Symbolism, Allegory and Fantasy Chapter 6

Agenda Focus Lesson: Deconstructing Symbolism and Allegory Work Period: “The Rocking horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence

Why use symbolism, allegory or fantasy to tell a story? Compression- “say as much as possible as briefly as possible” Good authors select carefully those details and incidents essential to the story, while taking away anything that doesn’t contribute

Symbol: something that means more than what it suggests on the surface object, person, situation, action or some other element that has a literal meaning in the story, but suggests or represents other means as well names… ex. “Phoenix” in “A Worn Path”, “General Zaroff” in “The Most Dangerous Game” setting… ex. The dichotomy of the two settings in “Hills Like White Elephants” symbols often lead to other important revelations… like the birds that appear in The Awakening symbols can reinforce and add to the meaning, or carry the meaning

Be careful! try not to run away with the symbolism It’s better to miss the symbolism than see something that isn’t there

Use these precautions… The story will give you a clue when a detail is to be taken symbolically (look for emphasis, repetition or position) The meaning of the symbol has to exist in the story, not outside it A symbol must suggest a meaning different in kind from its literal meaning (can’t symbolize something that they are already an example of) A symbol may have more than one meaning

Allegory A story that has a second meaning beneath the surface, endowing a cluster of characters, objects or events with added significance. It creates a double layer of meaning, usually a pattern of some kind. Often religious allegory Purpose is to preach a moral lesson

Fantasy A story that transcends the bounds of known reality- abandons factual representation. Readers have to suspend their disbelief. Often reveals some truth about human nature Might have an impossible reality… but still has to have probability and consistency

Intro using Setting as a Symbol: TTAG: “Hills Like White Elephants”, a short story by Earnest Hemingway, focuses on a couple’s unwanted pregnancy. MAP: This fictional piece exposes the consequences of a love affair for modern “Americans.” ModSummary: The American in this narrative wants his girlfriend to have an abortion, but she worries that their love will disappear after the procedure. The story ends unresolved, with both characters unhappy. Thesis: The desolate setting of the train station, contrasting with the “Hills Like White Elephants” in the distance work together in the story to symbolically support the idea that love affairs can become burdensome.

Symbol? Rocking Horse Winner Object/Character Possible Symbolic Interpretation Money Luck Paul Mother Bassett Uncle Rocking Horse

So When is it Allegory? Ask: Do the symbols tell a story? Does this story teach a moral lesson? Does it seem to offer instruction on how to live life correctly? If the answer is yes to all of the above, the story is allegory

Homework Read “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne for Tuesday---find symbol and determine if allegory Don’t forget to finish that setting essay for tonight!