2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range
of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning,
or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay
analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
In Tom Stoppard's play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, the coins act as a symbol of chance. By always landing on heads, they actually demonstrate the lack of chance in Rosencrantz and Guildensterns' world. This lack of chance in the stage world contrast with the real world, clarifying Stoppard's meaning that life is not like a work of art, and people are not bound by the same rules of chance and fate as characters, so they can exercise free will.
Because the outcome of a coin toss is random, it is completely based on chance whether or not the coin will land on heads or tails. This makes the coins that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern toss in the play a symbol of chance. The fact that they always land on heads defies the laws of randomness, showing that there actually is no chance in their world. The outcome of each coin toss is not random, it's predetermined by Stoppard. This idea applies to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's situation as a whole, because none of the events they experience are due to chance. They are determined by what Stoppard wrote.
The lack of chance demonstrated by the coins bring out the differences between the stage and real life. In real life, the laws of randomness apply, and a coin toss's outcome is based on chance. The fact that the coin toss's outcome in the play is not based on chance, shows that characters on the stage are bound by different rules regarding chance and fate.
Stoppard uses an unconventional method of getting meaning across. He's trying to get readers to think about what he's NOT saying about the characters who are bound by the fate that's written for them, and apply that as actual meaning to real people, who have free will. To do so, he needs to make it very clear that his characters and their world are very different from real people. The fact that the coins represent chance contributes to this contrast and subsequently clarifies the meaning, because they demonstrate that the characters' world defies the laws of randomness, showing that their world goes by different logic than the real world. The differences the coins express in the logic of chance and fate on stage vs the real world help readers look at what the story is not saying about characters (especially involving their lack of free will), and apply it to real people.
So I've had to peer edit your blog several times and I say the same thing on every one of our posts basically. Really good! Like before the Ap test I might just come to your blog, read your open prompts, and just hope one of the questions are something you've answered because they're all really good and I know i'd get like a 5. Your essay was clear and precise. You used examples and details perfectly, and tied everything back to your thesis. Excellent. Sorry I'm not much help! :/
ReplyDeleteHi Sydney,
ReplyDeleteYou had a great introduction, it followed Ms. Holmes’s formula and it answered all the goals in the prompt. I also thought the structure of your open prompt was good. It made it very easy to read and understand your essay. That will definitely come in handy during the AP exam. I asked Ms. Holmes if we needed a concluding paragraph (it was drilled into me that we did) and she told me that you really don’t. It was helpful to see a strong essay without one that was simply repetitive. It is also nice to see an open prompt using Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead for a change. I’ve been using Death of a Salesman and Hamlet for most of my open prompts. Great job!
Hi Sydney,
ReplyDeleteTo start it off I thought your first thesis paragraph was fantastic! When I first looked at the post I was thinking the length of the essay would define the quality since shorter essays are usually lacking some important pieces, however, your essay was a pleasant surprise once I read through it. I thought your use of coins in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead was a great place to start as a symbol. You used great evidence to back it up and all your points could be tied back to the thesis statement you made. In most cases I would say you would be good without a conclusion paragraph, but in your case, with the shorter more concise essay I think the conclusion paragraph really helps you out. Great Job Sydney! Looks like you're in good shape for the exam.