1. Symbolism and Imagery
LRA 3.7: Recognize and understand the significance of various literary devices, including figurative language, allegory, and symbolism, and explain their appeal.

2. Symbols
In literature, a symbol is something concrete (such as event, character, animal, setting, or object) that functions in a story the way that you would expect it to, but also stands for something more than itself, usually something abstract (intangible).
Think: a concrete noun that represents an abstract noun.
Link to purpose: Function as a bridge between the events of a story and the abstract theme.

3. Symbols
Public symbols are symbols that are commonly accepted and suggest specific ideas. Usually, these symbols have “set” meanings that are commonly accepted within a culture.
Examples:

4. Symbols
Literary symbols on the other hand, are not specified and fixed. In contrast to public symbols, literary symbols are open to interpretation which makes them ambiguous. They rely on associations that are made by the writer, suggested by characters in the story, and ultimately made by the reader.

5. Characteristics of Symbols:
Often visual
Described in detail- lots of imagery
Is a form of figurative language
Related to or reveals a story’s theme
When a setting, event, or object is used as a symbol and often reappears throughout the story and reveals theme, this is known as “motif.”

6. Imagery Language that appeals to one or more of the five senses.
It is a form of figurative language.

7. Look for Imagery: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

8. Symbol Practice
Complete the graphic organizer in your group and analyze one of the following symbols:
The flying man’s invention
The Emperor's windup
*Remember that the symbol can’t represent something else in the story; it must represent something abstract.

9. Example Symbol Descriptions/Images Abstract quality it represents
The Emperor’s wall
“that splendid snake of stones which writhed with majesty across the entire land.”
“had protected them for timeless time.”
“He stood looking out across the land at the Great Wall, the peaceful town . . .”
Comfort; security; limitation; simplicity; close-mindedness; status-quo or tradition

10. After filling out the chart . . .
-In your Writer’s Notebook, write a two-chunk paragraph explaining what your symbol represents in “the Flying Machine.”
-Remember that one chunk = one piece of evidence (blue) followed by two pieces of commentary (pink).
-Don’t forget to include citations, a concluding sentence, and a FATt claim sentence. The FOCUS in your FATt sentence should state your claim (what you think the symbol represents- not a summary of the story)
-You do not need to include a counterclaim for this paragraph.