A Question About Themes, Motifs and Symbols

[lifeisart]

Once i was talking to a friend about art. I'm an English Language student, so we see some book reviews.

She said ''if i were a writer, i wouldnt write a novel and think of creating a symbol, i would just write. People might be giving them meaning that the work dont include in itself.''

I said she was wrong, but after thinking about it, people always claim art is perceived differently from people to people. If so, why do we have a general view about the book? Sparknotes is a good explainer to me. I mean... The Call of The Wild is clearly talking about what happens when we go from civilization to wild life.

But she claims, you understand it that way, but others may understand it differently. Indeed, she might be right. But the only clear thing is Jack London do not talks about a bunch of dogs fighting each other. So are those works open to interpretation?

When we take an exam, we have to write what sparknote claims. When i put my ideas, i dont get any point from that.

Thanks in advance.

[Pompey Bum]

Some meaning is derived from the text. The madness of Ivan in Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov, for example, indicates the authors anxious belief that rationality alone is insufficient to understand the entire human condition. Other meaning is brought to the text by readers. For example, some see an environmentalist moral to the destruction of the Pequod by Moby-Dick, although the author certainly had no thought of it. I prefer the former (exegetical) approach, although the latter (eisegetical or hermeneutical) approach has many supporters. Feminist or Marxist hermeneutics, for example, are frequently applied to the works of authors who never heard of such things.

As far as standard interpretations/Spark Notes go, you can't break the rules unless you know how to play the game. It doesn't hurt to learn what others think as long as it doesn't stop you from thinking for yourself.

[lifeisart]

Indeed, we dont see those approaches in our classes. Can you please tell me how i can have ideas about those approches?

Then maybe i can select the most proper approach to me. I dont believe everyone can say anything about a novel. I mean they can see those things in a novel, but those are personal thoughts and not accepted by many. If author has no thought of it, i think the other thought might be made up. People looks at eras to interpret those things and when someone come and tell ''it's non-sense to see comments because all people understand differently'', that just makes me crazy. I think standard interpretations are the best to understand a novel. Even if they're not, i dont believe im so clever to interpret works better than sparknotes!

And sorry for the approaches, i really do not know about them, but i wanna learn and support one of them.

Edit: Even in 2 days, i realised i've learned a lot here, thanks!

[Pompey Bum]

Indeed, we dont see those approaches in our classes. Can you please tell me how i can have ideas about those approches?
Then maybe i can select the most proper approach to me. I dont believe everyone can say anything about a novel. I mean they can see those things in a novel, but those are personal thoughts and not accepted by many. If author has no thought of it, i think the other thought might be made up. People looks at eras to interpret those things and when someone come and tell ''it's non-sense to see comments because all people understand differently'', that just makes me crazy. I think standard interpretations are the best to understand a novel. Even if they're not, i dont believe im so clever to interpret works better than sparknotes!

And sorry for the approaches, i really do not know about them, but i wanna learn and support one of them.

Edit: Even in 2 days, i realised i've learned a lot here, thanks!

If you are in college you should ask your professors (or just do a Google search on literary theory). Just remember that there are many opinions about approaching a text. You should be looking for ideas, not choosing an orthodoxy. But your professors should be able to help you with that. That's what they are there for, right?

As a general principle I agree with you about deriving meaning from a text rather than bringing it. On the other hand, what would it matter if people apply their personal (or even political or religious) questions to a text if it produces something helpful or meaningful to them? I read literature because I am looking for wisdom for my life today. An 18th century writer like Fielding or a 19th writer like Dickens had no idea how I would be living in the 21st century So on some level I must be bringing something of my own to the text. The truth is There are many ways to approach a text so rather than ask yourself which sword is yours, try asking yourself which arrow will suit you select for the task today. Hope that helps.

[lifeisart]

I agree with you. Also now im graduated so i cannot ask.

I dont see any problem when people see others things in a book, that's actually a good thing. I just get crazy when people look down on you like ''you cannot understand texts without looking at interpretations''. Some look at me like ''you read other people's thoughts and think those so-called comments are real''. Indeed, i believe those interpretations are real and they should be read. My problem is when people interrupts me and says ''those are lias, everyone understands differently''.

[Pompey Bum]

I know what you mean. It takes courage to think for yourself.

[Red Terror]

Once i was talking to a friend about art. I'm an English Language student, so we see some book reviews.

She said ''if i were a writer, i wouldnt write a novel and think of creating a symbol, i would just write. People might be giving them meaning that the work dont include in itself.''

I said she was wrong, but after thinking about it, people always claim art is perceived differently from people to people. If so, why do we have a general view about the book? Sparknotes is a good explainer to me. I mean... The Call of The Wild is clearly talking about what happens when we go from civilization to wild life.

But she claims, you understand it that way, but others may understand it differently. Indeed, she might be right. But the only clear thing is Jack London do not talks about a bunch of dogs fighting each other. So are those works open to interpretation?

When we take an exam, we have to write what sparknote claims. When i put my ideas, i dont get any point from that.

Thanks in advance.

What is your question??? I mean your thread title is about: A Question About Themes, Motifs and Symbols

So what is your question???

[lifeisart]

Actually maybe im not clear enough to ask this question, let me explain.

''People always claim art is perceived differently from people to people. If so, why do we have a general view about the book?'' i meant if we should support free association or follow Sparknotes etc... to give meaning to those symbols, motifs and themes. Or can it be everything? Like a symbol of a mouse might be different from person to person, or that symbol has one meaning and that's the true one?

Other question ''Indeed, she might be right. But the only clear thing is Jack London do not talks about a bunch of dogs fighting each other. So are those works open to interpretation? ''. I think The Call of The Wild tells about the importance of civilization. So, can someone say that its theme is not importance of civilisation, it tells about how wonderful animal dogs are? So themes are open to interpretation?