Literature and Art

1
Literature and Art

• A review of theme, plot, characterization,
  imagery, tone, and symbolism

2

• Like a work of literature, a work of art can have
  more than one interpretation.
• The ideal interpretation is one that can be
  supported and explained with specific evidence
  from the work itself.
• The goal of this lesson is to state an original
  interpretation of a painting and explain how
  individual elements in the painting work together
  to support the interpretation.

3

• Painted in 1485 by Hieronymous Bosch, Death and
  the Miser is an allegorical work of art that
  reflects the impact of religion and disease on
  European society during the Middle Ages. The
  painting focuses on an old miser dying in his bed
  and staring at a shrouded skeleton walking
  through the door. The same miser is depicted
  again at the bottom of the painting as a younger
  and healthier man placing coins into a lockbox.

Allegory A symbolic representation The
blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of
justice. Miser someone who lives in horrible
circumstances to save money.
4

• Ultimately you will need at least two pieces of
  paper for these activities.
• On the first piece of paper, please do the quick
  sketch as described in step one of Reading a
  Work of Art in Eight Steps
• Quick Tips!
• Use stick figures, primitive shapes, and simple
  symbols to represent the main elements of the
  painting.
• Use short, concrete phrases when labeling
  elements in the work.

5

• Now, please do the questions on the other side of
  the page that goes through the various elements
  in the painting on the second piece of paper.
• Then, go back to steps two through eight on the
  side of the handout with a picture and answer
  those questions on the back of your original
  piece of paper.

6
Putting it Together

• What is the theme of the painting?
• What specific elements in the painting establish
  theme?
• What is the allegorical meaning of the works two
  main characters?
• What is the characters conflict?
• What symbols did you see in the piece?