This chapter really made me think. I never had considered this possibility before, so now I am racking my brain trying to remember meal scenes from novels I've read. One of the first ones that comes to mind is the wedding celebration scene in Kite Runner. After the main character got married, the two families shared a meal--proving that that the two families had joined as one. This makes sense to me, becuase we do that in our society too. I had just never considered the symbolism of the reption/meal. So far I like this book.
OK, so what do you think? Is eating a meal in literature more than just eating a meal? Do you agree with the author? If so, why? If not, why not? Can you think of an example from literature of a meal/communion with a deeper meaning? If so, describe it. Be sure to include the title and author.
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I Liked this section because it got me to think about other books ive read and how the meal was something significant to the plot. I think that in a book, a meal definitely means more than just a meal. I do agree with the author because when people have meals together they are often in a very serious relationship or have a very tight friendship, and its not just getting together with a stranger to eat. in A Prayer for Owen Meany, Johnnys mother invited over Dan to meet the Grandma and to eat dinner with them, then later on, the two ended up getting married.
ReplyDeleteI think this chapter got me to look below the surface of a meal in a story. During a story eating a meal often means more than just eating a meal. It sets a mood and can lead to relationships being built between people or show the kind of feelings the people eating together have about each other. I agree because it can tell you alot about the people eating together and the story as a whole. In the book A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Dan came to the Wheelwright's house and ate dinner with the family. He made a good impression on them and Owen Meany which led to him marrying tabitha
ReplyDeleteI liked this chapter because it made me realize a lot of things about eating together. Anytime I have ever read about a meal, I usually think to myself how pointless and redundant it seems. Why do we want to know the details of their dinner?But, it made me realize that people dine together in books fro reasons, whether it be to show communion, friendship, or even trying to become friendly with somebody. Before I read that I always assumed a meal was a meal, but now I agree with the author and i think that meals usually serve a purpose in literature. Even though this has already been used, In A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving), the dinner that Harriet and Dan and Tabitha share is basically to let us know exactly how picky Harriet was about people, and seeing as how she approved of Dan, it also showed his almost flawless character.
ReplyDeleteThe author has a point when people share things they are generally friendly to each other in the process. Like in the outsiders when the boys make their way to the rumble. Many of them are imbibing alcohol and smoking reefer together. This shows how much they care for each other and their willingness to take care of a problem together.
ReplyDeleteI definetly liked this chapter. I never really thought about meal scenes like that. I definetly agree though that meals can bring people closer. When I read a book and it's describing a meal I tend to always overlook it. I never really think about it having any meaning what so ever, but after reading this I'm going to read a little closer and think more about the dinners that the characters share. Another thing the author talked about in this chapter that made me stop and think was about communions. Whenever I thought of communions I only thought about wedding rehersal dinners, Christmas, and Thankgiving family meals, I never realized that a communion could be casual dinners or anything that envolves you getting together with a person you like and enjoy being with. The first book that comes to my mind (the latest book I've read) is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, when Tabitha, Harriet, Johnny, and Dan all have dinner together. Tabitha brings home Dan to meet Harriet and Johnny and they fall in love with him. Then several years later Dan and Tabitha get married.
ReplyDeleteI personally think this chapter wasnt good because sometimes dinner is just dinner. there r times when dinner shows unity but most references i can think of are for setting purposes nothing more nothing less.
ReplyDeleteWhen you think of a meal, you think of good things, telling funny stories, interesting things that happened in the day, if somebody learned something new, all are good times. The meal is the one thing that does always bring everybody together or back together. It is a time to forget about things on your mind and have a good time. The author is right when he talks about how powerful and significant having a good meal with the ones you like, love, and care about. You feel good because you are hungry and are eating good food, you get to get away from reality in a way. Food has always brought people together, from the Pilgrims and the Indians, to a family that has three kids, and they are all growing up and don't spend as much time around the family or the home.
ReplyDeleteBefore I read this chapter I never really thought about how a meal could be more than a meal. I liked this chapter though, but now I can't remember any books I've read that have a meal in it that represents something more than just a regular meal.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this chapter. Whenever we're eating with our families, a lot of times it is just having dinner...nothing really special, or anything intangible about it. But, in literature it can be completely different. Now that I think back about it, I'm sure that there are many times when I've been reading a book and people have been eating together and not even think about it. I realize now that there are a lot of meanings behind meals, they truly are a communion, not just religiously speaking. The only reason I'm using this literary example is because it's the most recent thing I've read and the freshest on my mind, "A prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. The meal in which Tabitha brings over the man she met on the train was extremely significant because she later on ends up marrying the man and he becomes Owen's only father figure as a boy.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this section because it made me think about all the different books I've read and the effect that meals had on them. Many books have a meal setting, and I never actually thought about the reason behind it. I realize, after reading this chapter, that meals have a much deeper meaning. They are truly a communion between people. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, is the latest book I've read with a meal scene. The scene is when Tabitha finally brings Dan over to meet Johnny and Harriet.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author. Most of the time, eating a meal is more than just eating a meal. You generally don't eat a meal with someone you don't like. You eat with people you are comfortable being around. I had never given this concept much thought before I read this chapter of the book. The most recent “meal scene” I have read was the scene in A Prayer for Owen Meany when Dan comes to eat with John’s family. Tabitha invites him over and he makes a very good impression on the rest of the family. John was especially observing Dan because most of the men Tabitha brings home are awkward around him. In they end, they all loved Dan.
ReplyDeleteI understand and agree with the symbolism of a meal as a communion among people. It's a strong sense of trust and rendering yourself defenseless to the other person or people of the which you sit with. It shows that you place yourself in their mercy, trusting to them to be civil like you.
ReplyDeleteIn Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small quartet the main character Keladry is a young fighter going to become a Knight, the boys there think girls don't need to be Knights, so they scorn her, But she still eats meals in the cafeteria with the boys, and one particular boy, Neal, sits with her. Over time she and Neal become friends, and many of the important trust matters they experience as friends is at that meal table. And it makes sense to me now that I know the importance and value of the sharing of meals.
I really liked this chapter and i completely agree with the author. I haven't ever thought of a meal as being more than a meal. The most recent book I have read that involves a meal scene was A Prayer For Owen Meany, where Mrs. Wheelwright invites Dan over to meet the rest of the family.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the author on this one. There are so many dinner scenes in literature that provoke more emotion than you could imagine. So it is apparent that the author has a very good understanding of the symbolism of the meal setting. Edgar Allen Poe used the meal scene to show a more disturbing side of human nature in many instances.
ReplyDeletei am in the middle of like and dislike on this chapter...sometimes a meal can be significant such as thanksgiving dinner or a time when everyone gets together to do more than eat...but other time dinner is just a scheduled part of the day
ReplyDeleteMost of the time i believe a meal in literature is more than just a meal. Usually the only time you have a meal with someone it is with somebody whom you are very close to or are trying to get closer to. An example of an important meal would be when Johnnys momm invites dan over to introduce him to the family. in a prayer for owen meany.
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