Final answer:
Foster suggests that writers use detailed meal descriptions to add thematic depth, symbolize transitions, and reflect on characters' socio-economic status, as seen in works like Joyce's "The Dead".
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Foster, a writer might include a detailed description of a meal, like the one in James Joyce's "The Dead", to serve several thematic and symbolic purposes. Meals in literature can be a microcosm for society and can reflect the cultural, psychological, and socio-economic facets of the characters' lives.
Just as in the Etruscan funeral rites where a feast symbolizes the transition of the deceased and their status in society, meals in literature can mark transitions, reveal relationships, and symbolize communion or isolation. Joyce's lavish description of a meal provides a sensory experience that can evoke a reaction from the reader and add depth to the narrative. The text takes the reader beyond the mere act of eating and embeds them into the social context and psychological state of the characters.