what is the meaning of this action?

[proalan]

I was watching indiana jones lost ark earlier and early in the film we see him lecturing to some students.

When he dismisses the class, the last student to walk out leaves an apple on his desk.

What is the meaning of leaving an apple on the desk? I've seen this in some other films before (i can't remember which films they are)

:confused:

[Kingsley]

It means the student is a brown-noser, aka asskisser.

[LaRoza]

When he dismisses the class, the last student to walk out leaves an apple on his desk.

What is the meaning of leaving an apple on the desk? I've seen this in some other films before (i can't remember which films they are)


In case you missed it, every girl in that class had a crush on Prof. Jones.

For some reason, apples are given to students in lesser grades if they want a good grade. This may stem from the oft used "A is for Apple, B is for...".

I just found this: http://ask.yahoo.com/20060420.html

(there is no clear answer, it is just a strange habit of history)

[proalan]

Its a strange one, I've googled on the subject. It seems to be some kind of tradition with no clear explanation of why.

[Kingsley]

In the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), Denmark (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark) and Sweden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden), an apple (polished) is a traditional gift for a teacher. This stemmed from the fact that teachers during the 16th to 18th centuries were poorly paid, so parents would compensate the teacher by providing food. As apples were a very common crop, teachers would often be given baskets of apples by students. As wages increased, the quantity of apples was toned down to a single fruit[citation needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_%28symbolism%29#Legends.2C_folklore.2C_and_t raditions

[LaRoza]

It seems to be some kind of tradition with no clear explanation of why.

Like most traditions

[Ehtetur]

What is the meaning of leaving an apple on the desk? I've seen this in some other films before (i can't remember which films they are)

Giving the teacher an apple is an American customer that began in the 19th century, It was a way for a student to thank the teacher, or to try to get into their good graces.
Back then, teachers were paid a bit less that what they are paid now. So It really made their day when some free food fell onto their lap.

[proalan]

Giving the teacher an apple is an American customer that began in the 19th century, It was a way for a student to thank the teacher, or to try to get into their good graces.
Back then, teachers were paid a bit less that what they are paid now. So It really made their day when some free food fell onto their lap.

I guess thats all there is to it then. Probably just me thinking that theres a deeper symbolic meaning to the whole thing.

[Henaro]

I guess thats all there is to it then. Probably just me thinking that theres a deeper symbolic meaning to the whole thing.

There probably is. (good) Film makers always add things into their films to bring alternate meanings (much like writers and painters). For example, in the film War of the Worlds (the one with tom cruise, also using it as an example because it's on right now) one of the first signs that some serious **** is going to go down is when the lightening strikes. Well if watch you'll notice that all the clocks in the scene stop and one of the first buildings to fall is a church. These two things could symbolize a "greater" power than "god". If you want to figure out a symbol, then pause the shot and look at the lighting before, during and after the shot and look at how it changes (in War of the Worlds it goes from semi-sunny to overcast as the film progresses).

Knowing and finding these types of symbols in any piece of art (film included) adds an extra layer of entertainment to it and makes it a lot more enjoyable the 2nd or 3rd time seeing it. ;)