1. Investigating symbolism
Fantasy
Investigating symbolism

2. What words do you think of when you hear the word fantasy

3. What words do you think of when you hear the word fantasy
Dragons
Unicorns
Magic wands
Castles
Wizards
Fairies
Dark forests

4. What words do you think of when you hear the word fantasy
Dragons
Unicorns
Magic wands
Castles
Wizards
Fairies
Dark forests
Most of these things are objects, characters or settings

5. What words do you think of when you hear the word fantasy
Dragons
Unicorns
Magic wands
Castles
Wizards
Fairies
Dark forests
Most of these things are objects, characters or settings, BUT these can be interpreted as symbols in fantasy.

6. What words do you think of when you hear the word fantasy
Dragons
Unicorns
Magic wands
Castles
Wizards
Fairies
Dark forests
Most of these things are objects, characters or settings, BUT these can be interpreted as symbols in fantasy.
Symbols are perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of fantasy, as well as a tool fantasy readers use!

7. Teaching point
Today I want to teach you that fantasy readers keep an eye out for repeated or highlighted images, objects, characters, or settings. When fantasy readers see these things, they pause and ask themselves, “Could this be as symbol of something else?” and “How does this symbol connect to a possible theme for this story?”

8. Certain things are obvious symbols
=power

9. Certain things are obvious symbols
=power
=peace

10. Certain things are obvious symbols
=power
=peace
=unknown

11. Certain things are obvious symbols
=power
=peace
innocence and goodness =
=unknown

12. Symbols can change in context
Rain
Sad-rain when lonely
Happy- rain ending a drought

13. St. George Slays the Dragon

14. The Maiden and the Unicorn

18. Share
Thief of always
Let’s think about some small symbolic details in the book.
Let’s consider for the moment the role of the pond and the fish in the pond. And in the chapter we just finished where the pond has disappeared.
Right now, turn and talk to the people near you abut the pond and those fish
What do they symbolize?
How does that fit into what we think is one of the bigger themes in the text
And how does that theme give you more thinking about the pond and the fish?