Chris Warley quoted:
> "The process of creating and understanding allegory appears to be logical
> and straighforward. The link between the characters of an allegory
> and the concepts behind their existence is the same as the link between
> shadows projected on a wall and the material objects that create
> them. Even though the physical sources of the shadows are hidden, it is
> these objects that are ultimately significant and provide the reason
> for the existence of the shadows. In turn, it is the interaction of the
> abstract ideas of an allegory that shape the movements of the
> characters the reader sees. As simple as this process of automatically
> transferring the essence of abstract concepts into the breath of puppets
> may seem, however, it is inherently and unavoidably complex. There comes
> a point when the two-dimensional puppets break through the
> contraints of their allegorical sense and begin to suggest that they
> contain narrative significance as well. The result is a confusing and
> disjointed work fraught with unlimited possibilities of interpretation."
Whether this is plagiarized, I couldn't say. Your student has been reading
Plato, of course.
But this is a most enlightened reading of Plato. As soon as I read it, I
could see how simple and obvious it was.
It wasn't obvious to me before, though.
I think I'm going to be eternal thankful for this. Whether these are your
student's own thoughts, or not, doesn't effect that.
Andy
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