Analyzing Symbolism Visualizing What You Read

1. Analyzing SymbolismVisualizing What You Read Learning Module 3 Please turn on your sound to participate!

2. First Step Recognize symbolism in the literature • Great pieces of literature have symbolic words, phrases, and images. • These symbols can have multiple meanings that cause emotional, historical, and psychological feelings. • When reading, study each part to decide if they have more than one meaning.

3. The Story of an Hour Click on the word below from Chopin’s The Story of an Hour that shows symbolism. Don’t choose the wrong one and set off the bomb! “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her” (¶ 3). • Storm • Grief • Follow Skip to next step

4. The Story of an Hour Remember: • Literature has symbolic words and images. • Symbols can have multiple meanings. Study the phrase carefully and try again. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her” (¶ 3). • Storm • Grief-INCORRECT • Follow Skip to next step

5. The Story of an Hour Remember: • Literature has symbolic words and images. • Symbols can have multiple meanings. Study the phrase carefully and try again. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her” (¶ 3). • Storm • Grief • Follow - INCORRECT Skip to next step

6. Correct! The word storm evokes the feelings of: • Sorrow • Disaster • Dark • Dreary • Cold • Hopelessness

7. Second Step Re-read the word or phrase that uses symbolism • Notice how it makes you feel. • Recall the context the story was in. • Many great literary works are old so determine if it has historical significance. • Does it use key words that change the entire meaning?

8. The Story of an Hour Click on the word below from Chopin’s The Story of an Hour that explains how this part makes the reader feel. Don’t choose the wrong one and set off the bomb! “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves” (¶ 5). • Scared • Happy • Sad Skip to next step

9. The Story of an Hour Re-read the passage and try again. • Notice how you feel as you read • Remember the context of the story. “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves” (¶ 5). • Scared - INCORRECT • Happy • Sad Skip to next step

10. The Story of an Hour Re-read the passage and try again. • Notice how you feel as you read • Remember the context of the story. “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves” (¶ 5). • Scared • Happy • Sad - INCORRECT Skip to next step

11. Correct! Even though Mrs. Mallard has just received news of her husband’s death, by looking out the open window, she felt: • Happy • Alive • Free • New and rejuvenated like the Spring

12. Third Step Paint the image created in your mind from the literature like you were going to make a movie of it. A good movie has: • Plot • Skilled actors • Perfect settings and scenes • Subtle looks, mannerisms, and conversations that convey more than what the person is simply saying Keep all this in mind as you are creating your own “movie.” Remember, there are no budget concerns in your imagination so create the best movie possible!

13. The Story of an Hour Based on the paragraph below from Chopin’s The Story of an Hour, how would you tell your actress to act at the funeral? Don’t choose the wrong one and set off the bomb! “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.” • Cry with no reservation • Smile at her dead husband and walk away triumphantly • Cry, but seem strong and strangely happy on the inside Skip to end

14. The Story of an Hour You need to recreate your movie scene again: • Think about how the woman is feeling. • Direct an actress to tap into those feelings. “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.” • Cry with no reservation - INCORRECT • Smile at her dead husband and walk away triumphantly • Cry, but seem strong and strangely happy on the inside Skip to end

15. The Story of an Hour You need to recreate your movie scene again: • Think about how the woman is feeling. • Direct an actress to tap into those feelings. “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.” • Cry with no reservation • Smile at her dead husband and walk away triumphantly - INCORRECT • Cry, but seem strong and strangely happy on the inside Skip to end

16. Correct! While Mrs. Mallard will be sad to see her once kind and thriving husband “grey and dead,” she is happy to be free to live her own life.

17. Congratulations! • You have now mastered how to analyze symbolism. • Remember, after you recognize a piece of symbolic literature, see how it makes you react, feel, and imagine. • Create a picture with your mind and play out the scene using the symbolic words and phrases. Review again?