Symbolism Allegory Keys to Extended Meaning SYMBOLISM Symbol
Symbolism & Allegory Keys to Extended Meaning
SYMBOLISM • Symbol: “To throw together” – Creates a direct meaningful equation between a specific object, scene, character, or action and ideas, values, persons, or ways of life – A substitute for the elements being signified – What makes it symbolic is its capacity to signify additional levels of meaning—major ideas, simple or complex emotions, or philosophical or religious qualities or values
Two Types of Symbols • Cultural: – Derived from our cultural and historical heritage (universal) – The writer assumes that the reader already knows what the symbols represent (water=life) • Contextual: – Objects that are symbols only if they are made so within the work – Derive their meaning from the context and circumstances of the story (plant in A Raisin in the Sun)
Is it a Symbol or Not? • Judge the importance that the author gives it • When in doubt… » It’s a symbol!
Allegory • Allegorein (Greek) meaning “to speak in public” • Like a symbol because it transfers and broadens meaning • More sustained than symbolism • Allegory: symbol : : movie: photograph • In form, it’s a complete narrative, but it also signifies another series of conditions or events
Allegory (cont) • Can be from beginning to end or just a portion (then it’s called allegorical) • Often concerned with mortality and especially with religion, but can also be political or social • The things that are true for the main characters can also be applied to life in general • The author doesn’t have to have planned to write an allegory for it to be one
Applications & Meaning of Allegory • Allegory is a favorite method of teaching morality • Authors used to be afraid of prosecution, so they wrote with double meaning • Determine whether all or part of a work can have an extended, allegorical meaning
Fable, Parable, and Myth • Fable: usually about animals who possess human traits (beast fables) – Have a moral or explanation to the story (Aesop) • Parable: a short, simple allegory with a moral or religious bent – Usually associated with Jesus • Myth: a traditional story that embodies and codifies the religious, philosophical and cultural values of the civilization in which it is composed – Gods, heroes, demigods, monsters
Allusion in Symbolism & Allegory • If the meaning of a symbol is not immediately clear to you, you will need a dictionary or other reference work (see list on syllabus for good reference books for allusions)
Writing About Symbolism or Allegory • Questions for Discovering Ideas – Look at pgs 424 -425 • Strategies for Organizing Ideas – Symbolism: • Identify the meaning of a major symbol • Develop the relationship between two or more symbols – Allegory: • The application and meaning of the allegory (what is the subject of the story and how can it be more generally applied to ideas or to qualities of the human character) • The consistency of the allegory—is it used consistently throughout the story
Stories in this Chapter • • • “A Hunger Artist” “The Chrysanthemums” “As I Stand Here Ironing” “The Birthmark” “Young Goodman Brown”
- Slides: 11