In: Psychology
In imitation of "A Paring Knife," create a story in which an object with symbolic meaning turns up after being lost. Have your character(s) do something with it. Whatever they decide to do will be a symbolic act.
In the short story “A Paring Knife” Michel Oppenheimer utilise symbolism throughout the short story several times. In the short story Oppenheimer reference a knife multiple times, with using a common object like Oppenheimer did it gives the reader the chance to connect more to the story rather than if it was unfamiliar object.
The knife represents small incidents that can happen, but they can throw under the table or the refrigerator in this case. Relating it to the story, even though the main character and his women have arguments.
Another point of symbolism is the meal scene, where they had eaten a large dinner and had drunk many glasses of wine. “How to read literature like a professor” states that meal scene describing different meaning and working as symbols. Eating and drink together showing the bond the couple has with each other. The communion also shows sharing and the peace that the couple share for the moment.
An additional piece of the story is the refrigerator and the symbolism it holds. The refrigerator represent the past and that is the relation with knife is thrown back under it. The author is trying to convey, what is in the past can stay in the past, but only if one lets it.