Describe an example from a poem, play, short story, novel, television show, or movie - not mentioned in the book, where "flight is freedom" can be seen (Thompson 136). (Chapter 15) (50 words)
Thomas C. Foster in, “How to Read Literature like a Professor,” discusses the symbolic meaning of flight and things associated with flight in literature. Foster states that, “in general, flying is freedom, we might say, freedom not only from specific circumstances but from those more general burdens that tie us down” (Foster 135). Flight or flight associated objects such as wings in some way represent some form of freedom to a character in literature. These instances do not always have obvious circumstances such as someone literally flying to their freedom, but can be harder to discover. In Suzanne Collins’s books in, “The Hunger Games Trilogy,” Katniss wears a pin with a mockingjay on it which soon becomes the symbol of their rebellion movement. In the three novels no one is actually flying, but a bird very well represents flight. By wearing the pin and that becoming their logo of sorts, the bird is representing their freedom and their escape from those in power. Also through out all of the novels most of Katniss’s actions are rebellious from her constantly going outside the fence which is illegal to her and Peeta’s almost suicide when they hear that only one of them can win the game. Rebellion from the accepted or expected is also considered an escape or freedom because those rebelling do as they please and do not care too much for the rules. Her constant rebellion makes Katniss associated with freedom so it is fitting that she would be wearing a pin with a bird on it which in a way represents her flight. Foster explains different ways flight represents freedom by utilizing a plethora of examples from literature.
In chapter 15 of “How to Read Literature like a Professor,” Thomas Foster describes the concept of flying in literature and how, symbolically and sometimes literally, “flight is freedom” (Foster 136). Foster describes flight in a number of ways, explaining how “flying is freedom, we might say, freedom not only from specific circumstances but from those more general burdens that tie us down,” how “in literature the freeing of the spirit is seen in terms of flight,” and how “these flights of fancy allow us, as readers, to take off, to let our imagination take flight” (Foster 135, 141, 142). In literature, flight generally symbolizes a positive escape from the negative that characters may experience. This connection between flight and freedom and escape is reminiscent of how birds behave; when they take off, the can go as they please, free to fly or land where they choose, but also away from predators or potential threats. An example of this could be seen through Jenny from Robert Zemeckis’ film “Forrest Gump.” In an earlier scene of the movie, young Jenny is being chased by her father through a field because he is trying to beat her. Upon finding a spot to hide, she exclaims “Dear God, make me bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here.” In this sense, flight is represented as an escape, fleeing from her abusive father in the form of literal flight. Flight is freedom in this sense as she would be allowed simply take to the skies away from the troubles of her father and her pain. Jenny brings this up again later on in her and Forrest’s lifetime, when her, leaning off a bridge, asks Forrest if she thinks God would turn her into a bird and let her fly away, only this time she is referencing her possible death. While unnerving to some, this can still be seen as freedom for Jenny, as at this point in time she feels as though she doesn’t have much left and isn’t happy with her life and how things are going. For Jenny, it would be a freedom from the world itself and the problems she is dealing with. When she hits the lowest point in her life, she almost carries out this “flight” by jumping from a hotel, however; she eventually realizes that it isn’t worth it and back down. Jenny’s wish to become a bird is an example of the “flight is freedom” scenario as she relates the flight of a bird to a release from her struggles throughout her life.
Thomas C. Foster in, “How to Read Literature like a Professor,” discusses the symbolic meaning of flight and things associated with flight in literature. Foster states that, “in general, flying is freedom, we might say, freedom not only from specific circumstances but from those more general burdens that tie us down” (Foster 135). Flight or flight associated objects such as wings in some way represent some form of freedom to a character in literature. These instances do not always have obvious circumstances such as someone literally flying to their freedom, but can be harder to discover. In Suzanne Collins’s books in, “The Hunger Games Trilogy,” Katniss wears a pin with a mockingjay on it which soon becomes the symbol of their rebellion movement. In the three novels no one is actually flying, but a bird very well represents flight. By wearing the pin and that becoming their logo of sorts, the bird is representing their freedom and their escape from those in power. Also through out all of the novels most of Katniss’s actions are rebellious from her constantly going outside the fence which is illegal to her and Peeta’s almost suicide when they hear that only one of them can win the game. Rebellion from the accepted or expected is also considered an escape or freedom because those rebelling do as they please and do not care too much for the rules. Her constant rebellion makes Katniss associated with freedom so it is fitting that she would be wearing a pin with a bird on it which in a way represents her flight. Foster explains different ways flight represents freedom by utilizing a plethora of examples from literature.
ReplyDeleteThe Hunger Games Trilogy should probably be italicized. Good example.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 15 of “How to Read Literature like a Professor,” Thomas Foster describes the concept of flying in literature and how, symbolically and sometimes literally, “flight is freedom” (Foster 136). Foster describes flight in a number of ways, explaining how “flying is freedom, we might say, freedom not only from specific circumstances but from those more general burdens that tie us down,” how “in literature the freeing of the spirit is seen in terms of flight,” and how “these flights of fancy allow us, as readers, to take off, to let our imagination take flight” (Foster 135, 141, 142). In literature, flight generally symbolizes a positive escape from the negative that characters may experience. This connection between flight and freedom and escape is reminiscent of how birds behave; when they take off, the can go as they please, free to fly or land where they choose, but also away from predators or potential threats. An example of this could be seen through Jenny from Robert Zemeckis’ film “Forrest Gump.” In an earlier scene of the movie, young Jenny is being chased by her father through a field because he is trying to beat her. Upon finding a spot to hide, she exclaims “Dear God, make me bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here.” In this sense, flight is represented as an escape, fleeing from her abusive father in the form of literal flight. Flight is freedom in this sense as she would be allowed simply take to the skies away from the troubles of her father and her pain. Jenny brings this up again later on in her and Forrest’s lifetime, when her, leaning off a bridge, asks Forrest if she thinks God would turn her into a bird and let her fly away, only this time she is referencing her possible death. While unnerving to some, this can still be seen as freedom for Jenny, as at this point in time she feels as though she doesn’t have much left and isn’t happy with her life and how things are going. For Jenny, it would be a freedom from the world itself and the problems she is dealing with. When she hits the lowest point in her life, she almost carries out this “flight” by jumping from a hotel, however; she eventually realizes that it isn’t worth it and back down. Jenny’s wish to become a bird is an example of the “flight is freedom” scenario as she relates the flight of a bird to a release from her struggles throughout her life.
ReplyDelete