1. Symbolism and Allegory
Objective: Students will be able to define, recognize and explain symbolism and allegory.

2. APK (Activating Prior Knowledge)
Verbally, explain what the following symbols mean:

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

4. 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.

5. 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
convey a complex idea without having to explain each detail
A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out ever widening ripples.

6. Concept Development: Allegory
Allegory: a story in which characters, settings and actions stand for something beyond themselves.
Types of Allegories:
characters and setting represent abstract ideas of moral qualities
characters and situations stand for historical figures and events

7. Different Levels of Meaning in Allegories
An Allegory can be read on two levels:
Literal or straightforward meaning
Symbolic meaning
Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson or make a comment about good and evil.

8. 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
Represents arrogance
Represents Perseverance

9. Concept Development: Parable
Type of ALLEGORY
Set in the real world
Teaches a lesson about ethics or morality
Remember the Good Samaritan??
-Many stories in the Bible are parables

10. 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

11. Allegory continued… An Old English play called Everyman
Main character: Everyman (his name represents what he stands for)
One day Everyman is summoned by Death to give an accounting of his life. So, Everyman asks his friends Fellowship, Beauty, Strength and Good Deeds to accompany him to visit Death and tell him that he has led a good life. The only friend that goes is Good Deeds and he stays with Everyman until the end.
Answer this question on your paper: What is the meaning of this story?

12. Symbolism vs. Allegory
Symbol:
can be an event, place, character or object that has significance or importance.
Allegory: connects many symbols within the story to one another; producing a deeper meaning.

13. Closure: Symbolism and Allegory Review
Symbols can be _______, _________, __________, or _________.
Symbols represent _______________________.
Symbols allow writers to _______________________.
Give an example of a symbol____________________.
An allegory is ______ in which _______________.
and _______ stand for something beyond themselves.
Name two types of Allegories.