A Tiny Book of Partially-Concrete Answers?
"The meanings of the allegorical emblems are clear and specific... A symbol, in contrast, presents the image but leaves the subject that it represents open to a wide range of possible interpretations" (Hamilton 87).
Of course, when I read the passage about symbolism, my mind immediately flashed back to class(es) where we discussed how there was no "Big Book of Right Answers". However, when I read about the allegorical emblems, I couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of "tiny book of partially-concrete answers" since apparently the meaning of allegorical emblems are clear and specific. Obviously, symbolism is different for allegories, but couldn't a person find a different interpretation in an allegory than someone else? Maybe my brain is just a little fried (it is the end of the week after all) but I think anyone can interpret something one way and as long as you have good support, I suppose almost anything could work.
Of course, when I read the passage about symbolism, my mind immediately flashed back to class(es) where we discussed how there was no "Big Book of Right Answers". However, when I read about the allegorical emblems, I couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of "tiny book of partially-concrete answers" since apparently the meaning of allegorical emblems are clear and specific. Obviously, symbolism is different for allegories, but couldn't a person find a different interpretation in an allegory than someone else? Maybe my brain is just a little fried (it is the end of the week after all) but I think anyone can interpret something one way and as long as you have good support, I suppose almost anything could work.
Yes, in a Christian context, a story about a sheep and shepherd is an allegory for the faithful and Jesus, and that allegory is so popular and stable that all you have to is mention a shepherd and the Christian will automatically think of Jesus. But there's no set Christian allegorical meaning for, I don't know, for the moon, but in classical times the moon was associated with the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, which makes sense since when the moon is out you can hunt at night.
I do in fact have a book that lists classical allusions, so that if you come across a poem that refers to Apollo or Hermes or the oracle at Delphi, you can look up a brief explanation of the classical reference, to find out what association the word was likely to call up to a reader who was familiar with classical culture.
Remember in class when I said today everyone knows what I mean if I refer to Jennifer Lopez's rear end? A hundred years from now people would probably have to look that up... it's not quite the same thing as allegory, but there's a historical truth to why Lopez is so firmly lodged into popular culture right now, just as there's a historical truth to what Artemis would have meant to a reader trained in classical culture, or how a sheep is often used in Christian teachings.
Anyway, good call... a book that lists likely interpretations could be useful, but it would still be the job of the critical reader to decide which of many possible meanings applies in the case of this particular poem.