Symbolism
Symbolism in Out of the Dust
Cereus plant
Symbolism
What is symbolism?
Using one thing to describe/represent another thing.
What is a cereus plant? When does it bloom? How often does it bloom? Where does it bloom? What is so special about this plant?
The cereus flower refers to a large number of cacti flowers that bloom at night and that grows on the cactus itself. The cereus blooms only once a year, and it is special because it only lives one night.
Relate the symbol of the cereus plant to a character in the story.
In Out of the Dust, the cereus plant symbolizes her mother; a short lived flower that is scorched by the sun.
What is the cereus plant a symbol of? Explain. How are the two related? Why? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.
Aside from resembling Billie Jo's mother, the cereus flower is a symbol for the people's hope that the dust will end. Just like hope, it appears from seemingly nowhere, and just as fast is extinguished. An example of their fleeting hope is, " Lots of mothers wishing that these days, while their sons walk to California, where rain comes, and the color green doesn't seem like such a miracle, and hope rises daily, like sap in a stem (page 115)".
Insert poem "Night Bloomer" and image(s) of cereus plant.
Cereus plant
Symbolism
What is symbolism?
Using one thing to describe/represent another thing.
What is a cereus plant? When does it bloom? How often does it bloom? Where does it bloom? What is so special about this plant?
The cereus flower refers to a large number of cacti flowers that bloom at night and that grows on the cactus itself. The cereus blooms only once a year, and it is special because it only lives one night.
Relate the symbol of the cereus plant to a character in the story.
In Out of the Dust, the cereus plant symbolizes her mother; a short lived flower that is scorched by the sun.
What is the cereus plant a symbol of? Explain. How are the two related? Why? Use textual evidence to support your analysis.
Aside from resembling Billie Jo's mother, the cereus flower is a symbol for the people's hope that the dust will end. Just like hope, it appears from seemingly nowhere, and just as fast is extinguished. An example of their fleeting hope is, " Lots of mothers wishing that these days, while their sons walk to California, where rain comes, and the color green doesn't seem like such a miracle, and hope rises daily, like sap in a stem (page 115)".
Insert poem "Night Bloomer" and image(s) of cereus plant.