The Symbols of Your Life
(ENG130 Literature and Composition)
Unit 4: The symbols of your life
My Name: Javier
Please see attachment for (Full Instructions).
Initial response: Henry and Walker provide stories that include symbols that are life changing
for the protagonist(s). In two or more well-developed paragraphs, answer the
following prompts:
• Choose a symbol from either "The Gift of the Magi" or "Everyday Use" and
discuss what significance this symbol had to you as the reader (an example of this
would be the combs Jim gave to Della and a discussion about a precious gift that you
received or gave). Use text examples in this section.
• If someone were to write your life story, what symbol would be present and
why? How does this symbol represent you? You can attach a picture of your
symbol (an example of this might be a baby blanket from your childhood, or a baseball
from your first game).
Links:
⁃ Henry, O. (1905/2017). The gift of the magi. American Literature.
https://americanliterature(dot)com/author/o-henry/short-story/the-gift-of-the-magi
⁃ Walker, A. (1973). Everyday use. Harper's Magazine.
https://harpers(dot)org/archive/1973/04/everyday-use/
⁃ Writing 101: What is symbolism? Symbolism definition and examples in
literature. (2020, November 8). Masterclass.com
https://www(dot)masterclass(dot)com/articles/writing-101-what-is-symbolism-symbolismdefinition-
and-examples-in-literature#3-types-of-symbolism-in-literature
⁃ When you are viewing a film, how do you recognize the symbolism that the
screenwriter and director put there for your understanding?
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=WhijmmePlU8
The Symbols of Your Life
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation
The Symbols of Your Life
The Gift of the Magi and Everyday Use possess symbolic objects that are sentimental to both the stories` characters and the readers. For instance, in The Gift of the Magi, Della, Jim's wife, cuts her treasured hair, which she adored too much, to buy Jim a watch as a gift. Della's act is a manifestation of the sacrifice people endure to celebrate love. Conversely, unknown to Della, Jim later sells the watch he had been gifted to buy her the hair combs she had coveted for so long. The two gestures portray pure intentions that lovers would undertake to please their partners and strengthen their bond.
In the story's context, the US had suffered a recession after the 1901's stock market crash, and citizens incurred a drop in their wages, hence the couple's challenging economic situation. Despite the challenging economic times, the couple was still determined to buy one another expensive Christmas gifts. Della valued her long hair but opted to sacrifice her hair to acquire Jim a watch. Similarly, Jim loved the gold watch he had been gifted but sacrificed by selling it to grant his wife a comb. The comb symbol had paramount significance to me as it portrayed great sacrifices that we can incur to satisfy our loved ones` wishes.
Della had needed the comb for a long ...