Theme and Symbolism

Standard

ELACC8RL2: Determine a theme of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text

Theme

• The THEME is the life LESSON that the story wants you to learn

• Fiction stories or poems have THEMES• A THEME is almost like an

imaginary TEACHER inside a book.

Written by Lin DonnIllustrated by Phillip Martin

The Fox and the Sick Lion

Figure out the THEME in the storyWhat is it teaching you?

Then he slowly turned and entered his cave.

One day, a lion announced he was sick.

He let out a feeble roar that summoned all the animals to his death bed to pay their last respects.

A goat came and entered the cave. Then a sheep went in. Then a duck.

After a while, the sick Lion came to the mouth of his cave. He yawned. Finally, he noticed Fox, who had been waiting outside.

“Fox,” smiled the Lion, in a welcoming kind of way. “Why have you not entered my cave to pay your respects to me?”

“Your Majesty,” said the fox. “I noticed animals go into your cave, but none come out.” The fox ran away.

What do you think the moral or THEME of this story might be?A.Lions live in cavesB.Foxes do not like to go in caves when lions are insideC.Visiting sick neighbors helps them to heal fasterD.It is a wise idea to learn from the mistakes of others

Symbolism

Not everything is as it seems…

Standard

• ELACC8RL4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

Symbolism

Symbolism is using one object to represent something else

In other words, it is when a thing, person, or idea stands for a completely different thing, person, or idea.

Symbolism is all Around Us

Symbols are Used in Advertising

Symbols on the $1 Bill!

Common Symbols in Literature (Archetypes)

Doves: PeaceSpring: Birth; youthWinter: Old age; deathEagle: FreedomSkull: DeathCross Bones: Danger; DeathWater: Birth; lifeRose: Love; beautyCrown: Royalty

Ring: Love; unityCircle: Unending; lifeSunrise: birth; new startsFull Moon: Strangeness;

DangerPassing Storm: new startFire: RageKeys: discovery; mysteryStorms: Danger

Common Color Symbolism• Green: jealousy; greed; nature• Red: Passion; violence; blood; anger• Blue: Calm; peace• White: Pure; Newly born; innocent• Black: Death; evil• Purple: Wealth; royalty • Grey: Gloom; misery; sadness• Yellow: Caution• Orange: distrust

Nursery Rhymes often have Symbolism

Ring around the rosie A pocket full of poesyAshes, AshesWe all fall down!

Symbolism can happen in Literature

Papa died that summer. Everyone came at once and brought us food…I couldn’t stand it! They all wore black, black like coal mines that killed my papa. He didn’t even like black. He liked all the bright colors of the day. So why were they wearing black, I wondered.

--The rag coat

The Road Not Taken by Robert FrostTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.