1. Symbolism Allegory Irony Verbal Irony Situational Irony Dramatic Irony Your Turn Feature Menu How Do Symbolism and Irony Help Writers Tell Stories?

2. Good stories don’t just entertain us—they also give us insight into common human experiences. Life contains surprises and uncertainties, and so do good stories. mysterious unpredictable complicated How Do Symbolism and Irony Help Writers Tell Stories?

3. How do writers express the deeper meanings behind ordinary things and events? [End of Section] How Do Symbolism and Irony Help Writers Tell Stories? How do they challenge our expectations?

4. A symbol is a person, place, thing, or event to which we have attached a special meaning. Symbolism

5. In a story, a symbol can be a setting, character, object, name— —anything the writer chooses that has a literal meaning while also suggesting a deeper meaning.

6. Not all literary works contain symbols. How do readers know when something is symbolic in a story and when it is not? Characteristics of Symbols Are often visual Often reappear throughout the work Are a form of figurative language and stand for something essentially different from themselves Usually relate to the work’s theme Symbolism

7. Figurative language A word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another and is not meant to be understood on a literal level. Symbolism The dancer was as graceful as a swan. Was the dancer really a large, aquatic bird? No, the writer means to suggest that the dancer moved with the same beauty and elegance as a swan.

8. Does it appear throughout the story? Does it have something to do with the story’s theme? Is it identified with an idea, quality, or emotion? Could it stand for something more than itself? Symbolism To figure out if an item in a story is a symbol, ask yourself these questions:

9. What does each of these symbols stand for? Why do you think they have taken on the meanings they have? justicelucklove Symbolism

10. Quick Check Yolanda had never taken a risk in her life, and certainly not by herself. She squinted at the mountain’s summit; it looked so daunting. Colorful hats and snowboards flashed against the glistening white snow. Yolanda tugged at her protective ski gear and poles like a knight preparing for battle. Could she do it? Then, she thought of the polar bear keychain her uncle had given her. Polar bears look cute and cuddly, he’d said, but they’re one of nature’s most formidable animals. Do you see any common or usual symbols in this passage— symbols that many people might recognize? Symbolism

11. Quick Check A mountain summit is often a symbol for a challenge. Symbolism Yolanda had never taken a risk in her life, and certainly not by herself. She squinted at the mountain’s summit; it looked so daunting. Colorful hats and snowboards flashed against the glistening white snow. Yolanda tugged at her protective ski gear and poles like a knight preparing for battle. Could she do it? Then, she thought of the polar bear keychain her uncle had given her. Polar bears look cute and cuddly, he’d said, but they’re one of nature’s most formidable animals.

12. Quick Check Yolanda had never taken a risk in her life, and certainly not by herself. She squinted at the mountain’s summit; it looked so daunting. Colorful hats and snowboards flashed against the glistening white snow. Yolanda tugged at her protective ski gear and poles like a knight preparing for battle. Could she do it? Then, she thought of the polar bear keychain her uncle had given her. Polar bears look cute and cuddly, he’d said, but they’re one of nature’s most formidable animals. What item could symbolize a character in this passage? Symbolism [End of Section]

13. Quick Check The polar bear could be a symbol for the character. What other possible symbols did you notice? Symbolism Yolanda had never taken a risk in her life, and certainly not by herself. She squinted at the mountain’s summit; it looked so daunting. Colorful hats and snowboards flashed against the glistening white snow. Yolanda tugged at her protective ski gear and poles like a knight preparing for battle. Could she do it? Then, she thought of the polar bear keychain her uncle had given her. Polar bears look cute and cuddly, he’d said, but they’re one of nature’s most formidable animals.

14. The characters, setting, and actions in an allegory stand for something beyond themselves, such as abstract ideas moral qualities historical figures or events Allegory The characters in an allegory often symbolize certain vices and virtues.vices and virtues

15. A vice is an immoral habit or defect in character. Allegory A virtue is a quality that is good or admirable.

16. Allegories can be read on two levels: literal and symbolic are often intended to teach a moral lesson or make a comment about goodness and vice Allegory

17. Literal meaning the story that takes place on the surface Symbolic, or allegorical, meaning the story that takes place beneath the surface uses interesting characters and plot to hold the reader’s attention uses characters and events to represent ideas such as love, freedom, evil, or goodness Allegory

18. One example of allegory is the fable. Fables use animal characters that symbolize vices and virtues are brief stories that teach practical lessons about life are set in fantasy worlds where animals speak and think Allegory: Fable

19. Another kind of allegory is the parable. Parables are set in the ordinary, everyday world are brief stories that teach lessons about moral behavior or ethics feature humans as characters Allegory: Parable The Good Samaritan

20. Characters and places in allegories often have names that describe or reveal what they symbolize: CharactersPlaces Death Vanity Good Deeds Ignorance Celestial City Vanity Fair Hill of Difficulty Valley of Fear Allegory

21. On a symbolic level, what does it mean that only Good Deeds stays with Everyman to the end? Quick Check One day, Everyman is summoned by Death to give an accounting of his life. Everyman ask 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 to the end. —summary of “Everyman” Allegory [End of Section]

22. A person’s good deeds will indicate whether he or she has led a good life. Quick Check One day, Everyman is summoned by Death to give an accounting of his life. Everyman ask 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 to the end. —summary of “Everyman” On a symbolic level, what does it mean that only Good Deeds stays with Everyman to the end? Allegory

23. Writers use irony to reflect the real world— one where expectations aren’t always fulfilled and unexpected events surprise us. Irony is the difference between what we expect and what actually happens. Alicia’s grandfather taught her to play chess a few weeks ago. Now, she consistently wins matches against her grandfather and members of his chess club. Irony

24. There are three basic types of irony: verbal irony situational irony dramatic irony Irony

25. Verbal Irony “I’m not sure I’ve read enough books about computers,” said Mr. Manor. Irony Verbal irony occurs when someone says one thing but means the opposite. Verbal irony is the simplest kind of irony can become sarcasm if taken to a harsh extreme

26. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice begins with an excellent example of verbal irony. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” How might this opening sentence be an example of verbal irony? Irony

27. Situational Irony The dentist was surprised to find a cavity when she examined her own dental X-rays. Irony Situational irony occurs when an event is not just surprising but is actually the opposite of what we expected.

28. may mock human plans and intentions, which in real life often come to little Situational irony is often more important to the storyteller than other kinds of irony because it is often humorous and sometimes shocking Irony

29. Dramatic Irony Irony Maria was not expecting to receive a copy of the literary magazine because she never received a response to her poetry submission. Dramatic irony occurs when we know something the character does not. Readers know that the acceptance letter was lost in the mail and that Maria’s poem was published.

30. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something important the character does not know. Dramatic irony heightens the sense of humor in comedies and deepens the sense of dread in tragedies adds greatly to the tension in stories, plays, and movies Irony [End of Section]

31. Identify each item as one of the following: verbal irony situational irony dramatic irony 2. The movie audience knows that a hostile alien is just past the door. “Don’t go in there!” one viewer yells at the screen. 3. The guest opens his mouth to compliment the chef, but before he can speak, he burps long and loudly. Quick Check 1. After tripping over his own feet, the teen exclaims, “That was graceful!” Irony [End of Section]

32. 2. The movie audience knows that a hostile alien is just past the door. “Don’t go in there!” one viewer yells at the screen. Identify each item as one of the following: verbal irony situational irony dramatic irony 3. The guest opens his mouth to compliment the chef, but before he can speak, he burps long and loudly. Quick Check 1. After tripping over his own feet, the teen exclaims, “That was graceful!” verbal irony dramatic irony situational irony Irony

33. Analyze Symbolism and Irony 1. Imagine you are explaining irony to someone. Make up an example of each type of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Ask a partner to evaluate your examples for clarity. 2. In a small group, discuss symbols you have seen in television shows and movies. Write down three symbols, and explain what they might represent. Analyze Symbolism and Irony Your Turn [End of Section]

34. The End