Transcript Thursday, Aug. 21

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Get out your notes from yesterday.
Tuesday, April 28
Eng. II CP
Symbolism and Allegory
Objective: Students will be able to define, recognize
and explain symbolism, allegory and figurative
language.
Symbolism and Allegory
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A symbol is _____________________.
Symbols can be _______, _________, __________,
or _________.
Symbols represent _______________________.
Name the four things that can be symbols.
Symbols allow writers to _____________________.
An allegory is a type of _____________ metaphor.
An allegory is ______ in which
_______________and _______ stand for something
beyond themselves.
Name two types of allegories.
Symbols
● See if you can explain what the following symbols
mean:
Concept Development: Symbols
A symbol is often an event, object, person or animal to
which an extraordinary meaning or significance has
been attached.
What ideas do these pictures symbolize?
Concept Development:
Where do Symbols come from?
● Symbols can be inherited or invented.
● Ex. The Statue of Liberty came to symbolize freedom
for people immigrating to the United States by way of
Ellis Island.
Importance:
Why Create Symbols in literature?
● Symbols allow writers to suggest layers of meanings
and possibilities that a simple literal statement could
not convey as well.
● Symbols allow writers to convey an idea with layers of
meaning without having to explain those layers in the
text.
● A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out
ever widening ripples.
● Group: (take turns) Share with your group a symbol
from one of our readings this year.
Remember: Metaphors
●What’s a metaphor?
●A comparison between two unlike things.
●What’s an extended metaphor?
●A comparison between two unlike things
that continues throughout a paragraph, a
poem, or a book.
●In a story, characters, settings and actions stand
for something beyond themselves.
●Symbols
Concept Development: Fable
● Type of Allegory, usually has animals
● Used to teach moral lessons to children
● Animals/characters represent
● Virtues=good human qualities
● Vices=bad human qualities
● **Fables teach lessons
about life**
Represents
Perseverance
Represents arrogance
Concept Development: Fable
● Another example of a famous fable is the following from
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Aesop’s Fables:
The Hound Dog and the Rabbit
One day, a hound dog was hunting for a rabbit and
managed to find one. The hound chased the rabbit for a
long time, but eventually, the rabbit escaped. When
another dog made fun of the hound dog for allowing the
rabbit to escape, the hound dog replied: “You do now see
the difference between the rabbit and I; I am only running
for my dinner, while he is running for his life.”
The lesson: Incentive will spur effort
Group: Can you name another fable?
Concept Development:
Parable
● Type of ALLEGORY set in the real world
● Teaches a lesson about ethics or morality
Many stories in the Bible are
considered parables.
The story of the Good Samaritan is
one…
Concept Development: Allegory
● An Allegory is a type of extended
metaphor. It uses and involves symbolism.
● An Allegory is story in which characters,
settings and actions stand for something
beyond themselves.
● In some types of Allegories, the characters
and setting represent abstract ideas of
moral qualities.
● In other types, characters and situations
stand for historical figures and events.
Examples of Allegories
● An Allegory can be read on one level for its literal or
straightforward meaning
● An allegory can be read for its symbolic, or allegorical
meaning
● Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson
or make a comment about goodness and depravity.
Why authors use allegory.
 When an author uses allegory in their writing
they are trying to make a point.
 Intended to teach a moral lesson or make a
statement about life and human action.
 Using allegory:
 allows authors to create characters that are
not only well-rounded and multidimensional
but also characters that stand for something
larger.
 Allows readers to understand the author's
views and beliefs.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping
and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with
great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of
toiling and moiling in that way?“
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and
recommend you to do the same.“
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of
food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger,
while it saw the ants distributing, every day, corn and grain from the
stores they had collected in the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew…it is best to prepare for the days of
necessity.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
1. How is this story an allegory?
●Basic level: an ant and a grasshopper talking about
the upcoming winter season.
●Deeper level: the ant and grasshopper can
represent any human and warns us to “prepare for
the days of necessity.”
2. What could the ant symbolize?
●Hard workers
3. What could the grasshopper symbolize?
●Lazy workers
4. What moral lesson was intended?
●Be responsible for yourself
●Be prepared
Concept Development:
Allegory/Parables
● Some famous parables and allegorical
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stories/movies/television programs are:
Animal Farm
“The Emperor’s New Clothes”
The Wizard of Oz
“The Boy Who Cried Wolf”
Avatar
The Matrix
Of Mice and Men
Allegory continued…
● In a old English play called Everyman,
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the main character is named Everyman
( he stands for exactly what his name
indicates.)
One day Everyman is summoned by
death to give an accounting of his life.
Everyman asks his friends Fellowship,
Beauty, Strength and Good Deeds to go
with him to tell death that he has led a
good life.
Only Good Deeds stays with him until
the end.
What do you think the lesson is from
this story?
Symbolism vs. Allegory
● A symbol can be a word, place, character or object
that means something beyond what it is on a literal
level.
● An allegory involves using many interconnected
symbols or allegorical figures in such a way that
nearly every element of the narrative has a meaning
beyond the literal level, i.e., everything in the
narrative is a symbol that relates to other symbols
within the story.
Homework
● Think of a movie or book that utilizes a symbol.
(You cannot use an example from our talks in class!
Nothing from this PowerPoint or group work.)
1. Name the movie/book
2. Identify the symbol
3. Identify the literal meaning of the
symbol
4. Identify the figurative (symbolic)
meaning of the symbol
5. Explain why the symbol was used