Literary Terms: Symbolism And Allegory

Notes and activites regarding symbolism and allegory.

1. LITERARY TERMS:LITERARY TERMS:
SYMBOLISM SYMBOLISM
AND AND
ALLEGORYALLEGORY

2. SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM
SYMBOL: an object that stands for itself SYMBOL: an object that stands for itself
andand a greater idea; it creates a direct, a greater idea; it creates a direct,
meaningful meaningful linklink between… between…
a specific object, scene, character, or actiona specific object, scene, character, or action
(AND)(AND)
abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.
(A (A SIGNSIGN is different because it is an object that is taken is different because it is an object that is taken
literally, while a literally, while a SYMBOLSYMBOL can be taken can be taken bothboth literally and literally and
figuratively)figuratively)

3. INTERPRETING SYMBOLSINTERPRETING SYMBOLS
A symbol can have a variety meanings…A symbol can have a variety meanings…
1.1. PERSONAL: a meaning uniquely associated with PERSONAL: a meaning uniquely associated with
our experiencesour experiences
2.2. CONTEXTUAL: a private meaning created by an CONTEXTUAL: a private meaning created by an
authorauthor
3.3. CULTURAL: a meaning uniquely influenced by CULTURAL: a meaning uniquely influenced by
our current cultureour current culture
(ex: dogs represent (ex: dogs represent faithfulnessfaithfulness in China, but in China, but
impurityimpurity in Indian/South Asian cultures) in Indian/South Asian cultures)

4. … …and…and…
4.4. UNIVERSAL: a meaning that is given to a thing UNIVERSAL: a meaning that is given to a thing
by most people and culturesby most people and cultures
(ex: lions suggest deity, power and courage in (ex: lions suggest deity, power and courage in
many cultures) many cultures)
NOTE: these may be hard to discern because in order to discover these, you NOTE: these may be hard to discern because in order to discover these, you
have to put aside your own personal and cultural lenseshave to put aside your own personal and cultural lenses

5. On INTERPRETATION: On INTERPRETATION:
A piece of writing will always mean more A piece of writing will always mean more
than a writer intended because of personal than a writer intended because of personal
associations. You may not understand all of the associations. You may not understand all of the
contextual symbols an author uses, but might contextual symbols an author uses, but might
get meaning out of something the author never get meaning out of something the author never
planned. planned.
We can derive meaning from the symbol We can derive meaning from the symbol
itself, but can also make inferences based on itself, but can also make inferences based on
how a universal symbol is exhibited or used. how a universal symbol is exhibited or used.
(ex: Universally, water represents life and purity, so how (ex: Universally, water represents life and purity, so how
we might interpret the use of a we might interpret the use of a
Polluted riverPolluted river in a story?) in a story?)

6. PART 1: HOW MANY SYMBOLS CAN YOU ASSOCIATE WITHPART 1: HOW MANY SYMBOLS CAN YOU ASSOCIATE WITH
UNIVERSALUNIVERSAL, , ABSTRACTABSTRACT IDEAS OR VALUES??IDEAS OR VALUES??
HINT: Don’t limit yourselves to objects, think also about shapes and colors or just HINT: Don’t limit yourselves to objects, think also about shapes and colors or just partsparts of a picture of a picture

7. FROM FROM SYMBOLSSYMBOLS TO TO SYMBOLISMSYMBOLISM
(SYMBOLISM(SYMBOLISM is simply the use of symbols in art or literature.) is simply the use of symbols in art or literature.)
PART 2: “I DREAMT A DREAM…”PART 2: “I DREAMT A DREAM…”
Dreams are often full of strange events and objects that can be symbolic in Dreams are often full of strange events and objects that can be symbolic in
nature. In fact, there is tons of literature out there that interprets dreams by nature. In fact, there is tons of literature out there that interprets dreams by
putting universal meanings to these unexplainable things.putting universal meanings to these unexplainable things.
Your assignment is toYour assignment is to take as many objects/symbols you discovered take as many objects/symbols you discovered
in “PART 1” and use them in a narrated dream-sequence. Keep in in “PART 1” and use them in a narrated dream-sequence. Keep in
mind that dreams do not interpret themselves; they are mysterious mind that dreams do not interpret themselves; they are mysterious
and abstract. Your job is to assimilate a dream in all its weirdness; and abstract. Your job is to assimilate a dream in all its weirdness;
however, it needs to start with a chronological sequence of events however, it needs to start with a chronological sequence of events
that can include your symbols along the way. It should be at least a that can include your symbols along the way. It should be at least a
half-page long, and no longer than a page. When we’re done, let’s half-page long, and no longer than a page. When we’re done, let’s
see if we can’t interpret each other’s strange night-time visions…see if we can’t interpret each other’s strange night-time visions…

8. ALLEGORY…ALLEGORY…
……a complete and self-contained narrative a complete and self-contained narrative
that can also be applied to a parallel set of that can also be applied to a parallel set of
external situations which may be political, external situations which may be political,
moral, religious or philosophical. moral, religious or philosophical.
In other words, it tells a real story and a symbolic In other words, it tells a real story and a symbolic
story simultaneously.story simultaneously.
Like symbols, allegories can be personal, contextual, Like symbols, allegories can be personal, contextual,
cultural and universal.cultural and universal.

9. WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE??WHAT’S IT LOOK LIKE??
You may recognize the…You may recognize the…
……PARABLE: a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or PARABLE: a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or
teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
OR other familiar stories like…OR other familiar stories like…
The Pilgrim’s ProgressThe Pilgrim’s Progress, , John BunyanJohn Bunyan
Alice in WonderlandAlice in Wonderland, , Lewis CarrollLewis Carroll
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, TolkienTolkien
The NARNIA series, The NARNIA series, C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis
The Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy, , DanteDante
AND very soon in your future…AND very soon in your future…
The Lord of the FliesThe Lord of the Flies, , William GoldingWilliam Golding

10. SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY are SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY are MODES MODES
that expand meaningthat expand meaning..
Can you identify any use of these “modes” Can you identify any use of these “modes”
in the literature you’ve read so far this in the literature you’ve read so far this
year?year?