Assignment 3.4: Symbolism

1. Learning Targets

2. Symbolism

A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself.  In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. 

Conventional Symbols  

Most of us are familiar with conventional symbols such as the Christian cross, the Nazi swastika, or the Canadian flag.

We understand that these symbols can convey different meanings to different people and in different circumstances.

• The Christian cross symbolizes one thing when it is located on a church, and quite another when it is burning on the front lawn of someone's home.
       
• The Canadian flag represents love of country, security, and pride when it is sewn on the coat of a Canadian tourist, but it represents hatred and extremism when in the hands of an angry mob.

Literary Symbols

Literary symbols do not have a publicly accepted meaning; rather, they depend upon the context of a story or poem for their meaning. An example of this occurs in Lord of the Flies where the conch shell symbolizes freedom of speech and democracy. Outside the novel, a conch shell is simply something one might find on a beach.

3. Recognizing Symbols

Recognizing Symbols

According to Perrine and Arp in Story and Structure 8th Edition (1992), "The ability to interpret symbols is ... essential for a full understanding of literature." They go on to list four cautions when searching for symbolism in fiction:       

1. The story itself must furnish a clue that a detail is to be taken symbolically. Symbols nearly always signal their existence by emphasis, repetition, or position. In the absence of such signals, we should be reluctant to identify an item as a symbol.
       
2. The meaning of a literary symbol must be established and supported by the entire context of the story.
       
3. To be called a symbol, an item must suggest a meaning different from its literal meaning.
       
4. A symbol may have more than one meaning. It may suggest a cluster of meanings....This is not to say that it can mean anything we want it to: the area of possible meanings is always controlled by the text (pp. 197-8).

4. Archetypes

Archetypes

Carl Jung first applied the term archetype to literature. He recognized that there were universal patterns in all stories and mythologies regardless of culture or historical period and hypothesized that part of the human mind contained a collective unconscious shared by all members of the human species, a sort of universal, primal memory. Recognizing archetypal patterns in literature brings patterns we all unconsciously respond to in similar ways to a conscious level.  Source

Examples of archetypes include symbols (fire, light, circles), characters (the hero or the mother figure), settings (the garden, the island), and situations (the journey, a battle between good/evil), but there are many more.

Examples of Archetypes

5. Allegory

Allegory

Another reference to symbols in literature is an allegory.  An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Although an allegory uses symbols, it is different from symbolism. An allegory is a complete narrative that involves characters and events that stand for an abstract idea or event. A symbol, on the other hand, is an object that stands for another object, giving it a particular meaning. Unlike allegory, symbolism does not tell a story or encourage a moral lesson.

**You do not need to do the activity at the end of this video.

6. Satire

"Satire is a literary device for the artful ridicule of a folly or vice as a means of exposing or correcting it. The subject of satire is generally human frailty, as it manifests in people’s behavior or ideas as well as societal institutions or other creations. Satire utilizes tones of amusement, contempt, scorn, or indignation towards a flawed subject with the hope of creating awareness and subsequent change."

Source:  https://literarydevices.net/satire/

7. Irony

"As a literary device, irony is a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality. This can be a difference between the surface meaning of something that is said and the underlying meaning. It can also be a difference between what might be expected to happen and what actually occurs. The definition of irony can further be divided into three main types: verbal, dramatic, and situational."

Source:  https://literarydevices.com/irony/

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8. Theme

"As a literary device, theme refers to the central, deeper meaning of a written work. Writers typically will convey the theme of their work, and allow the reader to perceive and interpret it, rather than overtly or directly state the theme. As readers infer, reflect, and analyze a literary theme, they develop a greater understanding of the work itself and can apply this understanding beyond the literary work as a means of grasping a better sense of the world. Theme is often what creates a memorable and significant experience of a literary work for the reader."

Source:  https://literarydevices.net/theme/

Watch this video on theme that accurately summarizes the definition of theme, how to uncover it in text, and how to write about it. There is also a handout in Class Handouts at the top of the course.

9. Grammar Check Up

Grammar skills are important in many aspects of our life from education to our employment from our social life to our home life. Grammar lays the ground work for effective communication.  When you use your cell phone to call a friend and you have bad reception, you will most likely find that the intent of your conversation will be greatly affected.  Your friend may not understand what you are trying to speak to them about.  The same can be said for our understanding of proper grammar.  Improper grammar can greatly affect the meaning and clarity of our intended message. 

1.  Click on the links below to learn the following grammar lessons:

Keeping Tenses Consistent

Choosing the Correct Pronoun Form

2.  Complete these self-marking quizzes to ensure you understanding of the lessons:

Practice Test: Keeping Tenses Consistent

Practice Test:  Choosing the Correct Pronoun Form

These assignments DO NOT need to be submitted to your teacher.  Your understanding of these concepts should be displayed in every assignment you submit and your lack of understanding will result in lower grades throughout the course.  They will also be formally assessed on the final exam.  

Go to the main page of the course and write the Grammar Check Up:  Verb Selection practice quiz.

10. ASSIGNMENT 3.4

Go to "3.4 Symbolism" Assignment on the main page of the course to complete this section.