CHAPTER 16

It’s All About Sex

Key Points

Sex doesn’t have to look like sexOther objects and activities are symbolic

Phallic yonic

Sex has to be disguised because of censorship

Sex is indirect rather than direct works at multiple levels and can be more intense.

Quote for Analysis

“There’s an ugly rumor circulating that English professors have dirty minds. . .”

Quote for Analysis

“A knight, usually a very young one whose “manhood” is barely established sallies forth bearing his lance, which will certainly do until a phallic symbol comes along . . .”

Dickens and Disney

“Dickens, who could be very suggestive, was aware that his novels were often read around the family breakfeast table, and he wanted to protect children from anything luridly sexual, as well as to provide wives with plausible deniability. With a scene of encoded sex, Mother could pretend not to notice while father was enjoying his private smirk.”