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LitCourse 9
How to Read: Symbol
6

 

Symbols—literary

Symbols play the same role in literature that they play in real life: they convey meaning.

Writers embed symbols in their works. Skillful writers, like John Updike in "A & P" (LitCourse 4) do it subtly, making symbols an integral part of the plot

In "A & P" Updike integrates symbolism so cleverly that it's not obvious the A & P store is both setting and central symbol.