Symbolism and Allegory Signs of something more…

1. Symbol Meaning – something that functions in a way one would expect, but also represents something else Usually stands for something abstract

2. Public Symbols Meaning – Symbols that are culturally recognized What do these public symbols represent?

3. Allegory Meaning – A story in which characters and places stand for virtues and vices (good and bad). Almost every element has meaning beyond the literal level. Example: Animal Farm – a political allegory about Communism The Pilgrim’s Progress – a cultural allegory about Christianity

4. Fables Meaning – A type of allegory that uses animal characters to teach a practical lesson Examples: The Tortoise and the Hare What was the lesson? The Boy Who Cried Wolf

5. Parable Meaning – A type of allegory that uses an ordinary everyday situation to teach a moral lesson Examples: The Good Samaritan

Why use symbols? Symbols are used to move the reader Examples: The Good Samaritan Cinderella’s glass slipper Symbols are easily remembered or recognized Flags

Identifying Symbols Symbols are often visual. Ex. The different types of houses in The Three Little Pigs Symbols often appear throughout a story. Ex. The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland Symbols are a form of figurative language Symbols often relate to the story’s theme