FIRST, BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIANCE ON OTHER DETAILS,
SYMBOLS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ANALYZED IN YOUR LAST PARAGRAPH.
HERE IS THE SANDWICH STRUCTURE TO ANALYZE SYMBOLS:
(1) In one sentence, briefly/broadly introduce the symbol (A) and its symbolic significance.
(2) Describe, in bold, the scene that includes the symbol (A), including the page number (#) and, if possible, a very short quote naturally integrated into your own words.
(3) Analyze this scene:
i. Clearly present the symbol "A" and what it symbolizes "B."
ii. Identify what "A" and "B" have in common: one or a few characteristics.
iii. Prove that "A" and "B" have this in common by referring to details in your above scene description; if needed, provide a detail about "B."
iv. Explain how giving material form to "A" helps us understand it better.
v. Present the universal significance of the symbol "A" (Why did the author create this symbol?).
CLICK HERE to see an example of a sandwich analyzing a symbol in "Sleepwalk."
The car radio in the story is a significant symbol that represents a fixation on the past. During Mark's drive home after a distressing reunion with his ex Carrie, the malfunctioning radio in his car is locked onto a station that exclusively plays “hits of the 50s, 60s, and 70s" (15). The car radio symbolizes Mark’s psychological obsession with the past following his breakup with Carrie. Both the radio and Mark are stuck in the past. While the radio plays only songs from past decades, Mark incessantly reminiscences about his moments with Carrie, like their first kiss and her favorite shirt (9), indicating his emotional fixation on the past. By associating Mark's fixation with a malfunctioning car radio, Tomine highlights the deeply dysfunctional nature of Mark's desire to relive the past and his utter inability to move on from those memories. The author created this symbol to underscore the perils of remaining ensnared in one's past and to highlight the importance of living in the present moment for personal healing and growth.
