“Is That a Symbol?”

What is a symbol? “In the simplest sense, anything that stands for or represents something else beyond it – usually an idea conventionally associated with it…In literary usage, however, a symbol is a specially evocative kind of image; that is, a word or phrase referring to a concrete object, scene, or action which also has some further significance associated with it.” - Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms

In Actually Simple Terms: A person, place, thing or event that stands for itself and something beyond itself. Something you can make associations or connections with.

A Symbol Can Be: An object An image A person An event An action A name The weather

How Can I Find Symbols in a Text? Simple – follow your instincts! – If something comes up often in a text, it’s probably important. – If YOU think it’s important, it probably is (Foster 97).

I think I Know What This Symbol Means, But…. A symbol can only stand for one thing, right? WRONG. Though most symbols have a limited range of potential meanings, most can’t be reduced to standing for one thing (98).

Symbolism vs. Allegory In an allegory, things represent other things on a one-for- one basis Allegories convey one specific message; if there is confusion, the allegory has failed. Two types of allegory: – Fable – Uses animal characters to teach practical lessons – Parable – Uses everyday situations to teach lessons/ morals Example: George Orwell’s Animal Farm

“Symbols, though, generally don’t work so neatly. The thing referred to is likely not reducible to a single statement but will more probably involve a range of possible meanings and interpretations” (Foster 98). -> Having a range of meanings makes the text more complex and allows for endless possible interpretations (Foster 99).

So…What Strategies Can I Use to Figure Out What this Symbol Represents? -Questioning -Analyzing details -Make generalizations

Types of Questions to Ask Yourself Consider the symbol in general – what does it ordinarily mean? How does it function? What would a normal person think of it? How do the characters of the text consider and interact with the symbol? How does the author employ this symbol? How have other writers utilized this symbol? (It may be different from writer to writer.) What do I think about this symbol?

“What [something] symbolizes will to a large extent be determined by how the individual reader engages the text. Every reader’s experience of every work is unique, largely because each person will emphasize various elements to differing degrees…We bring individual history to our reading” (101).

Works Cited Baldick, Chris. “Symbol.” Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Print. Beers, et. Alt. “Symbolism.” Elements of Literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Print. Foster, Thomas C. “Is That a Symbol?” How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York: Harper Collins Books, Print.

Symbol Analysis Practice In small groups, work together to analyze a given symbol: conch, fire, Piggy’s glasses, the scar, the forest, “the beastie” On your poster paper, explain the following: – What the symbol means, according to your reading, how it’s been used in other texts, and what YOU think it stands for – A quotation which features the symbol and an explanation of what the quote means – How it relates to the events of chapter 1/2 Be prepared to share your answer with the class!