All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

According to Freud's example in his Interpretation of Dreams, the psychoanalytic critic tends to associate symbols with images. Which of the following symbols is not correct in that context?

The correct answer is
Towers as symbols of sexual pleasure

Freudian Dream Symbolism Analysis

Psychoanalytic criticism, heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams, interprets symbols in dreams as representations of unconscious desires and thoughts. Freud associated various objects and images with specific symbolic meanings, often related to sexuality and the human body.

Understanding Freudian Symbol Associations

In Freudian analysis, symbols frequently relate to:

  • Phallic Symbols: Representing the male sexual organ.
  • Yonic Symbols: Representing the female sexual organ or the womb.

Evaluating Symbol Interpretations

The question asks to identify an incorrect symbolic association according to Freud's framework:

  • Ponds (Option 1): Commonly interpreted as female or yonic symbols, representing receptive qualities or the womb.
  • Flowers (Option 2): Can symbolize feminine aspects, beauty, or female sexuality, fitting within Freudian interpretations.
  • Lances (Option 4): Due to their shape, lances are frequently interpreted as straightforward male or phallic symbols.
  • Towers (Option 3): While towers can symbolize height, authority, or potentially the male body in Freudian theory, the specific interpretation of a tower directly as a symbol of "sexual pleasure" is less common and less direct than the other associations. Freudian interpretations might link towers to the male genitals or the father figure, but not typically equated directly with the abstract concept of "sexual pleasure" itself as the primary symbol.

Conclusion on Incorrect Association

Comparing the options, the association of towers directly with "sexual pleasure" is the least standard and most likely incorrect Freudian symbolic interpretation among the choices provided. The other symbols have more direct and widely recognized correspondences in Freudian psychoanalysis.

Was this answer helpful?

Important Questions from Literature

  1. Complete the sentence.

    Milton's poetic style is generally regarded as _______.

  2. Fill in the gap.

    Galsworthy's famous play 'The Silver Box' deals with ________.

  3. W. H. Auden belonged to the:

  4. Robert Browning's poetry is:

  5. Among T. S. Eliot's works, the character of Tiresias appears in

Need Expert Advice?

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App