“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides…” – C.S. Lewis. Literary fiction authors strive to engage and intrigue their audiences. In order to do this they tell stories with well-developed elements. The seven main elements of fiction are: plot, character development, point-of-view, setting, theme, symbolism and style. Including these elements and developing them within a story, helps to keep stories interesting and engaging for the reader. Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” is a great example of well-developed point-of-view, characterization and symbolism.
To begin, point of view is described as, “The perspective, or angle of vision from which a narrator …show more content…
Although, this was touched on briefly during the point-of-view analysis, it can be expanded upon much more. In “Cathedral” the reader is taken on the narrator’s journey of discovery with this new experience. In the beginning, the narrator depicts himself as somewhat shallow, cold and unkind. There are also instances of jealousy, prejudice and pettiness. The narrator spends little time providing background on the other characters present in the story. His wife’s first husband is dismissed with the statement, “Her officer—why should he have a name? He was the childhood sweetheart, what more does he want (p. 300)?” Robert, is referred to only as, “the blind man” or “this blind man” throughout most of the story, and his wife’s name is never revealed and the little background info provided is scattered and …show more content…
By definition, symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. To start, the stories title, “Cathedral” may lead one to believe that the story would involve architecture, religion or churches. Upon reading the story it isn’t until the end of the work that you have something to connect with the title. In fact, up until the ending of the story the narrator’s world is pretty cut and dry. Although, he can see and Robert cannot, he discovers that his sight isn’t helping him to explain or put into words what it is he is
To begin, point of view is described as, “The perspective, or angle of vision from which a narrator …show more content…
Although, this was touched on briefly during the point-of-view analysis, it can be expanded upon much more. In “Cathedral” the reader is taken on the narrator’s journey of discovery with this new experience. In the beginning, the narrator depicts himself as somewhat shallow, cold and unkind. There are also instances of jealousy, prejudice and pettiness. The narrator spends little time providing background on the other characters present in the story. His wife’s first husband is dismissed with the statement, “Her officer—why should he have a name? He was the childhood sweetheart, what more does he want (p. 300)?” Robert, is referred to only as, “the blind man” or “this blind man” throughout most of the story, and his wife’s name is never revealed and the little background info provided is scattered and …show more content…
By definition, symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. To start, the stories title, “Cathedral” may lead one to believe that the story would involve architecture, religion or churches. Upon reading the story it isn’t until the end of the work that you have something to connect with the title. In fact, up until the ending of the story the narrator’s world is pretty cut and dry. Although, he can see and Robert cannot, he discovers that his sight isn’t helping him to explain or put into words what it is he is