1. Figurative Language #2: Symbol & Allegory
Read the Frost poem on pg. 723, and determine the primary symbolism in the poem

2. What’s the Difference? Metaphor Image Symbol Means only what it is
“a shaggy brown dog was rubbing itself against the white picket fence”
Means something other than what it is
“a dirty dog stole my wallet!”
Means what it is and something more, too.
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”

3. Let’s find them The Sick Rose by William Blake O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm, 
That flies in the night 
In the howling storm: 
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

4. Allegory
A narrative or description that has a second meaning below the surface
Sometimes called extended metaphor
But not just one long comparison
or related symbols,
But with less emphasis on the images but on their other meanings---which are fixed.
In Allegory---they want you to “get it”

5. Read “Peace” (735-736) What symbols are present?
How do they work together?
What is the ONE fixed message?

7. Your Task Read your poem—applying all that we’ve learned so far:
Denotation/connotation
Imagery
Metaphoric Figurative language
Allusion
Determine what is SYMBOLIC—and what that symbol may mean
Determine if the poem is ALLEGORICAL

8. PRESENTING OUR POEMS

9. Paradox, Overstatement, Understatement, & Irony
Figurative Language 3
Paradox, Overstatement, Understatement, & Irony

10. Paradox An apparent contradiction that is somehow true
Paradoxical situation:
You blow on your hand to warm it up
You blow on your soup to cool it down
Verbal paradox
A critic can “damn you with faint praise”
Paradoxical statements rely on one part of phrase being figurative, while the other is literal

11. Emily Dickenson (#620) Much Madness is divinest Sense -
To a discerning Eye -
Much Sense - the starkest Madness -
’Tis the Majority
In this, as all, prevail -
Assent - and you are sane -
Demur - you’re straightway dangerous -
And handled with a Chain -

12. Just a little bit more… Overstatement Understatement
AKA Hyperbole or exaggeration
Not meant to be taken literally
Can be doubled up:
“There are literally millions of people on the beach!”
Saying less than one means
What is literally true, but with a good deal less force than the situation warrants:
e.g. You cut off your hand and say, “it is just a mere flesh wound.”

13. “The Sun Rising” p. 751
Does the speaker understate or overstate the actual qualities of the sun?
Point out specific examples. What do these examples achieve?

14. Irony Dramatic Situational
Discrepancy between what the speaker says and what the poem means
i.e. We know the meaning, but the speaker is confused.
It illuminates character
Allows the author to indirectly comment on the nature of the person speaking
Discrepancy between the actual circumstances and what is expected to occur
If it snows on Memorial Day, right after the beaches open, it is ironic.
Ozymandias
p758
The Chimney Sweeper
p756

15. Not to be confused with:
Irony
Verbal irony:
IS saying the opposite of what one means
MIGHT be used in the service of sarcasm/satire, but might not…
“I wouldn’t expect you to”
“I have bad news for you! You got an A!”
Sarcasm
Satire
Bitter or cutting speech, intended to wound feelings
Comes from the Greek: “to tear flesh”
Written language intended to bring awareness or reform.
Sarcasm not irony
irony not sarcasm
Implies Ridicule

16. Dangers of Irony
A number of people in a large audience will always misunderstand
If it is misunderstood, the reader goes away with exactly the opposite meaning intended.
What is the irony in “Barbie Doll” pp ?

17. Your Task Read your poem, and determine if it contains: Paradox
Overstatement
Understatement
Irony
Verbal
Situational
Dramatic

18. PRESENTING OUR POEMS

19. Practice Test