

In the short story, “Is That a Symbol?” by Thomas C. Foster, Foster develops his argument clearly through his use of examples and wording.  He asks the reader questions and then continues to try to help the reader answer them.  He is understanding in the fact that not every reader gets the same experience from the piece.  He asks relatable questions that majority of the readers, college students, have heard before.  Foster illustrates how one symbol means something different to each reader. 

Right from the start Foster gets the reader thinking with the use of the title “Is That a Symbol?”  When the reader reads this title they recognize this question because they have been asked it by many of their current and previous teachers.  It is always a tricky question that most students immediately want to answer yes but do not necessarily know why.  Then the reader reads the first sentence, “Of course it is.” (Foster, 1) This is almost comical because it is what the reader was thinking.  When the teacher asks if something is a symbol everyone says it is.  Almost anything can be considered a symbol, and although students do not know what that symbol represents, they know it represents something.  The use of this title gets the reader thinking and then his elaboration in the first paragraph lets the reader know what his relatable thoughts on symbols are.  It would be almost impossible to argue his thoughts on symbols.

Foster’s use of questions and straightforwardness directly effects the readers understanding of the text.  It almost as though the reader can hear him talking and is having a conversation with him.  He asks a question and then answers any negations the reader could have to it.  When writing about how people expect symbols to have one clear meaning he answers the opposition with “Oh, sure, there are some symbols that work straightforwardly…” (Foster, 1).  He then goes on to give some examples of clear symbols but ends with stressing that there are very few clear, one meaning symbols and that a symbol is whatever the reader makes it out to mean.  He asks questions to get the reader thinking, when asking if something he just described is symbolic it makes the reader stop for a minute and ask themselves if it is.  The use of the questions keep the reader involved and interested.  When the reader sees a question they cannot help but answer it.

Another aspect of Foster’s writing contributing to the overall message of his piece is his use of sentences and wording.  He uses both long and short sentences, both he puts to use in the right way.  He uses short sentences when making a clear point or when he wants the reader to consider something.  He throws his idea out there, in a general way, to begin his deeper look into what he just stated.  He uses a short sentence like, “That, I fear, is another matter.” (Foster, 2) when leading us into the entire paragraph on the other matter.  Another use of his writing that makes the piece flow and is not too hard for the reader to understand and follow.  He often italicizes words he wants to put emphasis on, in a perfect way.  He does not overdue it, he uses it when it is truly necessary.  When reading the sentence with the italicized word the reader can hear that word and how Foster is trying to use it.  His use of long sentences helps the reader understand these points he lays out.  He provides many different interpretations of the text he is talking about, touching on many of the views that people might have had on the text.  This use of the short and long sentences develops his argument clearly.

Foster uses multiple examples throughout this piece.  His use of examples directly contributes to the readers understanding of his overall message.  He uses many different texts and does not assume the reader has read them.  He names a text and then explains it’s overall meaning, showing what it symbolizes and why it symbolizes this.  He expresses how in one text there are multiple different ways one idea can be symbolized.  He clearly explains his argument in that a symbol is whatever the reader makes it to be.  He shows how different authors can use the same symbol to express different meanings.  For example, he uses a river to show how three different novels were written about a certain river and how different each novel is.  One author expresses the river’s symbolism as danger, as one goes deeper into the river it gets more dangerous.  Another author uses the river as the connection between two pieces of land, symbolizing the need for the river to bring people together.  A different author uses the river as a way to symbolize corruption in civilization.  He adds other symbols to the river like rats and slime to add to the overall message of corruption.  Foster clearly shows how one symbol means something different to everyone, he even states that these may not even be how the author was trying to portray the symbol, it is the way Foster interpreted it.

In ending his piece Foster leaves the reader with some advice on how to interpret symbols.  He is talking directly to the reader at this point, he is explaining himself and providing information to the reader.  He explains how every reader will have a different experience with the same text.  He instructs the reader, telling them to first brainstorm and organize their thoughts.  He encourages the reader to ask questions, reject and accept different thoughts the reader is having.  He explains himself clearly, explaining how it isn’t all the author, the reader’s imagination and understanding is how they figure out what the author is saying.  Foster continuously backs himself up with reasoning and examples.  By the end of the piece it is hard for the reader to argue with his ideas because he backs them up so well.

Foster uses many different ways of writing to contribute to his overall message.  His use of examples and explanations make it clear to the reader what he is trying to prove.  He uses different sentences, short and long, when it is needed to help express what he is saying.  His writing is straight forward and the reader can easily see what he is trying to explain.  Foster shows the reader how one symbol means something different to everyone. 

 

  

 