The author uses symbolism that contributes to the success of the text E

The author uses symbolism that contributes to the success of the text is Lamb by Bernard Mac Laverty A novel in which the author uses symbolism that contributes to the success of the text is â€Å"Lamb† by Bernard Mac Laverty. The author uses many different symbols, including the pinball machine, fish, birds, lamb and many more, to very effectively emphasise points he is trying to make and hint at how the novel will end. One of the first symbols used in the novel by the author is the symbol of the bird. Brother Benedict is described like a bird alot. The line â€Å"Benedict sat waiting with a bird like tilt of the head, sharp, owl-like† gives a very vivid description of Benedict. It gives the reader the impression that he is twitching like a bird, waiting on the right moment to pounce, the words â€Å"before he pecked† continue this idea. â€Å"A chicken eying a seed† is another line which continues the idea of looking at his mark, waiting on the right moment before he pounces. Birds also are made out to be nasty creatures who bring sadness and pain. The author refers to the â€Å"depressing screech of gulls†, which means exactly what it says, that the noise made by the gulls are depressing. Another symbol which is used throughout the novel is the symbol of the pinball machine. â€Å"His dread of the steel ball thumping hollowly into the depths of the pinball machine, the inevitability of it despite the frantic flicking of the small rubber wings unable to reach† is a line which shows that no matter how hard you try in the end you will always fail. â€Å"Funnelled towards the act he had decided upon† also shows this inevitability, that even though he had chosen to kill the boy for his own good, there was no longer any other options, ... ...choice. The myth of Daedalus and Icarus turns out to be highly symbolic in the novel. It is significant because in the myth Daedalus is responsible for his son’s death while trying to save him from the captivity the king held them in, while in the novel Michael is responsible for Owen’s death, and he is saving him from a life of deprivation and suffering that he would live when they were finally found by the police. In conclusion, Bernard Mac Laverty’s use of these symbols is very effective as it reveals alot about how the novel will end, by providing hints to what is going to happen and the reasons for the event. The way the author uses symbolism to hint at what will become is very effective as alot of it is not really noticeable until a second read of the novel. All in all the authors use of symbolism contributes highly to the success of the novel.