7. Where or how does ambiguity come into play in a reader's experience? How might ambiguity
work within a piece of literature (or art of any kind?) How does it impact our understanding, and
appreciation of a text?
work within a piece of literature (or art of any kind?) How does it impact our understanding, and
appreciation of a text?
Ambiguity is so crucial to a reader’s understanding of a text. Since everyone has different experiences, their perceptions of the same text can be vastly different. When writers allow their work to be ambiguous, the reader’s imagination is called upon, which makes reading fun. I feel that ambiguity of a text increases readers’ appreciation for the text because they can relate it to their own experiences. They feel personally connected to the story, as if it is happening to them directly. The ambiguity of meaning can also create thoughtful discussions about the book that add layers to the story. Book club discussions would be pretty boring if everyone had the same understanding and interpretation of the book.
In Foster’s chapter “A Test Case,” he presents the short story “The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield and asks three different people for analyses of the same story, all of whom provide different answers. Although the basic theme of the rich versus the poor remains the same, the responses vary in content and depth because of the ambiguity of the text. The second response focuses in part on the internal struggle of Laura, the narrator, to continue her garden party in ignorance or to pay respect to the family of the late man. The third response focuses on Laura’s growth as a member of the wealthy society, and the writer views Laura’s exit from the lower-class village as a return to the snobbish society from which she came. Foster himself makes a connection to the Greek myth of Persephone and Demeter. As a fresh and inexperienced analyzer of literature, I mostly saw just the basic plot of the story. Unlike the third response, I saw Laura’s return as a sign that she had a better appreciation for the life of the lower class, not that she had adopted the snobbish attitude of her mother, though that could be a result of my inexperience. The differences in interpretation show the beauty of ambiguity in a text.
As I was reading, How to Read Literature Like a Professor, during chapter 12, "Is That a Symbol?", points to a woman, Adela, in a cave. At first, the cave is a barren wasteland, then all of the sudden, Adela believed something was after her. In the next scene, she had fallen down, hurt, convinced someone assaulted her, possibly Dr. Aziz. From my point of view and my lack of a ambiguity lens, that's the first thing I believed. The more I thought about it and explored the ambiguity of the passage, it was almost open to all interpretations, perhaps running from herself. Therefor, I agree with Hollyn, ambiguity is a major key to interpreting literature and is crucial to understanding the text.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that ambiguity plays a big part in any thing that you read. Which I think goes back to chapter 14 in Fosters book becaus he mentions to let go of your beliefs in order to understand, because if you believe something else it is easy to not listen to what the other person is saying or writing, however when you let go of this and kind of get into the mindset of each person it becomes easier and easier to understand the fact that people have many different opinions and not many people can sympathize with what they are discussing but when clearing your mind. Getting into their mindset becomes equally as easy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a riveting way to observe Fosters use of ambiguity throughout the text. I agree with Hollyns views pertaining to this broad mindset in many ways, but perhaps the most interesting point brought up is that ambiguity has the power to add numerous layers to the text, within which can be found stark details that were missed during an initial reading or even key plot elements that advance the story along for the reader. I also enjoy the fact that you included your own interpretation of a chapter into your response which shows how a reader can take the meaning of a text down any number of rabbit holes and yet still hit the nail on the head when asked to decipher the purpose of the work.
ReplyDeleteI agree that ambiguity is crucial in order to correctly ready literature. That is why I find it truly fascinating that everyone could be reading the exact same text, but every single person could have a completely different interpretation. Personal experience, opinion, personality, etc. plays into the fact that everyone will have different views. You have to have a sense of empathy to be able to put yourself in the correct mindset when reading.
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