What Do The Symbols Mean
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Anne felt calm looking through a
window into a different world |
Anne has used many symbols to help her understand and express her feelings, symbols can be any concrete object that you can touch or even feel. One symbol that Anne uses is the window in the attic of the annex. One piece of text to help explain this symbols would be:
""As long as this exists," I thought, "And I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts. I cannot be unhappy"" (Frank 158).
The object in this case would be the window, this could also mean the outside world or even her longings for the outside world. All of these could represent hope and happiness, it may show two different worlds, the annex world and the outside world, one last thing it could be is freedom. Knowing that whatever goes on in her world, this view will always make her feel that she has something to live for.
As well as the window in the attic another quote that symbolizes something is:
"When I looked into the candle this evening I felt calm and happy. Oma seems to be in the candle and it is Oma too who shelters and protects me and who always makes me feel happy again" (Frank 164).
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| Anne "found" Oma in a candle |
This quote helps the readers know that Anne has made a connection with a candle and the object that ties them together is her Grandma Oma. Anne now is starting to feel safe whenever she is by this candle. This candle and Oma represent a couple of things, it can represent happiness, security, and it gives Anne something to help her cope with what is going on in the annex and the outside world. Oma's spirit can help Anne get through her daily life and if she needs someone she might go to Oma.
Finally, to wrap up a few symbols is this quote from when Anne and Margot wrote letters to each other:
"Reply: Dear Margot, Keep your courage up! Like I do. Although it's not always easy, your time may come sooner than you think. Yours, Anne" (Frank 185).
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| Anne and Margot sent letters back and forth |
In this letter to Margot the symbol simply is the letters and how they send them back in forth between one another. This could mean that they are bonding together, this may even help them both cope with the conflicts in and out of the annex.
To summarize this post about symbols, even simple items or ideas can help a person deal with an situation. This is why it is important to include them in a story, and important for the reader to dig deeper and search for those items and explain there meanings. How important do you think symbols mean to Anne? Do you think they have impacted her thoughts and feelings? What other symbols have you found throughout the story?
Tyler, I think I'm just going to answer your first question. I believe that all the symbols that Anne has around her are all important to her and help her survive through this time, but some symbols are probably more important than others. For example, the diary is probably more important to Anne as a symbol than, say, the candle you mentioned. I feel like all of that may raise the question of what are some of Anne's most important symbols, and why are they more important than the others?
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way as Alex. Some re more important than others too Anne because of what she goes through in a daily basis. I fell as if they have impacted her way she see people. Such as her diary, the more she talks to her diary it is easier for her too see the best in people. I found out that Peter kind of symbolizes Anne as admiration and trustworthiness. What do you think about their relationship ?
ReplyDeleteI also agree, that the symbols in the story are an outlet for Anne to express her feelings without explaining every little thing every time it comes up. Peter, to me also represents the maturity of Anne because she is starting to take more of an interest in other things regarding him. Anne and Peter I also think represent trustworthiness because she trusts him with things that she might not tell anyone other than Kitty.
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