Thursday, July 31, 2014
Prompt #5
Weather is an important asset to literature by providing a way to show readers the symbolic aspects of the scene. It is more important than just the condition of the outside or existing as an obstacle to get around in a story (ex: tornados). Foster explains in Chapter 10, the figurative importance of rain, as either a type of cleansing or unhappiness. This sadness occurs in most movies; which, incorporates rain to show readers the depression that either has occurred or is occurring in the story. Weather can also be used to influence other parts of fiction, such as, the mood or showing the way a character is feeling. Another weather that Foster explains is the use of fog, which can be described as confusion to the scene. Such as, in most scary movies, fog is usually found to show the confusion for the characters, as well as, foreshadowing the upcoming mysterious events. Also, weather was used in The Great Gatsby, to show the true melancholy from the lost time between Gatsby and Daisy. Which, then lead to their love reawakening as the sun began to come out; proving, that authors also use sunny days as a shine of happiness. Another type of condition of weather is heat, which usually leads to confrontation and irritability from the characters in the novels. However, weather is something in a novel that I have not paid close enough attention to, but now that I see and understand the importance of this I will begin for the chance of a close read, as well as, a better understanding.
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I have never really thought much about weather until I read How to Read Literature Like a Professor, but now it totally makes sense. I'm sure it has to do with some kind of psychology but weather always makes us feel a certain way, such as seasonal depression and feeling down and drained on rainy days. But even in books and cartoons, like the old Scooby Doo cartoons were always dark and foggy, but now it makes sense because the animators knew that it would make the audience, especially little kids who are naturally uneasy of darkness, be more anxious for what was to come. It's super cool and I'm going to be looking for weather symbolism in everything now.
ReplyDeleteI have always considered weather to be extremely important as far as setting go and after reading, “How to Read Literature...” its importance is only reinforced. The mood of literature is one of the most important parts and weather really does have a huge impact on the mood of the story. I really like how you detailed the different types of weather and explained how the mood relates to the different patterns. I also really like your mention of “The Great Gatsby” as that is one of my favorite books. Overall, this is a great response that reflects effectively on the importance of weather patterns in literature.
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