Other
ENG 130 Unit 6 Discussion Board
- Course
- ENG 130
- Institution
- Post University
Detailed Discussion about literary symbols.
[Show more]
Content preview
Initial response: Henry and Walker provide stories that include symbols that are life-changing for the protagonist(s). In two or more well-developed paragraphs, answer
the following prompts:
Choose a symbol from either "The Gift of the Magi" or "Everyday Use" and discuss what
significance this symbol had to you as the reader (an example of this would be the combs
Jim gave to Della and a discussion about a precious gift that you received or gave). Use
text examples in this section.
If someone were to write your life story, what symbol would be present and why? How
does this symbol represent you? You can attach a picture of your symbol (an example of
this might be a baby blanket from your childhood, or a baseball from your first game).
Response:
In the short story The Gift of the Magi, the symbolism is obvious. The following quote from the
story introduces two objects that are definite symbols within this story:
“Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both
took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his
grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat
across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry
just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor,
with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch
every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.” (Henry, O.,
1905/2017)
Della only has $18.70 to buy her husband, a gift for Christmas. Her hair is beautiful, her
most prized possession. She sells her hair to buy Jim, a platinum band for his father’s watch (it
was being held together by a shoestring). At the end of the story, when the couple is exchanging
gifts, they both sell their favorite things in the world to make their spouse happy. Them
sacrificing something they love for someone they love is the symbolism is shown here: true,
unconditional love.
My ex-husband and I were together for almost twenty years. One year for Christmas, he
bought me a ring. He spent almost $1000 on it. It was beautiful, and I loved it more than
anything. About a year later, he got arrested. I sold the ring to bail him out of jail. Me selling my
ring symbolized my unwavering, unconditional love for him.
Resources:
Henry, O., (1905/2017). The Gift of Magi. American Literature.
The Gift of the Magi Study Guide | Literature Guide | LitCharts. (2022). Retrieved 13 April
2022, from https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-gift-of-the-magi
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller anyiamgeorge19. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52355 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now