Symbolism and Allegory

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What Is a Symbol?
Where Do We Get Symbols?
Symbols in Literature
Allegory
Practice Part A
Practice Part B
 What Is a Symbol?

A symbol is an ordinary object, event, person, or

animal to which we have attached a special
meaning.

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 Where Do We Get Symbols?

Public symbols
• have been inherited, or
handed down over time
• are widely known
• show up in art and
literature

Note
 Where Do We Get Symbols?

What does each of these symbols stand for? Why

do you think they have taken on the meanings
they have?

justice love luck

 Where Do We Get Symbols?

Invented symbols
• come about when writers
make a character, object,
or event stand for some
human concern
• sometimes become
well known and gain
the status of public
symbol

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 Symbols in Literature

Writers use symbols to

• suggest layers of meaning that a simple, literal
statement could never convey
• speak more powerfully to the reader’s emotions
and imagination
• make their stories rich and memorable
 Symbols in Literature
Quick Check
The most prominent object was a long What might the
table with a tablecloth spread on it. . . . cake symbolize
An épergne or centrepiece of some kind in this passage?
was in the middle of this cloth; it was so
heavily overhung with cobwebs that its
form was quite undistinguishable; . . . I
saw speckled-legged spiders with blotchy What is your
bodies running home to it, and running emotional
out from it. . . . response to the
“What do you think that is?” she asked description of
me, again pointing with her stick; “that, the cake?
where those cobwebs are?” . . .
“It’s a great cake. A bride-cake. Mine!”
from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens [End of Section]
 Symbols in Literature
Quick Check
The most prominent object was a long What might the
table with a tablecloth spread on it. . . . cake symbolize
An épergne or centrepiece of some kind in this passage?
was in the middle of this cloth; it was so
lost love,
heavily overhung with cobwebs that its
disappointment,
form was quite undistinguishable; . . . I
holding on to
saw speckled-legged spiders with blotchy
the past
bodies running home to it, and running
out from it. . . .
“What do you think that is?” she asked
me, again pointing with her stick; “that,
where those cobwebs are?” . . .
“It’s a great cake. A bride-cake. Mine!”
from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
 Symbols in Literature
Quick Check
The most prominent object was a long What is your
table with a tablecloth spread on it. . . . emotional
An épergne or centrepiece of some kind response to the
was in the middle of this cloth; it was so description of
heavily overhung with cobwebs that its the cake?
form was quite undistinguishable; . . . I
It gives me the
saw speckled-legged spiders with blotchy
creeps. It
bodies running home to it, and running
makes me feel
out from it. . . .
sorry for the
“What do you think that is?” she asked
woman.
me, again pointing with her stick; “that,
where those cobwebs are?” . . .
“It’s a great cake. A bride-cake. Mine!”
from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
 Allegory

Allegory—a story in which characters, setting, and

actions stand for something beyond themselves,
such as
• abstract ideas
• moral qualities
• historical figures or
events
 Allegory

Allegories
• can be read on two levels: literal and symbolic
• are often intended to
teach a moral lesson
or make a comment
about goodness and
vice
 Allegory

Characters and places in allegories often have

names that reveal their symbolic significance:

Characters Places
Death Celestial City
Vanity Vanity Fair
Good Deeds Hill of Difficulty
Ignorance Valley of Fear
 Allegory
Quick Check
One day, Everyman is What do you think
summoned by Death to give an Everyman, the main
accounting of his life. Everyman character of the
ask his friends Fellowship, Beauty, allegory, stands for?
Strength, and Good Deeds to go
with him to tell Death that he has
led a good life. Only Good Deeds
stays with him to the end. What comment about
—summary of “Everyman”
fellowship, beauty,
and strength does this
allegory make?

[End of Section]
 Allegory
Quick Check
One day, Everyman is What do you think
summoned by Death to give an Everyman, the main
accounting of his life. Everyman character of the
ask his friends Fellowship, Beauty, allegory, stands for?
Strength, and Good Deeds to go
with him to tell Death that he has
Everyman stands for
led a good life. Only Good Deeds
every man (or
stays with him to the end.
woman).
—summary of “Everyman”
 Allegory
Quick Check
One day, Everyman is What comment about
summoned by Death to give an fellowship, beauty, and
accounting of his life. Everyman strength does this
ask his friends Fellowship, Beauty, allegory make?
Strength, and Good Deeds to go
with him to tell Death that he has Fellowship, beauty,
led a good life. Only Good Deeds and strength are
stays with him to the end. fleeting—they don’t
—summary of “Everyman” stay with you to the
end.
 Allegory
Quick Check
One day, Everyman is On a symbolic level,
summoned by Death to give an what does it mean that
accounting of his life. Everyman only Good Deeds stays
ask his friends Fellowship, Beauty, with Everyman to the
Strength, and Good Deeds to go end?
with him to tell Death that he has
led a good life. Only Good Deeds
stays with him to the end.
—summary of “Everyman”
 Allegory
Quick Check
One day, Everyman is
summoned by Death to give an
accounting of his life. Everyman
ask his friends Fellowship, Beauty,
Strength, and Good Deeds to go
with him to tell Death that he has
led a good life. Only Good Deeds
stays with him to the end.
—summary of “Everyman”
On a symbolic level,
what does it mean that
only Good Deeds stays
with Everyman to the
end?
A person’s good
deeds will indicate
whether he or she
has led a good life.
 Practice

A. Think about the great number of symbols we’re

surrounded by in everyday life. For starters,
identify what the items below stand for. Then, see
if you can explain the basis for the symbol—why is
this symbol appropriate for what it stands for?
• A snake • An owl
• An eagle • A white flag
• Spring

[End of Section]
 Practice

B. Here is a brief poem that works on two levels: a

literal level and a symbolic level. A fen is a
swampy place. What does the fen symbolize in this
poem?
I May, I Might, I Must
If you will tell me why the fen
appears impassable, I then
will tell you why I think that I
can get across it if I try.
—Marianne Moore

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The End
 Where Do We Get Symbols?

Note
Different cultures may attach different meanings to
some symbols.
• For example, the symbolic meanings of colors
are not universal.
 Allegory

Literal meaning
• the story that takes place on the surface
• uses interesting characters and plot to hold the
reader’s attention

Symbolic, or allegorical, meaning

• the story that takes place beneath the surface
• uses characters and events to represent ideas
such as love, freedom, evil, or goodness