Reblogged from mentalflossr:

Famous Novelists on Symbolism in Their Work and Whether It Was Intentional

In 1963, a 16-year-old mailed a survey to 150 novelists, asking if they intentionally planted symbolism in their work. Here’s what they had to say.

The best part is that Jack Kerouac took to the time to send back his obviously exasperated answers.