1. Do Now Define: Symbolism
Why do you think authors use symbols in a text?

2. Symbolism and Allegory
March 10, 2015

3. Explain what the Following Symbols Mean:

4. Symbols
A symbol is often an event, object, person or animal to which an extraordinary meaning or significance has been attached.
Pair/share: What ideas do these pictures symbolize?

5. Where do Symbols Come From?
Symbols can be inherited or invented.
Example: The Statue of Liberty
Came to symbolize freedom for people immigrating to the United States by way of Ellis Island.

6. Why Create Symbols in Literature?
Symbols allow writers to suggest layers of meanings and possibilities that a simple literal statement could not convey as well.

7. Why Create Symbols in Literature?
Symbols allow writers to convey an idea with layers of meaning without having to explain those layers in the text.

8. Why Create Symbols in Literature?
A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out ever widening ripples.
Pair/Share: Tell your partner a symbol from one of our readings this year or last year.

9. Allegory
An Allegory is a story in which characters, settings and actions stand for something beyond themselves.
The Wizard of Oz was an allegory for the political and economic systems in America

10. Allegory
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.

11. Allegory
Characters and places in allegories often have names that reveal their symbolic significance:
CHARACTERS
Death
Vanity
Good Deeds
Ignorance
PLACES
Celestial City
Vanity Fair
Hill of Difficulty
Valley of Fear

12. Allegory Meanings
An Allegory can be read on one level for its literal or straightforward meaning
An allegory can be read for its symbolic, or allegorical meaning

13. Teachings Allegories are often intended to: teach a moral lesson or
make a comment about goodness and corruption

14. Quick Check: Everyman Everyman
What do you think Everyman, the main character of the allegory, stands for?
Everyman
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”
What comment about fellowship, beauty, and strength does this allegory make?

15. Symbolism vs. Allegory Symbol Allegory
A word, place, character or object that means something beyond what it is on a literal level
interconnected symbols
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

16. Before Reading Questions
TOGETHER
Before Reading Questions

17. The Terrible Things By: Eve Bunting An Allegory for the Holocaust

18. On Your Own
Page 176 – 177
Analyze the Allegory

19. Independent Practice
Think of a movie or book that utilizes a symbol (you cannot use an example from this powerpoint!)
Name the movie/book
Identify the symbol
Identify the literal meaning of the symbol
Identify the figurative (symbolic) meaning of the symbol
Explain why the symbol was used

20. EXIT TICKET A symbol is _____________________.
Symbols can be _______, _________, __________, or _________.
Symbols represent _______________________.
Name the four things that can be symbols.
Symbols allow writers to __________.
An allegory is ______ in which _______________and _______ stand for something beyond themselves.