THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PAST SKIMMING/MATCHING ENDINGS

ISSN: 3030-3931, Impact factor: 7,241 Volume 10, issue 1, Oktabr 2025 https://worldlyjournals.com/index.php/Yangiizlanuvchi worldly knowledge OAK Index bazalari : research gate, research bib. Qo’shimcha index bazalari: zenodo, open aire. google scholar. Original article 31 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PAST SKIMMING/MATCHING ENDINGS G'ulomjonova D.F Tashkent University of Applied Sciences, Tashkent, 100149, Republic of Uzbekistan orcid: 0009-0000-9800-7099 e-mail:[email protected] Annotation: This article explores how the theme of the past plays a vital role in literature and how it can be analyzed effectively using two reading strategies: skimming and matching endings. The past is not only a backdrop but a driving force in many stories, shaping characters, guiding decisions, and determining outcomes. Through the techniques of skimming and matching endings, readers can better understand how authors use the past to build meaning, develop characters, and deliver impactful conclusions. These strategies also help readers uncover deeper patterns that reveal how past experiences continue to influence the present and future within a narrative. Key words: Memory, flashback, reflection, trauma, guilt, regret, redemption, identity, nostalgia, legacy, reconciliation, history, personal growth, emotional closure, influence, roots, repetition, turning point, transformation In literature, the past is more than just a timeline—it is a powerful force that shapes characters, drives narratives, and reveals deep emotional truths. Authors often weave memories, traumas, regrets, and moments of reflection into their stories to explore how previous experiences influence present choices and future outcomes. This article examines how two effective reading strategies—skimming and matching endings—can help readers analyze the role of the past in literary texts. By using these strategies, readers can uncover recurring symbols, emotional patterns, and structural techniques that highlight how the past continues to shape a character’s journey and the story’s final message. The past often forms the foundation of a story. It may be presented through flashbacks, memories, or dialogue, providing background that explains characters’ motivations and emotional states. In many narratives, the protagonist's journey is shaped by events that occurred long before the story's present timeline. For example, in The Kite Runner1by Khaled Hosseini, 1Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner. Riverhead Books. This novel exemplifies how a character's past mistake can drive the plot and character development. The protagonist’s journey towards redemption is deeply influenced by his past. ds Dickens, C. (1843). A Christmas Carol. Chapman & Hall. ISSN: 3030-3931, Impact factor: 7,241 Volume 10, issue 1, Oktabr 2025 https://worldlyjournals.com/index.php/Yangiizlanuvchi worldly knowledge OAK Index bazalari : research gate, research bib. Qo’shimcha index bazalari: zenodo, open aire. google scholar. Original article 32 the main character’s past mistake drives the entire plot and his search for redemption. Similarly, in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Scrooge must confront his past to change his future Skimming is a technique used to quickly gather general meaning from a text. When applied to literary analysis, it helps identify repeated references to past events or symbols. These patterns often suggest that the past is not forgotten, but rather, continues to affect the present. For instance, while skimming through a novel, a reader might notice repeated mentions of a lost relative, a traumatic event, or a childhood location. These signals alert the reader that the past is crucial to understanding the character’s present behavior or emotional state. Matching endings involves connecting the conclusion of a text to earlier events, themes, or symbols. This strategy allows readers to evaluate how past events have shaped the final outcome. A common literary technique is circular structure, where the ending mirrors the beginning. This reinforces the idea that history may repeat itself or that a character has come full circle in their personal growth. In stories where the protagonist returns to their hometown or finally confronts a long-ignored memory, the conclusion provides closure by resolving the influence of the past. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck2, for example, George’s final decision is tied directly to past events and promises. Matching this ending to the beginning (when George spoke of protecting Lennie) shows how deeply the past shaped his difficult choice. Thus, by comparing beginning and ending elements, readers gain insight into the author's message about memory, guilt, and responsibility. Authors often use symbols and motifs tied to the past that appear again in the conclusion. For example, an old photograph, a childhood toy, or a recurring phrase can act as emotional anchors throughout the story. These recurring elements help match the ending to earlier parts of the text, reinforcing the idea that the past is never truly left behind. Such devices also support theme development, showing how the past continues to influence present relationships, choices, or beliefs. Dickens’ classic shows how the protagonist, Scrooge, confronts his past to change his future, using themes of reflection, guilt, and personal transformation. Steinbeck, J. (1937). Of Mice and Men. Covici Friede. Steinbeck’s novel uses past promises and mistakes to shape the final, tragic decision of the protagonist. The past is central to the emotional weight of the ending. McEwan, I. (2001). Atonement. Doubleday. 2This novel focuses on the consequences of a past mistake and how the protagonist’s journey is shaped by her attempt to atone for her actions. Faulkner, W. (1951). Requiem for a Nun. Random House. Faulkner's works often deal with the weight of the past and how the present is shaped by previous actions, identity, and legacy. ISSN: 3030-3931, Impact factor: 7,241 Volume 10, issue 1, Oktabr 2025 https://worldlyjournals.com/index.php/Yangiizlanuvchi worldly knowledge OAK Index bazalari : research gate, research bib. Qo’shimcha index bazalari: zenodo, open aire. google scholar. Original article 33 The past holds significant meaning for both characters and readers in several ways: Character Development: The protagonist’s actions, beliefs, and emotional state are often shaped by earlier experiences. These past experiences can range from traumatic events to moments of joy that define their character arc. Conflict and Resolution: Many stories involve characters seeking to resolve past mistakes, confront unresolved issues, or seek redemption for actions taken long ago. Themes: Themes such as guilt, forgiveness, identity, and regret are deeply rooted in the past. The way characters deal with or run away from their past is central to the plot. Skimming refers to reading through a text quickly, focusing on key words, phrases, or repeated ideas that highlight the past. This technique is particularly effective for identifying themes and emotions tied to a character's history. Matching endings involves comparing the beginning and ending of a story to see how the past shapes the conclusion. This strategy highlights how full-circle endings often offer resolution or a return to a previous state, reinforcing the importance of past experiences. How Matching Endings Reveals the Past: Circular Narrative Structure: Some stories begin and end in the same place or with the same image, symbolizing how the past haunts or shapes the future. Resolution of Conflict: Often, the resolution of the plot comes only after characters come to terms with their pas3t. Matching the ending to earlier events can show how a character’s past decisions or mistakes are confronted. Emotional Closure: Matching endings provide emotional closure for the reader, as characters may return to or revisit moments from their past to find resolution or redemption. How Skimming Helps with the Past: Finding Key Symbols: Repeated symbols (e.g., a broken watch, an old photograph, or a familiar place) often signify a character’s connection to their past. Tracking Flashbacks: Flashbacks or references to past events are often key to understanding a character’s internal conflict or the story's underlying message. Spotting Emotional Triggers: Certain phrases or events trigger emotional responses in the narrative, signaling unresolved issues from the past. 3Holden Caulfield's memories of his past, particularly his brother's death, influence his emotional state and actions throughout the novel. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954). The Lord of the Rings. George Allen & Unwin. In Tolkien’s epic, the past of Middle Earth plays a key role in shaping the present journey of the protagonists. The return to significant locations and the legacy of past events influence the resolution of the plot. ISSN: 3030-3931, Impact factor: 7,241 Volume 10, issue 1, Oktabr 2025 https://worldlyjournals.com/index.php/Yangiizlanuvchi worldly knowledge OAK Index bazalari : research gate, research bib. Qo’shimcha index bazalari: zenodo, open aire. google scholar. Original article 34 Both skimming and matching endings allow readers to uncover deeper themes related to the past in a more structured way. Key Themes Explored Through the Past: Regret and Redemption: Characters often seek to redeem themselves for past mistakes, and the past holds the key to their redemption. Skimming reveals which events are the foundation for this journey. Memory vs. Reality: The subjectivity of memory is a recurring theme in many novels. Characters’ understanding of the past is often filtered through nostalgia, guilt, or shame, and matching endings Loss and Healing: Characters may experience loss — whether personal, professional, or emotional — and the past holds the key to their healing. Matching endings helps show how the past can either be healed or remain unresolved. Ultimately, the past in literature serves as a mirror, reflecting both the inner struggles of characters and the broader themes of identity, regret, redemption, and transformation. By using skimming to detect key memories, flashbacks, and symbols, and matching endings to identify how stories come full circle, readers gain a deeper understanding of how the past is never truly left behind. These strategies not only enhance literary analysis but also reveal the emotional depth and complexity that authors embed in their narratives. Through this lens, the past becomes a crucial tool for understanding human behavior, storytelling, and the timeless nature of personal growth. References: Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner. Riverhead Books. This novel exemplifies how a character's past mistake can drive the plot and character development. The protagonist’s journey towards redemption is deeply influenced by his past. ds Dickens, C. (1843). A Christmas Carol. Chapman & Hall. Dickens’ classic shows how the protagonist, Scrooge, confronts his past to change his future, using themes of reflection, guilt, and personal transformation. Steinbeck, J. (1937). Of Mice and Men. Covici Friede. Steinbeck’s novel uses past promises and mistakes to shape the final, tragic decision of the protagonist. The past is central to the emotional weight of the ending. McEwan, I. (2001). Atonement. Doubleday. This novel focuses on the consequences of a past mistake and how the protagonist’s journey is shaped by her attempt to atone for her actions. ISSN: 3030-3931, Impact factor: 7,241 Volume 10, issue 1, Oktabr 2025 https://worldlyjournals.com/index.php/Yangiizlanuvchi worldly knowledge OAK Index bazalari : research gate, research bib. Qo’shimcha index bazalari: zenodo, open aire. google scholar. Original article 35 Faulkner, W. (1951). Requiem for a Nun. Random House. Faulkner's works often deal with the weight of the past and how the present is shaped by previous actions, identity, and legacy. Salinger, J. D. (1951). The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company. Holden Caulfield's memories of his past, particularly his brother's death, influence his emotional state and actions throughout the novel. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954). The Lord of the Rings. George Allen & Unwin. In Tolkien’s epic, the past of Middle Earth plays a key role in shaping the present journey of the protagonists. The return to significant locations and the legacy of past events influence the resolution of the plot. Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner’s Sons. Gatsby’s obsession with the past and his desire to reclaim it is central to his character, illustrating how the past shapes the story's outcome. Eagleton, T. (2008). How to Read Literature. Yale University Press. This book provides theoretical insights into how past events, symbols, and memory play significant roles in literature. Gardner, R. C., & Lambert, W. E. (1972). Attitudes and Motivation in Second-Language Learning. Newbury House Publishers.