I see literature as a creative form of expression. It can be very metaphorical, and so the precise meaning of parts of more classic pieces and folktales (especially folktales, mythology, legends, etc) can be left up to the personal interpretation of the reader.
When asked "What does this mean," there really is no strictly wrong or right answer because the stories are so old and have been altered so many times or can be perceived in many ways.
I think it is absurd when a teacher tells a student that there is only one way to interpret a piece of literature: their way.
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