Symbolism and Allegory Layers of Meaning

What Symbols Stand For A symbol is often an ordinary object, event, person, or animal to which we have attached meaning and significance.

Rectangle flags of different colors & designs symbolize different countries

Red roses symbolize love and romance We send red roses as a symbol of love. We use a picture of a skull and crossbones to symbolize poison or danger. Red roses symbolize love and romance

Where Do Symbols Come From? Symbols can be inherited or invented The most familiar symbols have been inherited, meaning, they have been handed down over time

Public and Inherited Symbols For example: no one really knows who first thought of using a lion as a symbol of power, courage and domination Once these qualities were associated with the animal, images of lions appeared on flags, banners, coats of arms and castle walls The lion became a public symbol that shows up in art and literature, even today! Can you think of some examples of how lions are used as a symbol of courage and power?

Five linked rings symbolize the Olympics People throughout history have endowed ordinary objects with meanings far beyond their simple meaning. Five linked rings symbolize the Olympics A crown symbolizes royalty

Invented Symbols Writers often take a new object, character, or event and make it the embodiment of some human concern. Some invented symbols in literature have become so widely known that they often have gained the status of public symbols. For example: Peter Pan is a symbol for eternal childhood

Why Create Symbols? You may ask why writers don’t just come right out and say what they mean. Symbols allow writers to suggest layers and layers of meaning-possibilities that a simple, literal statement could never convey. A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out ever widening ripples of meaning

How do I know if it’s a symbol? Repeated appearance Seems to be connected with a character or event Author spends a long time on description

Symbolism vs. Allegory A symbol is 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 as way that in 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.

Allegory: Split Level Stories An allegory is a 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.

And on a second level for its symbolic, or allegorical, meaning. An allegory can be read on one level for its literal or straightforward meaning And on a second level for its symbolic, or allegorical, meaning. Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson or to make a comment about goodness and vice.

In an old English play called Everyman, 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 The allegory in Everyman doesn’t get in the way of a very good story In fact Everyman written in the 1400s, is still revived in theaters today and it still gets good reviews!

What Are Some More Allegories? Here we have a picture of a serpent (snake) and an apple. What are some things that come to mind when you see this image? Often times, a serpent or snake is used to symbolize temptation or trouble. This allegory stems from it’s biblical reference. What does the apple stand for?

Fables Fables are a type of allegory that usually use animals as symbols. They teach a lesson/have a moral

Tortoise and the Hare There once was a speedy hare who bragged about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him boast, Slow and Steady, the tortoise, challenged him to a race. All the animals in the forest gathered to watch. Hare ran down the road for a while and then and paused to rest. He looked back at Slow and Steady and cried out, "How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?" Hare stretched himself out alongside the road and fell asleep, thinking, "There is plenty of time to relax."

Slow and Steady walked and walked Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish line. The animals who were watching cheered so loudly for Tortoise, they woke up Hare. Hare stretched and yawned and began to run again, but it was too late. Tortoise was over the line. After that, Hare always reminded himself, "Don't brag about your lightning pace, for Slow and Steady won the race!"

What does the tortoise symbolize? The hare? What is the moral?

Try to come up with a symbol for an abstract concept Justice Honesty Loyalty Equality Responsibility