“THE GRANDFATHER”Pg. 359-361

Add to Symbolism and Allegory Lecture Notes

• Multiple Meanings• A symbol may have one clear-cut interpretation.

• A wedding ring = represents marriage

OR

• A symbol may be open ended and have more than one interpretation. If this is the case, the symbol has multiple meanings. • The ocean = ???

• Main Ideas• Central message that the writer wants to communicate to the

reader. • Directly Stated Main Idea – the author comes right out and tells you in

the text. It’s directly stated… you can point to it. • Implied Main Idea – the author implies the main idea, rather than directly

stating it. You (the reader) must use inferences to figure out the main idea.

“The Grandfather” Analysis1. Characterize Soto’s grandfather. *Consider his move to California and

his attitude toward his backyard and the avocado tree.

2. What is the main idea of this short story? *Consider…what point is Soto making about his grandfather?

3. The avocado tree has multiple meanings. Use evidence from the story to support each of the following meanings:

1. The grandfather

2. Soto

3. The grandfather’s family

4. Answer the following symbolism questions: 1. What does the grandfather associate with money? (pg. 359)

2. In what way might the grandfather’s rise to packer then to watchman resemble a donkey’s labored climb? (pg. 359)

3. What details suggest the author intends the avocado tree to have symbolic meaning? (pg. 360)

4. What do the tree and Soto have in common? (pg. 360)

5. To what does the narrator compare the growth of the family? (pg. 361)

6. What part of the tree might the sons represent? (pg. 361)

7. What part of the tree might the grandfather represent? (pg. 361)