Reading Literary Nonfiction
Text Version

Fully understanding literary nonfiction requires that you read closely and identify literary techniques such as figurative language that the author uses to convey his or her message.

In this case, we will look for symbolism and allegory.

On your first reading, make sure you understand all of the vocabulary.

[image of stone sculpture of Plato appears]

Plato references a parable, which is similar to allegory, but specifically references a short story that teaches a lesson.

He tells us that the lesson will be about whether people are "enlightened" or "unenlightened."

These words refer to whether a person possesses the right knowledge and wisdom to be a fully developed human being.

Next, Plato refers to "human figures living in an underground cave" and tells you that they have been chained in place their whole lives so they cannot move.

What could these details mean beyond their surface meaning?

These details are examples of symbolism.

They were chosen by the author in order to make the reader think of specific ideas or concepts.

[Image of cave appears]

Consider that a cave is an enclosed space and separates its dwellers from seeing the world around them.

[image of hands in chains appear]

Similarly, the chains limit the mobility of the people in the cave.

[image of cave and hands appear together]

Taken together, these symbols work to tell you, the reader, that Plato is focusing on the idea of limited experience.

[image of stone sculpture of Plato appears]

You can also infer that this is Plato's intention by the question that he asks the reader at the end of the excerpt.

Questioning the reader is also a rhetorical technique that authors use to encourage readers to think about a certain topic.