Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols What is a symbol?

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Symbol – something that is used to represent an object or idea

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols A lamb is a symbol of gentleness. Our flag is a symbol of our country.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols The lion is a symbol of courage or strength. The dove is a symbol of peace.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Writers also use symbols. In literature a symbol is a word or phrase that names an object or event that has meaning to readers.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols They use symbols:  to make their writing more interesting to read  to make readers think  to make readers keep reading Hmmm…This will make them want to keep turning the pages!

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Writers sometimes use colors as symbols. Good Guy Bad Guy

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Red often symbolizes violence. A deep red covered the evening sky as Johnny left the house with rage in his heart.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols A Few Tips to Add to Your Understanding of Symbols Public symbols are used over and over again by many writers. Sunrise (Birth/New Start) Sunset (Old Age/Death) Colors are also public symbols.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Private symbols are symbols that writers make up on their own. Warning: This makes them tricky for the reader to spot. Examples: A teddy bear that a grandfather gives a grandchild could serve as a symbol of the grandfather after he dies.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols A growing flower could serve as a symbol of a character’s growing comfort in his new neighborhood.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Tips for Spotting and Interpreting Symbols Symbols are usually objects or animals, so be alert to objects and animals a writer mentions. If an object or animal is mentioned repeatedly, or if it changes over time, it just might be a symbol. Be alert to objects that a main character handles or mentions.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols More Tips for Spotting and Interpreting Symbols Pay attention to descriptions of the object. Pay attention to the dialogue in a story. Once you spot what you think is a symbol, ask yourself what it might be symbolizing.

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols As you listen to The Wretched Stone, make a mind movie. Be prepared to identify: the symbol in the story what it represents what the author thinks of the thing he has symbolized

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols What object was used as a symbol in the The Wretched Stone? What do you think the symbol represents?

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols It’s television!

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols What message is Chris Van Allsburg sending us about television?

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Do you recall what “wretched” means? What did the sailors become when they began watching the wretched stone? Do you agree or disagree with Van Allsburg? Why?

Listening Comprehension Topic: Recognizing and Interpreting Symbols Be alert to the author’s use of symbolism in the book we are reading!