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Understanding Symbolism and Allegory: Key Concepts and Practical Exercises

This lecture explores the concepts of symbolism and allegory, highlighting how symbols—ordinary objects, events, or characters—carry deeper meanings. Examples like the skull and crossbones for danger, red roses for love, and lions for courage illustrate the power of symbols in literature. We also delve into allegory, where characters and settings represent broader ideas, teaching moral lessons as seen in works like Orwell's "Animal Farm." Engage in practical exercises to identify and discuss symbols, enhancing comprehension of these literary devices.

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Understanding Symbolism and Allegory: Key Concepts and Practical Exercises

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Symbolism & Allegory Unit 4 C.P. 9 Lecture Notes

  2. Symbolism • What is a symbol? • Often an ordinary object, event, person, or animal to which we attach unusual meaning and significance. • For example: • Skull and crossbones • represents a symbol of danger or poison • Red roses • represents a symbol of love • Lion • represents a symbol of power and courage • Crown • represents a symbol of royalty

  3. Symbolism • Where do symbols come from? • handed down or inherited over time • invented by someone or something • For example: our school symbol – dawg print / Scottie head • However, we may not know the origin of many symbols, including common ones. • Writers often take a new object, character, or event and make it the embodiment of some human concern.

  4. Why use symbols? • Why don’t writers just come right out and say what they mean rather than using symbols? • Symbols allow writers to suggest various types of meanings. • Sometimes, literal statements can’t explain what something means on the same level that a symbol can. • Symbols may also allow for creativity and imagination. • You may remember the symbols, even long after forgetting parts of the story.

  5. Allegory • What is an allegory? • An allegory is a story in which characters, settings, and actions stand for something beyond themselves. • There is a literal meaning AND a figurative or symbolic meaning. • Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson or to make a comment about goodness. • For example: George Orwell’s Animal Farm • For example: Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death” • Characters and situations stand for something bigger • Seven colored rooms = seven deadly sins, stages of life, etc. • The Red Death = The Bubonic Plague / Black Death • Can have symbols inside an allegory: • Prince Prospero = represents wealth or greed

  6. Symbolism Practice… 1.) Identify what you think the items below stand for, symbolically. 2.) Then, explain: why is this symbol appropriate for what it stands for? • A snake • An eagle • Spring • An owl • A white flag • A heart • The color green • The American flag 3.) Be prepared to discuss your answers.

  7. Allegory Practice… • Read the following poem and answer the question below. I May, I Might, I Must If you will tell me why the fen appears impassable, I then will tell you why I think that I can get across it if I try. – Marianne Moore • Literal meaning of a fen: A fen is a swampy place. • What do you believe the fen symbolizes in this poem? • Be prepared to discuss your answer.

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