Where or how does ambiguity come into play in a reader's experience? Is ambiguity a roadblock to understanding or appreciating a text? Are the only satisfying outcomes definite? Discuss your thoughts.
Ambiguity means a word or experession that can be undertood in two or more possible ways. Therefore ambiguity comes into play in a reader's experience when one word covers many different meanings mainly those of a connotative meanining or character are tracable to any environmental context in which the complication occurs and to the verbal co-text into which a word is collocated. I think ambiguity can be both a roadblock to understanding a text and to appreciating a text. It would just depend on that particular text. For ambiguity to be considered a roadblock to understanding a text one would be confused about every possible meaning for that text. Or trying to choose between two similarly related meanings could also be a roadblock.
Another word for ambiguity is uncertainty. In other words the reader would be uncertain about a text causing a roadblock in understanding. Ambiguity could also allow the reader to better appreciate a text, maybe it has a double meaning or one just likes the idea of mysteriousness. Maybe the authors purpose was for every individual to get what they could from that particular text knowing it could be interpreted many different ways allowing the reader to experience whatever they may choose for it to mean at any given time. An example being "the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the decreased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished." Therefore proving no, not only the satisfying outcomes are definite, depending on the ambiguous word or experession.
Whether ambiguity is a positive or negative aspect of the reading experience is very situational. Mainly it depends on the reader. The reader’s intentions become a major factor in determining the benefits of ambiguity. If a reader is reading towards a goal, and has a closed off mind to separate interpretations of the text or is trying to understand the literal meaning of the words then ambiguity could become a roadblock. It creates a lack of clarity that hinders the goal the reader is driving for. A more relaxed reader can take ambiguity and process it with creativity. In this mindset the missing precision of the words creates space that allows the reader to fill it with whatever they can connect the context to. This provides food for allusions and analysis to find coded meanings within the story. In this instance we can find appreciation in ambiguity. We can appreciate it for deeper meaning, the scenario in which we understand the literal text, but we recognize the ingenuity of the author to be able to write about one thing and mean something completely different. We can also appreciate it for its inspiration. Many things are left ambiguous for the reader to create their own meaning to the story. In this way we appreciate the author by recognizing that he or she has become our teacher. This isn’t the kind of teacher that lectures to the class, but is the teacher of philosophy, the kind that encourages creative personal thought. And yes, the only outcomes that are satisfying must be definite. If they are not definite, that only makes them a statistic. Statistics don’t give satisfaction, they give us hope.
Loy, I really enjoy your ideas on ambiguity. I sometimes wonder if an author always means for there to be ambiguity. The same thought went through my mind the whole time I was reading this book. What if every passage, endeavor, phrase, name, or place wasn’t meant to have a symbolic meaning? Do you ever think we analyze books too much? I don’t know, but I also enjoy ambiguity and the room it leaves for interpretation it has the potential to leave. I never thought about an author being a teacher before, and I enjoy your ideas about outcomes being satisfying.
Leah, I remember seeing a comedy sketch poking fun at graduate school. One of the people said “I get to spend the next ten years of my life analyzing three lines of a poem that’s over five hundred years old! In the real world, that would be considered a mental disorder!” The overemphasis of this statement displays to us the absurdity of the task of over-analyzing. This brings up the question, “At what point is analyzing something too much?” I believe as long as we continue to find beauty in what we analyze there isn’t anything wrong with continuing the analysis. Of course from an outside view too much could be deemed insanity, but if the task is for purely personal enjoyment then there’s no limit to appreciating the words in a text.
Ambiguity is rarely accidental in literature; a writer deliberately employs this tactic to add complexity to an otherwise one-dimensional work. Although it may be frustrating at times to decipher meaning from a web of convolutions, every uncertainty is carefully planned, contributing to the broader message of the work. By leaving a work open to doubt, a writer invites readers to search for meaning beyond the surface, adding more depth to a piece. A writing often holds more value than what is ostensibly clear, concealing its greater message behind a veil of deliberate ambiguity. This uncertainty is what makes literature so extraordinary. If literature did not leave room for doubt, it would lose much of its intricate beauty and profundity. Without the additional layers of complexity that ambiguity provides, a work of literature is reduced to nothing more than a story, devoid of meaning.
As a reader, one is constantly challenged to think critically when interpreting literature. This process of analyzing writing is a vital step toward comprehending a work on a more profound scale. If the message of a piece was blatantly obvious upon first glance, one would not need to dissect it any further, therefore skipping the essential evaluation process. Although this might make a work easier to read, one will develop little insight from this experience because it eliminates the necessity for thought. Without ambiguity to provoke a reader and stimulate one’s mind, one will gain nothing of value from the reading process. The purpose of great writing is to inspire thought, and like life’s own perplexing twists and turns, literature is never simply black and white.
Audrey, I agree with your ideas about what ambiguity adds to literature. The possible shades of meaning in a text make it more enjoyable, and the critical thinking it demands pushes a good work into greatness. Though you speak of the complexity ambiguity weaves throughout literature, when writing my post on this topic I considered ambiguity rather narrowly as specific events or book endings that are unclear--ironic, I guess, considering there is apparently some ambiguity to the scope of the word "ambiguity."
However, I do quibble with your point that a story without ambiguity is "devoid of meaning". I personally believe that even the most clear-cut story can have something to offer. Books with directly, unambiguously presented ideas and plot lines can inspire thought with those very ideas and stories, by allowing you to compare the work to your existing values and the world you see, rather than comparing it to itself in order to untangle meaning.
I agree completely with your views on ambiguity in literature. I believe a certain level of ambiguity is necessary in all works of literature. Without this element, texts would remain one-dimensional and without meaning, making them much less eloquent and less significant. Even the most simple of texts can contain ambiguity to a point. For example, the simplest of children's stories are even slightly ambiguous for behind their simple story, they often hold some type of moral. Rarely are stories completely straightforward. Those stories are for the most elementary of readers. Ambiguity is simply a tactic used by almost all authors to add intricacy to their stories.
I agree. Creating a sense of uncertainty in a story does add greater frustration to the readers experience. Also, it demonstrates the level of thought the writer used to make the connection from one work to another. Allowing the reader to trace said connection back in time to find the more original story the writer is expanding on. Stimulation is the premier joy of writing and it would not be present without ambiguity. The reader needs to be led by the author to the appropriate question not the appropriate answer. While the answer remains uncertain the question will always linger in the reader's subconscious. Was it right for the character to do this or that? How do I use this fictional story to better improve on my reality.
I agree with your view of ambiguity. The use of ambiguity creates more complexity throughout literary works and furthers the depth of literary works. However, I also agree with Katie. Ambiguity is not needed in all literature. Certain pieces of literature are better being straightforward and unambiguous.
I think I can usually get behind an ambiguous ending in a book, because it mimics life and because it gives me the freedom to interpret a story as I please. One of my favorite authors, John Green, has said repeatedly in his video series (filmed with his brother Hank at youtube.com/vlogbrothers) that “the truth resists simplicity”, and I think that’s so important to remember when it comes to ambiguity in books. A large part of an author’s job is to represent the truth as they see it, and it’s sometimes impossible to do that when everything is cut-and-dried.
It’s true that ambiguity and particularly ambiguous endings don’t offer the reader a feeling of closure, but I think it can only add dimension to the reading experience. It offers more for the reader to think about by allowing them to consider why things happened the way it did. The story doesn’t do the work for its audience by drawing conclusions and naming names--it forces them to synthesize possible outcomes and work for the logical conclusion of ideas and the closure they might desire, or else to accept that there’s no closure to be had, a tricky feat in itself.
While I can’t speak for others who may not appreciate it the way I do, I usually get immense satisfaction from ambiguity if the book was otherwise good. If I like the world enough to continue living in it, unclear storylines offer an endless playground for my mind to toy with the characters and situations, trying on new endings until I find one I like. And if the book wasn’t enthralling, I can usually enjoy what the author was trying to do with the ending before moving on to something else. It isn’t a frustration to me so much as an unexpected treat.
I find it hard to reconcile your beliefs on ambiguity with my experience. Though John Green says "the truth resists simplicity," it seems that an author can still offer a rich, complex narrative that, despite having many tendrils of truth, offers something more than the fog of ambiguity. The books by John Green that I have read (The Fault in Our Stars, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson) do not seem ambiguous in the least. Well, actually, they do seem like they can have various meanings, but those meanings make sense. I see ambiguity as trying to draw meaning from two opposing facts, like the beginning of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead when the two switch emotions so quickly it's hard to tell anything about the characters. The meaning is very ambiguous because the two sides of their coin are so incongruous. I suppose I'm opposed to texts that could be either north or south; I like my compass to stay in the same general direction.
Katie, I can see, as you present, the benefit of ambiguity: a "playground" for interpretation, ultimately attracting the reader to the text by forcing them to seek their own personal response or conclusion. At times, I do believe this interaction creates a healthy and, more importantly, insightful relationship between the author, text, and reader. However, some clarity must exist. There is always some ultimatum or closer to fulfill, and without that fulfillment, how are we to expect a reader to finish? Sure they may finish "reading", but they will still ponder plausible outcomes. I find this uncertainty annoying. But that is just on an ending of ambiguity. Whenever there is uncertainty within the middle of the text (not some loose end), then it leads to discussion for readers, and even at times creating anxiety to continue further into the book in search for answers or clarity.
Katie, as always, your love for novels and various media prove to be a very useful tool for you in your own writing. Also, I love your playground analogy. It makes ambiguity seem like a precious thing much like one's childhood. I agree that an author works harder when they are ambiguous in their works because they have to think of the conclusions people may come to while reading and have the story end the same for everyone despite the differences in each person's perception. Having the option to be more involved with your audience is something nearly every author wishes to accomplish, and ambiguity helps them do so.
Katie, I find myself enjoying ambiguous the same way you do. The Prestige, Inception, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and We Can Remember it for You Wholesale are all known for their great endings. What do these three movies/books have in common? (Other than being by either Christopher Nolan or Philip K. Dick) They all have ambiguous endings. They all make their audience wonder. They are all stories audiences find themselves discussing and reliving. I’m not saying all good endings are ambiguous and not all ambiguous endings are good, but there is a strong correlation between great and ambiguous endings.
While I, personally, absolutely detest uncertainty in a novel, I do not doubt there are positive aspects to incorporating vague details into a written work. Readers are naturally creative people; we read texts that may bend reality, make us question our beliefs, or project us into a new world. We are accustomed to thinking outside of the box, meaning we allow ourselves to draw our own conclusions and ask questions about something the author left for our own imagination.
As readers, we cannot stand most movie adaptations to our favorite novels. This is because writers give us so much creative freedom when reading, and when someone else has a different interpretation of ambiguous aspects of a storyline, it is frustrating. Maybe we imagined the main character's hair a different color or maybe we thought the plot focused on an inner struggle rather than a struggle with multiple parties. From the minute details to the major turning points, we may not all see eye to eye.
This comes in to play when reading a text a second time. We catch things we might have missed, or rethink our previous opinions on a certain aspect. Reading a work that is not so outright in stating the facts lets the readers reread the same passage while altering our views to the point at which it becomes something completely new to us. It aids in our growth as readers as we pick up the ability to draw our own conclusions, which helps in our own writing.
Personally, I believe ambiguity is a factor that has led to the widespread success of many novels. When a reader is allowed the freedom of their own ideas playing into a novel, it makes the reader feel as if they are more connected to that story.
While reading an ambiguous fictional story versus one that is completely finite, the level of long-term interest in the story varies. While one is clear and concise, it may be plaguingly so to where it ruins the enjoyment of the story. I am not stating that all novels that lack ambiguity are failures. However, while mentally flipping through some of the best novels I have read, not a single one of them contained more instances of finite ideas than ambiguous ones.
With ambiguity, there is room for other rhetorical modes and strategies to be included in the text, such as a double entendre or a parallel. Because there is room for the reader to interpret the text in a different way, there is room for the author to write more profoundly as apposed to point-blank. This provides readers with several opportunities to further analyze the text as well. Through analyzing the text, readers yield new insight that can prove to be advantageous in the future.
Novels with ambiguous endings often frustrate their readers. Though this is the case, it makes the novel memorable. The lack of clarity in the ending leaves the reader wanting more. This is an ingenious tactic that authors use to get readers to view some of their other works, in addition to the window it creates for sequels or a series of which they can profit tremendously from.
Emily, I definitely agree that ambiguity does provide for a longer stamp on the reader's mind. I like how you note that ambiguity can lead to adventure; adventure controlled by the reader in search of better understanding or enjoyment of the book. It's funny how paradoxically puts the reader into control as well as the author. The author may utilize this in order to shove the reader who can't swim well into the deep end of the pool. There, the reader must find or search for some answer or as at least forced to ponder over plausible outcomes to keep themself afloat. Also, this ambiguity entices the reader to pursue answers within the book, sucking them along the lines of the text to the very end. Ambiguity = paradox. hmm...
Ambiguity means a word or experession that can be undertood in two or more possible ways. Therefore ambiguity comes into play in a reader's experience when one word covers many different meanings mainly those of a connotative meanining or character are tracable to any environmental context in which the complication occurs and to the verbal co-text into which a word is collocated. I think ambiguity can be both a roadblock to understanding a text and to appreciating a text. It would just depend on that particular text. For ambiguity to be considered a roadblock to understanding a text one would be confused about every possible meaning for that text. Or trying to choose between two similarly related meanings could also be a roadblock.
ReplyDeleteAnother word for ambiguity is uncertainty. In other words the reader would be uncertain about a text causing a roadblock in understanding. Ambiguity could also allow the reader to better appreciate a text, maybe it has a double meaning or one just likes the idea of mysteriousness. Maybe the authors purpose was for every individual to get what they could from that particular text knowing it could be interpreted many different ways allowing the reader to experience whatever they may choose for it to mean at any given time. An example being "the ambiguity of the clairvoyant's messages from the decreased allowed the grieving relatives to interpret them however they wished." Therefore proving no, not only the satisfying outcomes are definite, depending on the ambiguous word or experession.
Whether ambiguity is a positive or negative aspect of the reading experience is very situational. Mainly it depends on the reader. The reader’s intentions become a major factor in determining the benefits of ambiguity. If a reader is reading towards a goal, and has a closed off mind to separate interpretations of the text or is trying to understand the literal meaning of the words then ambiguity could become a roadblock. It creates a lack of clarity that hinders the goal the reader is driving for. A more relaxed reader can take ambiguity and process it with creativity. In this mindset the missing precision of the words creates space that allows the reader to fill it with whatever they can connect the context to. This provides food for allusions and analysis to find coded meanings within the story. In this instance we can find appreciation in ambiguity. We can appreciate it for deeper meaning, the scenario in which we understand the literal text, but we recognize the ingenuity of the author to be able to write about one thing and mean something completely different. We can also appreciate it for its inspiration. Many things are left ambiguous for the reader to create their own meaning to the story. In this way we appreciate the author by recognizing that he or she has become our teacher. This isn’t the kind of teacher that lectures to the class, but is the teacher of philosophy, the kind that encourages creative personal thought. And yes, the only outcomes that are satisfying must be definite. If they are not definite, that only makes them a statistic. Statistics don’t give satisfaction, they give us hope.
ReplyDeleteLoy,
DeleteI really enjoy your ideas on ambiguity. I sometimes wonder if an author always means for there to be ambiguity. The same thought went through my mind the whole time I was reading this book. What if every passage, endeavor, phrase, name, or place wasn’t meant to have a symbolic meaning? Do you ever think we analyze books too much? I don’t know, but I also enjoy ambiguity and the room it leaves for interpretation it has the potential to leave. I never thought about an author being a teacher before, and I enjoy your ideas about outcomes being satisfying.
Leah,
DeleteI remember seeing a comedy sketch poking fun at graduate school. One of the people said “I get to spend the next ten years of my life analyzing three lines of a poem that’s over five hundred years old! In the real world, that would be considered a mental disorder!” The overemphasis of this statement displays to us the absurdity of the task of over-analyzing. This brings up the question, “At what point is analyzing something too much?” I believe as long as we continue to find beauty in what we analyze there isn’t anything wrong with continuing the analysis. Of course from an outside view too much could be deemed insanity, but if the task is for purely personal enjoyment then there’s no limit to appreciating the words in a text.
Ambiguity is rarely accidental in literature; a writer deliberately employs this tactic to add complexity to an otherwise one-dimensional work. Although it may be frustrating at times to decipher meaning from a web of convolutions, every uncertainty is carefully planned, contributing to the broader message of the work. By leaving a work open to doubt, a writer invites readers to search for meaning beyond the surface, adding more depth to a piece. A writing often holds more value than what is ostensibly clear, concealing its greater message behind a veil of deliberate ambiguity. This uncertainty is what makes literature so extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteIf literature did not leave room for doubt, it would lose much of its intricate beauty and profundity. Without the additional layers of complexity that ambiguity provides, a work of literature is reduced to nothing more than a story, devoid of meaning.
As a reader, one is constantly challenged to think critically when interpreting literature. This process of analyzing writing is a vital step toward comprehending a work on a more profound scale. If the message of a piece was blatantly obvious upon first glance, one would not need to dissect it any further, therefore skipping the essential evaluation process. Although this might make a work easier to read, one will develop little insight from this experience because it eliminates the necessity for thought. Without ambiguity to provoke a reader and stimulate one’s mind, one will gain nothing of value from the reading process. The purpose of great writing is to inspire thought, and like life’s own perplexing twists and turns, literature is never simply black and white.
Audrey, I agree with your ideas about what ambiguity adds to literature. The possible shades of meaning in a text make it more enjoyable, and the critical thinking it demands pushes a good work into greatness. Though you speak of the complexity ambiguity weaves throughout literature, when writing my post on this topic I considered ambiguity rather narrowly as specific events or book endings that are unclear--ironic, I guess, considering there is apparently some ambiguity to the scope of the word "ambiguity."
DeleteHowever, I do quibble with your point that a story without ambiguity is "devoid of meaning". I personally believe that even the most clear-cut story can have something to offer. Books with directly, unambiguously presented ideas and plot lines can inspire thought with those very ideas and stories, by allowing you to compare the work to your existing values and the world you see, rather than comparing it to itself in order to untangle meaning.
Audrey,
DeleteI agree completely with your views on ambiguity in literature. I believe a certain level of ambiguity is necessary in all works of literature. Without this element, texts would remain one-dimensional and without meaning, making them much less eloquent and less significant. Even the most simple of texts can contain ambiguity to a point. For example, the simplest of children's stories are even slightly ambiguous for behind their simple story, they often hold some type of moral. Rarely are stories completely straightforward. Those stories are for the most elementary of readers. Ambiguity is simply a tactic used by almost all authors to add intricacy to their stories.
I agree. Creating a sense of uncertainty in a story does add greater frustration to the readers experience. Also, it demonstrates the level of thought the writer used to make the connection from one work to another. Allowing the reader to trace said connection back in time to find the more original story the writer is expanding on. Stimulation is the premier joy of writing and it would not be present without ambiguity. The reader needs to be led by the author to the appropriate question not the appropriate answer. While the answer remains uncertain the question will always linger in the reader's subconscious. Was it right for the character to do this or that? How do I use this fictional story to better improve on my reality.
DeleteAudrey,
DeleteI agree with your view of ambiguity. The use of ambiguity creates more complexity throughout literary works and furthers the depth of literary works. However, I also agree with Katie. Ambiguity is not needed in all literature. Certain pieces of literature are better being straightforward and unambiguous.
I think I can usually get behind an ambiguous ending in a book, because it mimics life and because it gives me the freedom to interpret a story as I please. One of my favorite authors, John Green, has said repeatedly in his video series (filmed with his brother Hank at youtube.com/vlogbrothers) that “the truth resists simplicity”, and I think that’s so important to remember when it comes to ambiguity in books. A large part of an author’s job is to represent the truth as they see it, and it’s sometimes impossible to do that when everything is cut-and-dried.
ReplyDeleteIt’s true that ambiguity and particularly ambiguous endings don’t offer the reader a feeling of closure, but I think it can only add dimension to the reading experience. It offers more for the reader to think about by allowing them to consider why things happened the way it did. The story doesn’t do the work for its audience by drawing conclusions and naming names--it forces them to synthesize possible outcomes and work for the logical conclusion of ideas and the closure they might desire, or else to accept that there’s no closure to be had, a tricky feat in itself.
While I can’t speak for others who may not appreciate it the way I do, I usually get immense satisfaction from ambiguity if the book was otherwise good. If I like the world enough to continue living in it, unclear storylines offer an endless playground for my mind to toy with the characters and situations, trying on new endings until I find one I like. And if the book wasn’t enthralling, I can usually enjoy what the author was trying to do with the ending before moving on to something else. It isn’t a frustration to me so much as an unexpected treat.
I find it hard to reconcile your beliefs on ambiguity with my experience. Though John Green says "the truth resists simplicity," it seems that an author can still offer a rich, complex narrative that, despite having many tendrils of truth, offers something more than the fog of ambiguity. The books by John Green that I have read (The Fault in Our Stars, and Will Grayson, Will Grayson) do not seem ambiguous in the least. Well, actually, they do seem like they can have various meanings, but those meanings make sense. I see ambiguity as trying to draw meaning from two opposing facts, like the beginning of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead when the two switch emotions so quickly it's hard to tell anything about the characters. The meaning is very ambiguous because the two sides of their coin are so incongruous. I suppose I'm opposed to texts that could be either north or south; I like my compass to stay in the same general direction.
DeleteKatie,
DeleteI can see, as you present, the benefit of ambiguity: a "playground" for interpretation, ultimately attracting the reader to the text by forcing them to seek their own personal response or conclusion. At times, I do believe this interaction creates a healthy and, more importantly, insightful relationship between the author, text, and reader. However, some clarity must exist. There is always some ultimatum or closer to fulfill, and without that fulfillment, how are we to expect a reader to finish? Sure they may finish "reading", but they will still ponder plausible outcomes. I find this uncertainty annoying. But that is just on an ending of ambiguity. Whenever there is uncertainty within the middle of the text (not some loose end), then it leads to discussion for readers, and even at times creating anxiety to continue further into the book in search for answers or clarity.
Katie, as always, your love for novels and various media prove to be a very useful tool for you in your own writing. Also, I love your playground analogy. It makes ambiguity seem like a precious thing much like one's childhood. I agree that an author works harder when they are ambiguous in their works because they have to think of the conclusions people may come to while reading and have the story end the same for everyone despite the differences in each person's perception. Having the option to be more involved with your audience is something nearly every author wishes to accomplish, and ambiguity helps them do so.
DeleteKatie, I find myself enjoying ambiguous the same way you do. The Prestige, Inception, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and We Can Remember it for You Wholesale are all known for their great endings. What do these three movies/books have in common? (Other than being by either Christopher Nolan or Philip K. Dick) They all have ambiguous endings. They all make their audience wonder. They are all stories audiences find themselves discussing and reliving. I’m not saying all good endings are ambiguous and not all ambiguous endings are good, but there is a strong correlation between great and ambiguous endings.
DeleteWhile I, personally, absolutely detest uncertainty in a novel, I do not doubt there are positive aspects to incorporating vague details into a written work. Readers are naturally creative people; we read texts that may bend reality, make us question our beliefs, or project us into a new world. We are accustomed to thinking outside of the box, meaning we allow ourselves to draw our own conclusions and ask questions about something the author left for our own imagination.
ReplyDeleteAs readers, we cannot stand most movie adaptations to our favorite novels. This is because writers give us so much creative freedom when reading, and when someone else has a different interpretation of ambiguous aspects of a storyline, it is frustrating. Maybe we imagined the main character's hair a different color or maybe we thought the plot focused on an inner struggle rather than a struggle with multiple parties. From the minute details to the major turning points, we may not all see eye to eye.
This comes in to play when reading a text a second time. We catch things we might have missed, or rethink our previous opinions on a certain aspect. Reading a work that is not so outright in stating the facts lets the readers reread the same passage while altering our views to the point at which it becomes something completely new to us. It aids in our growth as readers as we pick up the ability to draw our own conclusions, which helps in our own writing.
Personally, I believe ambiguity is a factor that has led to the widespread success of many novels. When a reader is allowed the freedom of their own ideas playing into a novel, it makes the reader feel as if they are more connected to that story.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading an ambiguous fictional story versus one that is completely finite, the level of long-term interest in the story varies. While one is clear and concise, it may be plaguingly so to where it ruins the enjoyment of the story. I am not stating that all novels that lack ambiguity are failures. However, while mentally flipping through some of the best novels I have read, not a single one of them contained more instances of finite ideas than ambiguous ones.
With ambiguity, there is room for other rhetorical modes and strategies to be included in the text, such as a double entendre or a parallel. Because there is room for the reader to interpret the text in a different way, there is room for the author to write more profoundly as apposed to point-blank. This provides readers with several opportunities to further analyze the text as well. Through analyzing the text, readers yield new insight that can prove to be advantageous in the future.
Novels with ambiguous endings often frustrate their readers. Though this is the case, it makes the novel memorable. The lack of clarity in the ending leaves the reader wanting more. This is an ingenious tactic that authors use to get readers to view some of their other works, in addition to the window it creates for sequels or a series of which they can profit tremendously from.
Emily,
DeleteI definitely agree that ambiguity does provide for a longer stamp on the reader's mind. I like how you note that ambiguity can lead to adventure; adventure controlled by the reader in search of better understanding or enjoyment of the book. It's funny how paradoxically puts the reader into control as well as the author. The author may utilize this in order to shove the reader who can't swim well into the deep end of the pool. There, the reader must find or search for some answer or as at least forced to ponder over plausible outcomes to keep themself afloat. Also, this ambiguity entices the reader to pursue answers within the book, sucking them along the lines of the text to the very end. Ambiguity = paradox. hmm...