LITERARY TERMS:LITERARY TERMS:

SYMBOLISM SYMBOLISM AND AND

ALLEGORYALLEGORY

SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM

SYMBOL: an object that stands for SYMBOL: an object that stands for itself and a greater idea; it creates a itself and a greater idea; it creates a direct, meaningful direct, meaningful linklink between… between…

a specific object, scene, character, or actiona specific object, scene, character, or action

(AND)(AND)

abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.

(A SIGN is different because it is an object that is (A SIGN is different because it is an object that is taken literally, while a SYMBOL can be taken taken literally, while a SYMBOL can be taken bothboth literally and figuratively)literally and figuratively)

INTERPRETING SYMBOLSINTERPRETING SYMBOLS

A symbol can have a variety meanings…A symbol can have a variety meanings…

1.1. PERSONAL: a meaning uniquely associated PERSONAL: a meaning uniquely associated with our experienceswith our experiences

2.2. CONTEXTUAL: a private meaning created by CONTEXTUAL: a private meaning created by an authoran author

3.3. CULTURAL: a meaning uniquely influenced CULTURAL: a meaning uniquely influenced by our current cultureby our current culture

(ex: dogs represent (ex: dogs represent faithfulnessfaithfulness in China, but in China, but impurityimpurity in Indian/South Asian cultures) in Indian/South Asian cultures)

… …and…and…

4.4. UNIVERSAL: a meaning that is given to a UNIVERSAL: a meaning that is given to a thing by most people and culturesthing by most people and cultures

(ex: lions suggest deity, power and courage (ex: lions suggest deity, power and courage in many cultures) in many cultures)

NOTE: these may be hard to discern because in order to discover NOTE: these may be hard to discern because in order to discover these, you have to put aside your own personal and cultural these, you have to put aside your own personal and cultural

lenseslenses

On INTERPRETATION: On INTERPRETATION:

A piece of writing will always mean more A piece of writing will always mean more than a writer intended because of personal than a writer intended because of personal associations. You may not understand all of associations. You may not understand all of the contextual symbols an author uses, but the contextual symbols an author uses, but might get meaning out of something the might get meaning out of something the author never planned. author never planned.

We can derive meaning from the symbol We can derive meaning from the symbol itself, but can also make inferences based on itself, but can also make inferences based on how a universal symbol is exhibited or used. how a universal symbol is exhibited or used.

(ex: Universally, water represents life and purity, so how (ex: Universally, water represents life and purity, so how

we might interpret the use of a we might interpret the use of a Polluted riverPolluted river in a story?) in a story?)

PART 1: HOW MANY SYMBOLS CAN YOU ASSOCIATE WITHPART 1: HOW MANY SYMBOLS CAN YOU ASSOCIATE WITH UNIVERSALUNIVERSAL, , ABSTRACTABSTRACT IDEAS OR VALUES??IDEAS OR VALUES??

HINT: Don’t limit yourselves to objects, think also about shapes and colors or just parts of a pictureHINT: Don’t limit yourselves to objects, think also about shapes and colors or just parts of a picture

Write down or draw the symbol and write its meaningWrite down or draw the symbol and write its meaning

FROM FROM SYMBOLSSYMBOLS TO TO SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM(SYMBOLISM is simply the use of symbols in art or literature.)(SYMBOLISM is simply the use of symbols in art or literature.)

PART 2: “I DREAMT A DREAM…”PART 2: “I DREAMT A DREAM…”Dreams are often full of strange events and objects that can be Dreams are often full of strange events and objects that can be

symbolic in nature. In fact, there is tons of literature out there that symbolic in nature. In fact, there is tons of literature out there that interprets dreams by putting universal meanings to these interprets dreams by putting universal meanings to these unexplainable things.unexplainable things.

Your assignment is toYour assignment is to take as many objects/symbols you take as many objects/symbols you discovered in “PART 1” and use them in a narrated dream-discovered in “PART 1” and use them in a narrated dream-sequence. Keep in mind that dreams do not interpret sequence. Keep in mind that dreams do not interpret themselves; they are mysterious and abstract. Your job is to themselves; they are mysterious and abstract. Your job is to create a dream in all its weirdness; however, it needs to start create a dream in all its weirdness; however, it needs to start with a chronological sequence of events that can include your with a chronological sequence of events that can include your symbols along the way. It should be at least a half-page long, symbols along the way. It should be at least a half-page long, and no longer than a page. When we’re done, let’s see if we and no longer than a page. When we’re done, let’s see if we can’t interpret each other’s strange night-time visions…can’t interpret each other’s strange night-time visions…

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Interpret the Dream

Swap papers with another group Read their dream Write a short description of the

dream’s meaning at the bottom of the paper based on the symbols that they used.

Share with the class

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ALLEGORY…ALLEGORY…

……a complete and self-contained a complete and self-contained narrative that can also be applied to narrative that can also be applied to a parallel set of external situations a parallel set of external situations which may be political, moral, which may be political, moral, religious or philosophical. religious or philosophical. In other words, it tells a real story and a In other words, it tells a real story and a

symbolic story simultaneously.symbolic story simultaneously. Like symbols, allegories can be personal, Like symbols, allegories can be personal, contextual, cultural and universal.contextual, cultural and universal.

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Allegory Characters in an allegory might even

have names that describe what they symbolize: Ignorance, Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Little-Faith, Mrs. Bubble.

Fables - a type of allegory where animal characters symbolize vices and virtues and act out a story in order to teach a practical lesson about how to succeed in life.

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Allegory

Parable - a brief story that is set in the ordinary everyday world and told to teach a lesson about ethics or morality.

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WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE??WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE??

You may recognize the…You may recognize the…

……PARABLE: a short allegorical story designed to PARABLE: a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.or moral lesson.

OR other familiar stories like…OR other familiar stories like… The Pilgrim’s ProgressThe Pilgrim’s Progress, , John BunyanJohn Bunyan Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland, , Lewis CarrollLewis Carroll The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings trilogy, trilogy, TolkienTolkien The The NARNIANARNIA series, series, C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy, , DanteDante Animal FarmAnimal Farm

AND very soon in your future…AND very soon in your future… ““Masque of the Red Death”Masque of the Red Death”

SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY are SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY are MODES that expand meaning.MODES that expand meaning.

Can you identify any use of these Can you identify any use of these “modes” in the literature you’ve read “modes” in the literature you’ve read so far in school?so far in school?

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Practice with a Parable

The Good Samaritan Bible - New Testament Jesus often used parables to explain

Biblical truths, principles, or beliefs.

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Luke 10:25-37 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”   26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”   28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

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 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’   36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Skit

Watch the skit to help you further understand the parable.

Actors, please bring your script with you, and go to your starting place.

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What was the moral of the story?

1. What was the question the man asked Jesus?

2. How is the question answered?3. Why do you think Jesus answered the

question in that way?4. How is this parable an allegory?

Periods 2,5,6,7 Answer on Edmodo Periods 3,4 - Answer in groups 11

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Bonus

What was the moral of the story?

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http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NIV

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