SYMBOLISM & ALLEGORY
SYMBOLISM & ALLEGORYEnglish/Honors English 1Stout - 2013
Object, person, place, or action that has both a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself (like an idea, belief, or value)
EX: A rose is a symbol of love, a wedding ring is a symbol of an everlasting promiseSymbols
Facts About SymbolsSymbols may appear in allegories
Symbols have multiple meanings
Symbols appear in everyday life, literature, poetry, and film
Symbols may be interpreted differently by different readersPublic SymbolsHold significance for a larger group, or nation
EX: flags, statues, monumentsThe ol red, white, and blueThe Statue of Liberty Washington Monument
Other Modes of SymbolismMotif (mo-tEEf)A recurring symbol or thematic element in an artistic or literary work
EX: In The Secret Life of Bees, the bees are woven throughout the novel to represent: exploration, maturation, rebirth, personal growth, etc.
EX: In The Hunger Games, fire is a motif. Katniss becomes the girl who was on fire not just physically/literally, but metaphorically to represent something much bigger
A reference to some event, person, place, or artistic work
EX: You are such a Scrooge. A Christmas Story
EX: You nose is growing. The Adventures of Pinocchio
EX: Sugar is my Achilles' heel. Greek Mythology AllusionAllegoryAn entire literary work that has a hidden meaning beneath the literal meaning
Relies on symbolism to teach a lesson or explain an ideaWhereas a symbol is a single object/person that represents more than itself, an allegory is an entire story that represents a larger idea
Think about itCreate a list of public symbols that represent our nation and our nations ideals
BONUS: think of a popular story that you think might be an allegory