Blog Summary and Discussion

Ok so Ryan gave you the summary on the blogs and I am going to recap what we discussed during class:

1. Discussion of whether there was a plot/climax/purpose.

• There were several different points and messages in the novel and so we cannot pin down one purpose of the novel.
• There is not one specific plot, instead there is a plot for every different story that is told.
• Some say there was no climax and some believe it was at the end when Gould is ripping up the books and burning them.

2. Discussion on how to read the novel.

• Not thinking about every specific detail and just letting yourself read without analyzing
• Not asking yourself "why?"
• Putting yourself into the author's voice and seeing everything from his perspective
• Not believing and questioning everything that the narrator says because he is unreliable
• Think of the author as being confused between reality and a dream

3. Symbolism

• Reality and Insanity - related to fish because they are slippery and it is hard to catch and hold on to both reality and insanity as well there being a "slippery" line between the two and not being distinct
• Books - author criticizing because he makes them seem like they are always in the way such as one being stuck in Jorgenson's eye and then Gould being uncomfortable because one was stuck in his back.
• The repeated quotes on pages 91, 337, 2, and many others. Kelly asked us to think about their importance.