Symbolism in Life's Journey

Symbolism in Life’s Journey

Margaret Wheeler

ENG125: Introduction to Literature

Instructor Donna Hinsey

May 2, 2011

Symbolism in Life’s Journey

Every part of one’s life could symbolize a journey; a journey as a toddler, a teenager, a young adult, an adult, or an elderly person. R. Clugston (2010) expounds on many forms of symbolism, which will be discussed further in the paper. Poetry and short story utilizes symbolism in life, nature, color, or animals. The symbolisms of a journey between the poem, “The Road Not Taken”, written by Robert Frost, and the short story, “I Used to Live Here Once”, written by Jean Rhys, are astounding. Whereas Robert Frost uses symbolism to describe a decision to be made on which a path is to be taken, Jean Rhys uses symbolism to describe a path already made, but with a challenging understanding. This paper will provide background on the authors Robert Frost and Jean Rhys, define and give examples of symbolism, begin with focus on the symbolism used by Robert Frost (as cited by Clugston, 2010), change the focus to the symbolism by Jean Rhys (as cited by Clugston, 2010), and convey a connection using the reader response analytical approach about living in a journey.

According to Clugston (2010), Robert Frost was an author’s whose “lyrical style and masterful use of ordinary language and rural settings made poetry delightful.” Encyclopedia Britannica (2011) reveals that Frost had a flinty, moody, plainspoken and deep personality. He was one of America's most popular 20th-century poets. Frost preferred traditional rhyme and meter in poetry, as seen in his most noted work, The Road Not Taken (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011). His traditional rhyme scheme in the chosen work for this paper makes the theme flow from one degree of decision making to the processing of the outcome of a journey. He was inspired to write this literary work from a man who he felt could not make solid decision who later became his closest friend,...