominantly known for being part
of the setting or existing as an obstacle, there is more to the conditions outside.
Primarily, weather tends to set a tone for the scene. For example, conditions such
as rain, lightening, and fog create a suspenseful atmosphere. These conditions
result in darkness and low visibility, which lends itself to a thrilling scene.
If the characters facing the rain need to find shelter then weather has then also
driven the plot. Finally, weather conditions are very symbolic. Rain can express
ideas such as sorrow, anxiety, cleansing, and life. While on the other hand,
fog manages to express confusion, misery, isolation, and mystery. The symbolism
and tones which derive from weather are largely based on how the weather is described.
Rain can be drizzling or thrashing against a window. The sun can shine brilliantly,
or it can harshly beat down. The manner of description largely determines the
effect of the weather conditions has on a story.
In the children’s book Because of Winn-Dixie, when Winn-Dixie
is missing and the little girl has doubts about herself it is storming. The
rain expresses the sorrow and the grief the main characters have as the worry
about the dog’s safety. The storm also drives the plot as they must now look
for the dog who hates thunder. In young
adult novel The Maze Runner the mystery
surrounding the location of where a boy is being trapped is amplified when he
notices that it never rains, never snows, and never got too hot or too cold. In
this case the absence of normal weather conditions stirs uneasiness. In the
novel The Great Gatsby as the heat
becomes intense so does the tension between Tom, Daisy, Nick, Jordan, and
Gatsby as they head to the city. The heat in this situation leads us to believe
there will be a confrontation, as the heat is causes angers to rise and patients
to thin.
I love how you referenced the book Because of Winn-Dixie, it was a favorite of mine when I was a child, and it is interesting to think of it from an older perspective, and analyze it's contents, other than reading it for pleasure. I agree with your idea of the impact of the difference in the description of the weather in regards to the story line. The manner in which an author describes a setting greatly influences the reader's interpretation.
ReplyDeleteWeather is a very important element in literature. It influences the setting of the story but it can also reflect the mood of the characters. It is absolutely true that when an author applies a certain type of weather to a situation in the story, the weather will stand for something else. Weather can express emotions, convey ideas and even set the tone of a scene. I enjoyed your multiple examples of weather in literature, ranging from a children’s book to a classic novel. It is a useful tool to be able to recognize the patterns of what weather can mean in literature. If a reader is able to recognize the patterns and implications that weather can forebode, then they will be able to further understand the underlying meanings of what the author is attempting to convey.
ReplyDeleteI agree that weather can occupy numerous roles, In certain works of fiction It’s purpose could be one thing and in other works of fiction it could be another. Because of Winn-Dixie is a great example of weather expressing feeling. Not only is the storm a pivotal point in the plot, but it also conveys the emotion of the little girl and her family and the overall emotion of the book at that point. Large storms or changes in weather such as this often show a turning point in a book or some sort of plot twist and this is a great example of that.
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