Symbolism

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Symbolism

• Meanings beyond the obvious

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A symbol is

• A symbol is an image which suggests or represents
  something other than itself.
• (In other words, when you use something tangible
  to represent something intangible) .
• We see symbols every day

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In literature, symbolism

• creates a direct, meaningful link between
• a specific object, scene, character, or action
• and
• abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.

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In other words.

• When you use something tangible to represent
  something intangible
• But Ms. Potter I dont know what those words
  mean!

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Tangible vs. Intangible

• Tangible
• Things that you can touch
• Flag
• Autumn leaves
• Eagle
• Peace Sign
• Wedding Band
• Water
• Flowers
• Dove

• Intangible
• Things you cannot touch
• RespectAffectionWishesRomanceDisdainMeaning
  HappinessAngstRunningEgo

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Similes can help

• Use the simple simile method
• Intangible (something you cant touch)
• Is like a
• Tangible (something you can touch) Because
• If you can compare something you cant touch to
  something you can touch, youve just found a
  symbol!

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For Example!

• Love is like a blue stone because it is tough,
  yet breakable at the same time, like a blue
  stone. It is tough to love a blue stone

Tangible
Intangible
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Lets try a few.
Hate

Friendship

Envy

Commitment

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Common Symbols

• Lets take a look at a few symbols that our
  commonly found in literature

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Symbolism
A river can represent the flow of life or its
depth may represent the unknown the water
might be purity or there could be dangers
beneath the surface.
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• Symbolism

A walk into a tunnel or change from day to
night could show movement from good to evil, or
that something bad is coming
A storm at a critical moment can represent the
intense emotion and trouble
And dawn may show the end of conflict, the start
of a new day.
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• Symbolism

In Poes Telltale Heart, the sound of the
beating heart represents the mans guilt
a characters name may tell you something about
them, in The Lottery Mr. Graves has authority
over the killing
and a characters appearance can be symbolic
in Cask of Amontillado, Fortunato wears a fools
costume and he is, in fact, a fool for trusting
the narrator.
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• HOW MANY SYMBOLS MEANINGS CAN YOU IDENTIFY?

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HOW MANY SYMBOLISM COLOR MEANINGS CAN YOU
IDENTIFY?
Red
Green
White
Black
Blue
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Practice

• Read Flowers by Alice Walker
• Identify the symbolism
• Read Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night"
• "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
• "O Captain! My Captain!"  by Walt Whitman
• Identify the symbolism

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What kind of image would symbolize you?
USING A LARGE NOTECARD, create a colorful symbol
that represents you and/or your ideals or
something about you. Your card will be put on
the bulletin board. Name on front or back. Show
your card to the teacher for credit before
stapling it to the board.