Symbolism

Symbolism is used in scene seven of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. At the end of the scene when Jim and Laura kiss there are many uses of symbolism. The first use of symbolism is when he knocks over her glass menagerie. "its lost its- horn it doesn't matter" (Williams 1282) The horn on the unicorn getting knocked off and it looking like a horse symbolizes Laura breaking away from her unusual ways and becoming more "normal". The unicorn is a very odd and mystical creature which symbolizes her unusual ways and lifestyles. The horse is a more normal character that society recognizes as acceptable. The unicorn changing into the horse symbolizes her becoming more acceptable to society. Another use of symbolism at that scene has to do with the fact that she isn't even upset about the fact that he broke her glass menagerie. The fact that she isn't upset symbolizes that she is okay with embracing this new lifestyle of being open to society. She is also accepting the fact that change is not always a bad thing in today's society.

"Those Winter Sundays"- Imagery

In the poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden, imagery is used throughout the poem. Throughout the course of the poem, different kinds of imagery are used. In the beginning of the poem, imagery is used to describe a dark and cold moment. "My father got up early and put his clothes on the blueblack cold, then cracked hands that ached from labor" (Hayden, 781). The use of imagery in the first stanza of the poem allows for the reader to really see the tone of the situation. The tone was dark and painful misery. Another form of imagery is seen in the poem, but this time it is to display the admiration and respect that he has for his father. "When the rooms were warm, he'd call, and slowly I would rise and dress" (Hayden, 78). The imagery creates a picture for the reader of a father who is working hard to provide for his family. He spends his time working to create not only actual warmth, but a sense of warmth in the household. Imagery is used throughout the course of the poem to display both cold and dark imagery and compassion and respectful imagery.

Acceptance and even friendship- My Papa's Waltz

Acceptance is a theme throughout the course of the poem "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke. Throughout the course of the poem, the narrator learns to accept things that he does not particularly like about his father. In the first stanza, the narrator states, "The whisky on your great could make a small boy dizzy; but I hung on like death: such waltzing was not easy" (Roethke, line 1-4). Even though the narrator does not like the fact that his father is an alcoholic, he accepts him. When he states that he hung on like death, he states that he is going to stay by his father's side until the day he dies. The narrator states that  even though it is hard to tolerate a father who is "waltzing with alcohol", he learns to accept him for the man that he is. Not only does he accept him, but friendship is shown between them throughout the poem. The title talks about waltzing, which could symbolize friendship between the narrator and his father. The waltz is a dance between between two people who show compassion for each other. By talking about the Waltz in the title, it shows their journey of friendship, companionship, and acceptance of each other.

The Drunkard- Irony

In the short story The Drunkard by Frank O'Conner, there is a great deal of irony. The irony occurs concerning the son's drinking. The mother thinks that the son is a guardian angel for drinking the alcohol.  The mother states, "My brave little man... You were his guardian angel" (O'Conner, 351). She thinks that the son drank the alcohol in order to keep it away from his alcoholic father. But as a reader, we know that the son only drank the alcohol because of his curiosity. He was not even considering saving his father from he alcohol. All that he cared about was himself. Another use of irony is used when the Mom applauds her child for underage drinking. One would think that a mother would be upset at her kid for underage drinking, but instead, she approved of it. She even goes on to talk about how he is angelic like for breaking the law and underage drinking.

Once Upon A Time- Irony

In the story Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer, irony is a literary device used. Throughout the course of the short story, irony is used the most out of the literary devices, in my opinion. The most dramatic irony that takes place involves the security of the house. The family originally made the intricate security system in order to keep their family safe. "You are right, said the wife, then the wall should be higher. And the wise old witch, the husband's mother, paid for the extra bricks as a Christmas present to her son and his wife" (Gordimer, 234). The irony comes into play at the end of the story when the son is killed. "The man and his wife burst wildly into the garden and for some reason the alarm set up wailing against the screams while the bleeding mass of the little boy was hacked out of the security coil..." (Gordimer, 236). The irony of the story is that the fence that was made to protect their family, mostly their son, but instead, ended up causes the sons death. Because of the barb wired parts of the fence, the son ended up being cut into pieces and he had to be torn out of the security coil.

Self-Sacrifice

In the story The Worn Path by Eudora Welty, a major theme is self-sacrifice. The grandma leaves perfect her life behind in the country to seek help for her grandson Phoenix. In order for Phoenix to get the treatment that he needs, she must make the journey into the city. The distance she travelled is displayed when she describes where she lives as it being "way back yonder, sir, behind the ridge. You can't even see it from here" (Welty, 227). The quote demonstrates how she is giving up her day and her home to make the long travel to get help for Phoenix. The idea of self-sacrifice is also present when she takes care of her grandson. She talks about how her grandson is her life. In order to have made him her life, she had to give up the life that she had before he drank the lye. The grandma is displayed as a very genuine kind person who is willing to give up anything to get the help for her grandson.

Interpreter of Maladies- symbolism

The use of symbolism is prevalent throughout the course of the story Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. One symbol that is used is the strawberry. "The blouse was decorated at chest level with a calico appliqué in the shape of a strawberry" (Lahiri, 149). The fact that she compares it to a strawberry symbolizes her irresistible interest in Mr. Kapasi. Just as the strawberry is delicious and irresistible, in her eyes, Mr. Kapasi is irresistible. Another symbol used in the story is the piece of paper that has Mr. Kapasi's address written on it. The piece of paper symbolizes her plan to stay in touch with Mr. Kapasi after she returns home from her vacation. As she holds onto this piece of scrap paper, she is holding on to the affection and feelings that she has toward Mr. Kapasi. It also symbolizes her desire to hold onto the relationships in her life. It could also symbolize something that she has to hold onto after she talks to her husband about her lack of feelings toward him.