I see in the news that Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, is suing her literary agent, Samuel Pinkus. In her lawsuit, she claims that he took advantage of her poor health to trick her into signing over the copyright of her book to him. I recall reading To Kill a Mockingbird in English at the Military Academy at West Point. Right after the final exam, Harper Lee was a guest speaker.
There was a question on the examination that everyone seemed to miss. It had to do with the symbolism of a particular scene. After Ms. Lee gave her speech, she
entertained questions. One of my classmates asked the exact question that was on the examination. Ms. Lee answered that she never wrote any symbolism in her
book. She said she just wrote a book that she thought people might enjoy reading.
The next day, we all attended English class fully expecting to receive credit for that question which might change a grade or two. However, the English Department was prepared. They pointed out that often the writer does not intend any symbolism. Nevertheless, the reader can interpret the symbolism just the same. They would not change the answer.
I don’t know if there is a point there or not, but I thought it was an interesting experience.
There was a question on the examination that everyone seemed to miss. It had to do with the symbolism of a particular scene. After Ms. Lee gave her speech, she
entertained questions. One of my classmates asked the exact question that was on the examination. Ms. Lee answered that she never wrote any symbolism in her
book. She said she just wrote a book that she thought people might enjoy reading.
The next day, we all attended English class fully expecting to receive credit for that question which might change a grade or two. However, the English Department was prepared. They pointed out that often the writer does not intend any symbolism. Nevertheless, the reader can interpret the symbolism just the same. They would not change the answer.
I don’t know if there is a point there or not, but I thought it was an interesting experience.
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