Symbolism & “The Cranes” by Peter Meinke

1.Watch the Apple Air commercial mentioned in the Lecture this week. What is the symbolism for the product that this advertisement is trying to develop? In other words–if we buy an ipad, what will it give us?

2. What happens at the end of Meinke’s story? Why do you think the cranes suddenly “plunge upward” with their “long slender necks pointing like arrows toward the sun” (eText 194)? Are the cranes
conventional or literary symbols? Or both? (Explain.)

3. In the eText, Peter Meinke writes, “It’s important for poets to read fiction, and fiction writers to read poetry—this could add depth to the fiction and clarity to the poetry” (192). Explain
what Meinke means—how do fiction literature and poetry differ? How does Meinke’s story seem influenced by poetry? (Hint: review the introduction on Meinke in on page 192).
Apple commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiyIcz7wUH0