#quick essay

Opinions you didn’t ask for: is it symbolic?

Welcome to “Opinions you didn’t ask for” the weekly not weekly series where I pick a topic at random about things I care about and break it down.

Symbolism is tricky in storytelling, not only that but when you’re forced to look for it, it can be exasperating to talk about. A catchphrase that got popular in my school years is “Sometimes the curtains are just blue.”

It’s a piece of rhetoric even I’m guilty of using, this idea that “It isn’t that deep,” or “maybe they thought it’d be cool.”

I’m not entirely convinced I’m wrong,  sometimes when an author or narrator is describing something it can be something shallow or set dressing, but sometimes it’s more than that and that’s what this is about; spotting symbolism in storytelling.

I’m going to use “The curtains were blue.” as an extended example here.

As a general I’d say it’s important to look for patterns, do curtains or the color blue show up in other spots in the story and in what context?

With the right finagling a decent author could make “curtains” a sign of normalcy or luxury, and the “Blue” a sign of tragedy or victory. As a general rule, if an author keeps drawing your attention to something it’s important for some reason. 

The color could be a connection to a childhood memory, the curtains a representation of a larger dream. But if blue curtains keep showing up in the story, what it is unlikely to mean, is nothing.

Symbolism is tricky, because if you think you see it but no one else does you can look nuts. As a general rule “Look guys I swear, this innocuous running gag is actually deeply tragic just hear me out” Is not how you want to say or hear.

What are these methods called? 'Nuff said.

Planning

Introduction

Maintain your attention on the subject at hand.

With no ambiguity, we have arrived at

The structure of the paragraphs

Accuracy

Writing a good essay should contain the following:

Planning

Consider writing a quick outline of your response before you begin. It's critical that you lay out a strategy for your paper that identifies your main arguments and the sections of the text you want to go into in depth. To buy a quick essay follow the link.

To ensure that you've asked the proper question, spend a few minutes preparing beforehand (because then you know you have lots of material to cover).

Introduction

If you have more than one concept, you may want to list them here.

If you begin your essay with a list of poems or concepts that you intend to use throughout the body of the essay, you'll be repeating yourself.

Do not begin your essay by saying, "In this essay, I will discuss...."

Try to answer the question as soon as you can.

Paragraphing

Use these to make your writing more understandable to both you and the examiner.

In your essay, you should spend one or two paragraphs to each of the ideas in your outline. Try to avoid jarring transitions between sentences.

Evidence

If you want to make a point, you must back it up with facts. Be specific when making a point and back it up with evidence from the text. Using a quote from the text is the easiest approach to achieve this.

Quotations

Consider using quotes, but not too many and not too lengthy. There is no set length for a good quote; it might be a few words or a whole line.

It's a waste of time to copy big parts of content from other sources.

Selection

Don't describe the story's storyline again. The most essential thing is to utilize the language sparingly. When answering a question, just refer to the sections of the book/poem that are relevant to your response.

The following question has been asked.

Even though it may seem simple, it's easy to overlook the question and rewrite your mock essay. Is there anything you need to know about this paragraph before you go on to the next one? "Do I still have an answer to the query?" If you don't believe you are, then you must alter your perspective in order to maintain your concentration.

Conclusion

When you're done, attempt to connect all of your points together. When writing an essay, this should be the section that most directly addresses the question at hand. Keep checking back to see if the answer has changed.

Style

Formality is the key. Avoid using abbreviations like "don't" and "won't," and don't refer to authors by their surnames, such as "Golding" for William Golding instead of "William," which is too casual.

Think beyond the box.

Keep in mind that you don't have to agree with other people's literary opinions. The more creative or distinctive your thoughts are, the more likely they are to be taken seriously if you present them clearly, intellectually, and convincingly. We want you to be moved by the stories you read, and it's common for literature to have a profound effect on individuals in a variety of ways. Think beyond the box.

When it comes to English Literature questions, there is no one right answer; only well-examined and articulated ones exist.

CHECK YOUR ESSAY AFTER WRITING IT

Have you ever had the opportunity to:

Planned ahead of time and kept to your guns?

Do you think the paragraphs are well-structured?

Is there any proof to back up your claims?

Have you cited any passages from the text you chose?

It was a yes or no.

In general, if you want to perform well in school, you should:

Those who want an A* need to be analytical, empathetic, persuasive, and evaluative.

Analytical and inquisitive skills are necessary to get an A in a course.

It's important to keep your response focused on what the writer is saying and to think carefully about what the texts imply.

Structure your response, utilize details to support your arguments, and make suitable comments on the meaning of the texts in order to get a C.