Symbolism, Allegory, Theme, & Motif Objective: Students will be able to define, recognize and explain symbolism, allegory, theme, and motif in figurative language.

APK (Activating Prior Knowledge) See if you can explain what the following symbols mean:

Symbolism The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships. a person, place, thing, or idea that stands for something else. They are used deliberately to reinforce meaning. For example, a sword may be a sword and also symbolize justice. A symbol may be said to embody an idea.

Concept Development: Symbols A symbol is often an event, object, person or animal to which an extraordinary meaning or significance has been attached. Pair/share: What ideas do these pictures symbolize?

Concept Development: Where do Symbols come from? Symbols can be inherited or invented. Ex. The Statue of Liberty came to symbolize freedom for people immigrating to the United States by way of Ellis Island.

Importance: Why Create Symbols in literature? Symbols allow writers to suggest layers of meanings and possibilities that a simple literal statement could not convey as well. Symbols allow writers to convey an idea with layers of meaning without having to explain those layers in the text. A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out ever widening ripples. Pair/Share: Tell your partner a symbol from one of our readings this year or last year.

Concept Development: Allegory An Allegory is a story in which characters, settings and actions stand for something beyond themselves. In some types of Allegories, the characters and setting represent abstract ideas of moral qualities. In other types, characters and situations stand for historical figures and events.

Examples of Allegories An Allegory can be read on one level for its literal or straightforward meaning An allegory can be read for its symbolic, or allegorical meaning Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson or make a comment about goodness and depravity.

Concept Development: Fable Type of ALLEGORY, usually has animals Used to teach moral lessons to children Animals/characters represent Virtues=good human qualities Vices=bad human qualities **Fables teach lessons about life** Represents arrogance Represents Perseverance

Concept Development: Fable Another example of a famous fable is the following from Aesop’s Fables: The Hound Dog and the Rabbit One day, a hound dog was hunting for a rabbit and managed to find one. The hound chased the rabbit for a long time, but eventually, the rabbit escaped. When another dog made fun of the hound dog for allowing the rabbit to escape, the hound dog replied: “You do now see the difference between the rabbit and I; I am only running for my dinner, while he is running for his life.” The lesson: Incentive will spur effort Pair/Share: Can you name another fable?

Concept Development: Parable Type of ALLEGORY set in the real world Teaches a lesson about ethics or morality -Many stories in the Bible are parables

Concept Development: Allegory/Parables Some famous parables and allegorical stories/movies/television programs are: Animal Farm “The Emperor’s New Clothes” The Wizard of Oz “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” Avatar The Matrix Of Mice and Men

Allegory continued… In a old English play called Everyman, the main character is named Everyman ( he stands for exactly what his name indicates.) One day Everyman is summoned by death to give an accounting of his life. Everyman asks his friends Fellowship, Beauty, Strength and Good Deeds to go with him to tell death that he has led a good life. Only Good Deeds stays with him until the end. Pair/Share: What do you think the lesson is from this story?

Symbolism vs. Allegory A symbol can be a word, place, character or object that means something beyond what it is on a literal level. An allegory involves using many interconnected symbols or allegorical figures in such a way that nearly every element of the narrative has a meaning beyond the literal level, i.e., everything in the narrative is a symbol that relates to other symbols within the story.

Theme…What is it? Themes can be found everywhere: literature, art, stories, movies, etc… The theme of a fable is moral. The theme of a parable is teaching. The theme of a piece of literature is its view about life and how people behave.

Theme The main idea or message of a literary work. A universal truth A significant statement a story is making about society, human nature, or the human condition. Theme is not the subject of the work but instead is an insight about life or human nature. THEME = IDEA

Theme Stated Theme- expressed directly Implied Theme- revealed gradually through other literary elements such as plot, character, setting, point of view, imagery, figures of speech, or symbolism.

Example “‘Simply this: hunting had ceased to be what you call ‘a sporting proposition.’ It had become too easy. I always got my quarry. Always. There is no greater bore than perfection’”(74, The Most Dangerous Game) Through Zaroff’s comments about hunting, the author implies that hunting animals is not sportsmanlike. With only speed and instinct, they are not fairly matched against man’s intellect and reason.

Theme…purpose? An understanding of theme is dependent upon one’s experience of life and literature… yet… Theme in literature can enlarge one’s understanding of life. The theme will never completely explain the story, but rather supports all of the other elements in the story.

Common themes in literature The quest for immortality The individual’s relationship with and obligation to society… character vs. society Individual’s journey to understanding him/herself… character vs. self Individual’s relationship with and obligation to nature… character vs. nature

Common themes in literature How justice and injustice are decided What it means to be a hero or antihero What it means to be a survivor An individual’s experience with alienation or despair What the future holds Love and hate and effects of

Motifs A recurring image, word, phrase, or action that tend to create unity within a literary work. Sometimes the motif helps to create the theme in literature A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or fragmentary phrase, while a theme usually must be expressed as a complete sentence.

Motif Examples A recurring motif in George Orwell's "1984" is urban decay. Winston Smith's run-down home, London's crumbling buildings, and the overall disintigration of the city all support Orwell's theme of the miserable results of total government control.

Below is a short list of common literary motifs…there are sooo many more! Clothing Seasons Colors Death Supernatural Adversaries Extraordinary Animals Wishes Magical Objects Magical Powers Deep Sleeps Witches Trickery Illness Consequences of Greed Flowers/plants Beautiful Princess  Foolish or Dimwitted Hero

Independent Practice Think of a movie or book that utilizes the above (you cannot use an example from this powerpoint!) Name the movie/book Identify the symbol, theme, motif, allegory Identify the literal meaning of the symbol, theme, motif, and allegory Identify the figurative (symbolic) meaning of the symbol Explain why the symbol was used