In “Is That a Symbol”, Thomas C. Foster explains the importance of critical reading and forming one’s individual opinion. Foster utilizes symbolism, as well as repetition, in order to get his point across with the reader. He uses the figurative language to persuade the reader into believing his opinion. In the last paragraph, Foster sums up his thoughts by saying, “So engage that other creative intelligence. Listen to your instincts. Pay attention to what you feel about the text. It probably means something.” (Foster 24). He argues that symbols are often believed to only have one meaning, when in reality, symbols are open to many different interpretations. In Thomas C. Foster’s, “Is That a Symbol?”, the investigation of symbolism and repetition illustrates the fact that readers need to learn to form their own interpretations by thinking for themselves.

Thomas C. Foster portrays multiple examples of symbolic interpretations throughout the text in order to get his point across to the reader. He uses well known pieces of literature in order to connect and familiarize with the reader. For instance, he uses George Orwell’s Animal Farm as one of his first examples in order to prove that we need to “get the point, not a point” (Foster 18). Foster does this in order to explain the common misconceptions associated with the idea of symbols. Firstly, Foster states that “People expect them to mean something. Not just any something, but one something in particular.” (Foster 18), but that is not the case. Symbols are open to infinite meanings or interpretations, which is the main point he is pushing to the reader. Secondly, he exclaims that “the other problem with symbols is that many readers expect them to be objects and 

images rather than events or actions.” (Foster 23). When he says this, he further extends his argument, by giving examples from Robert Frost’s “Mowing”, explaining the common interpretations of the “activity of mowing a field with a scythe” (Foster 23). Foster also used the example of the river in multiple pieces of popular literature. He breaks apart the different meanings and interpretations in each work. Foster states “You can’t simply say, Well, it’s a river, so it means x, or apple picking, so it means y. On the other hand, you can say this could sometimes mean x or y or even z.”, which ultimately proves the point he is attempting to get across to the reader (Foster 23).

Another concept Foster ties into his writing is the process of deconstruction. An example of him exhibiting deconstruction is when he breaks apart “river” into different interpretations. He claims that a novel is “a network of meanings and significations that permits a nearly limitless range of possible interpretations.” (Foster 19). Although he does not make it obvious, his argument goes along with the same beliefs of deconstruction, the act of determining the relationship between literature and meanings. He states “It waits somewhere deeper, and part of what it requires of us is to bring something of ourselves to the encounter.”, which shows how we, as readers, need to learn to critically read and analyze the text in order to come up with your particular interpretation (Foster 19). 

Furthermore, another concept I discovered in Thomas C. Foster’s work, “Is That a Symbol?”, was the idea of felt sense, or knowing what is going on in your own head. An example of how felt sense is evident in this text is how he makes it connect with the reader, and makes you think about the text on a more personal level, instead of just simply reading the text, it allows the reader to relate. Foster writes about the importance of knowing and believing in your own opinion. In the text, Foster states, “Reading is a highly intellectual activity, but it also involves affect and instinct to a large degree. Much of what we think about literature, we feel first.”, which gives a perfect example of how we sense things before we can actually put it into words (Foster 23). This makes the author connect with the reader on a more personal level, by making them think more about their own personal lives and experiences, ultimately relating them with the text, and allowing them to form their own opinions and interpretations. Every individual will make a different association to the text from past readings, experiences and more. 

Repetition is a vital element of “Is That a Symbol?”. Thomas C. Foster often repeats the word “symbol” throughout the text. The first use of it occurs in the title, and he utilizes it to begin justifying his argument, the fact that individuals need to learn to form their own opinions. He follows the first use of the word in the title, by answering the question, which basically sets the whole purpose of the writing right then and there. In doing so, Foster is giving his opinion before he goes into further detail on why everything can be a symbol. When Foster states “Here’s the problem with symbols: people expect them to mean something. Not just any something, but one something in particular.”, he is explaining the common misunderstandings surrounding the word (Foster 18). Another example of Foster using repetition is when he validates his argument that symbols can have multiple meanings by saying “Symbols, though, generally don’t work so neatly.” (Foster 18). Foster gives multiple examples of symbols from “Passage to India” and other famous works of literature, throughout the text in order to get his point across. He uses the word “symbol”, similarly, on multiple occasions to prove his argument. Using examples from other texts is significant because it gives the reader a moment to think about what symbols really mean to them. By using repetition throughout his writing, Thomas C. Foster gets his point, the fact that individuals need to learn to come up with their own interpretations, across to the reader. 

Symbolism and repetition are two very important elements in Thomas C. Foster’s, “Is That a Symbol?”. Foster backs up his argument through multiple approaches. First off, he illustrates numerous depictions of symbolic interpretations throughout the text in order to get his point across to the reader. He utilizes significant examples from popular pieces of literature in order to connect and associate with the reader. Another way he persuades the reader is by explaining the common misconceptions with symbols. In doing this, he shows how there is not a right or wrong way to interpret symbols in writing. Two other concepts I found in Foster’s writing were the concept of deconstruction and felt sense. He shows deconstruction in his writing by stating that we need to read deeper and more critically into the text. Foster shows the ideas of felt sense through saying that we need to recognize and believe in our own thoughts and opinions. Repetition plays a major role in Thomas C. Foster’s, “Is That a Symbol?”. The repetition of the word “symbol” throughout the entire work is the main reason Foster was able to get his point across to the reader. The author utilizes the use of the word similarly throughout the text in order to emphasize his argument to the reader. The fact that he used the meaning of the word, “symbol”, alike throughout the word is power in a sense that it truly emphasizes and backs up the overall point, which is helpful to him as the author. Readers need to come up with their own interpretations of symbols to become stronger readers. Both symbolism and repetition play very important roles in “Is That a Symbol?”, which ultimately allows Thomas C. Foster to prove his point that individuals need to learn to read more critically, as well as listen to their own beliefs and learn to form their own opinions and interpretations of symbols while reading. 