UNIT 3

Honors English 9 Lecture Notes

Symbolism

What is a symbol? Often an ordinary object, event, person, or

animal to which we attach unusual meaning and significance. For example:

Skull and crossbones represents a symbol of danger or poison

Red roses represents a symbol of love

Lion represents a symbol of power and courage

Crown represents a symbol of royalty

Symbolism

Where do symbols come from? handed down or inherited over time invented by someone or something

For example: our school symbol – dawg print / Scottie head

However, we may not know the origin of many symbols, including common ones.

Writers often take a new object, character, or event and make it the embodiment of some human concern.

Why use symbols?

Why don’t writers just come right out and say what they mean rather than using symbols? Symbols allow writers to suggest various

types of meanings. Sometimes, literal statements can’t explain

what something means on the same level that a symbol can.

Symbols may also allow for creativity and imagination. You may remember the symbols, even long after

forgetting parts of the story.

Allegory

What is an allegory? An allegory is a story in which characters, settings,

and actions stand for something beyond themselves.

There is a literal meaning AND a figurative or symbolic meaning. For example: Poe’s “Masque of the Red Death”

Characters and setting of a story may represents abstract ideas or moral qualities.

Prince Prospero = name given to a man who is prosperous

Characters and situations may stand for historical figures and events.

Seven colored rooms = seven deadly sins, stages of life, etc.

The Red Death = The Bubonic Plague / Black Death

Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson or to make a comment about goodness.

Application of NovelGeorge Orwell’s Animal Farm Review: Orwell was a critic of both capitalism

and communism. Review: Orwell is mostly remembered as an

advocate of freedom and a committed opponent of communist oppression.

His two greatest anti-totalitarian novels—Animal Farm and 1984—form the basis of his reputation. Animal Farm deals with similar themes as what you

saw in 1984, but in a shorter and somewhat simpler format.

Animal Farm uses animals on an English farm to tell the history of Soviet communism. Certain animals are based directly on Communist Party leaders. The pigs Napoleon and Snowball, for example, are

recreations of Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky, respectively.

Application of NovelGeorge Orwell’s Animal Farm Written in 1943-1944 (London) Published in 1946 Genre: Animal fable / Dystopia through

symbolism & allegory Setting (place): an imaginary farm in England Setting (time): an unspecified time period

It is fair to assume, however, that Orwell means the fable to be simultaneous with the object of its satire, the Russian Revolution, which began in 1917. Communists overthrew the Russian Tsar (king) through

a civil war. The Russian king was considered to be cruel by many; therefore, making Communism appealing. *Communism promoted economic equality and a classless society.