Symbolism and Allusion: Notes and Questions

Symbolism and Allusion:

Notes and Questions

Instructions

During this presentation, there will be words in GREEN. When you see the words in green, you should write them down in your notes. Words that are not in green are optional to write down. Write down whatever helps your brain make sense of the material.

Let's practice!

6th | ELA

Symbolism and Allusion

Multiple Choice

What should you do when the words on the slides are in green?

• Write it down!

• Sing it out loud!

• Compose a poem!

• Join the circus!

• Eat them!

​Ok, so...

Symbolism

First, lets talk symbols. Do you recognize any?​

Match

Let's see how many you know.

Match the following symbol to its meaning:

Peace

Male/Female

Medicine

Recycling

Biohazard

• Peace

• Male/Female

• Medicine

• Recycling

• Biohazard

What is a Symbol?

A symbol is a drawing, shape, or object that represents an idea, object, or amount of something.

.

Common symbols

• letters- symbols of words and sounds

• objects

• color or pattern

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​Symbols can be used to represent something or explain LARGE, CONFUSING, ABSTRACT ideas--like love or death!

​Universal Symbols

​Universal symbols are symbols with a meaning that many people around the world would understand.

​Authors use universal symbols to send deeper meanings about a topic or subject to their readers.

Multiple Choice

What is a symbol?

• a picture that means exactly what it is

• descriptive language using the 5 senses

• a comparison without using like or as

• something that represents something an idea

Multiple Choice

Why would an author use symbolism in a story?

• to send a deeper meaning about a topic or a subject.

• to make the setting more interesting.

• to add extra detail to their descriptions

• to help the reader visualize what's happening.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would best represent a broken relationship?

• a strong tiger

• an owl

• shattered glass

• stars

​Symbol's Meanings

A symbol's meaning may change depending on a few things:

• the context/situation

• the culture/country

• personal experience

​Some symbols have multiple meanings or some topics can have multiple symbols. Here are some examples:

​Animal Example:

Ravens

​Color Example:

Red

​Object Example:

Skull

One object, but many meanings.

Can you guess them all?

Multiple Choice

A lion would most likely symbolize...

• courage

• jealousy

• weakness

• love

Multiple Select

The color blue could symbolize which two ideas?

• peace/calm

• the desert

• anger

• depression

Multiple Choice

What object's symbolic meaning is the cycle of life?

• fire

• the sun

• tree

• a cross

Multiple Choice

What object symbolizes a brand new day?

• fire

• sun

• tree

• cross

Multiple Choice

What object symbolizes an idea?

• diamond

• lightbulb

• hour

• skull

• owl

Multiple Choice

What symbolizes wisdom and learning?

• a diamond

• sku

• an hourglass

• light bulb

• owl

Multiple Choice

What kinds of things are symbolic?

• colors

• places

• objects

• all of these!

• animals

​Study this picture...

Multiple Choice

What might a "storm" symbolize?

• a party

• a difficult time

• thunder and lightning

• kindness

Open Ended

How many symbols could be in this picture? Choose 1-5 and explain each.

Allusion

Allusion

An allusion is a mention of something or someone well known, often from mythology, history, or literature. It is up to the audience to "get it."

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Also, just in case you feel confused:

.

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​Now, Let's talk about where authors pull allusions from:

References books, poems, fairy tales, nursery rhymes

Literary

​"He's been a real Grinch lately..."

​"If I am not home soon, I am going to turn into a pumpkin!"

References important moments in history​.

​

Example: Their relationship might as well have been The Titanic: doomed.

Historical

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References well-known religious stories from the Bible, Torah, Koran, Buddhism, or other sacred and spiritual texts, often that teach a lesson.

Religious

​

Example: "He was the Goliath to my David."

​"Walking into the city zoo was like entering the Garden of Eden."

References mythology, or stories dealing with gods, demigods, and legendary heroes of a culture

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Example: "He stared at the car wreck like he had looked upon Medusa."

Classical

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References pop culture, including celebrities, movies, music, etc...​

.

MEMES are a modern day allusion!​

Modern

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​Now, let's test a bit of your knowledge...

Multiple Choice

In one of Aesop's fables, a shepherd boy lies all the time, falsely claiming that a wolf is coming to eat his flock. When a wolf actually comes, the boy cries for help, but nobody believes him.

What is the meaning of the allusion below?

Martha warned her youngest son not to cry wolf while playing with his older brother.

• To howl very loudly and angrily.

• To raise an unnecessary alarm.

Multiple Choice

In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the rich Ebenezer Scrooge values money more than people.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

Mr. Melton is a Scrooge, so we stopped asking him to give money to our club.

• A person who is greedy.

• A person who is shy.

Multiple Choice

In his novel Moby-Dick, Herman Melville writes about Captain Ahab. Ahab searches for and talks about one thing only: a white whale.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

The detective spent years chasing his white whale: a bank robber who was never caught.

• An object or person that one always thinks about.

• A clever thief who manages to escape.

Multiple Choice

In a J. M. Barrie book, the character Peter Pan runs away to Neverland. There, he stays young and free of worries forever.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

My eighteen-year-old brother, who refuses to get a job, is a modern-day Peter Pan.

• A person who likes spending time with family.

• A person who will not act like an adult.

Multiple Choice

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy finds herself in an unusual place that looks nothing like home. She says to her dog, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

What is the meaning of this allusion?

As a man fed his zebra nearby, Kendall said to Emma, "We're not in Kansas anymore."

• We're in an unusual place.

• We're outside the United States.

Multiple Choice

In classical mythology, Hercules is the son of a god and has amazing strength.

What is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below?

It took a Herculean effort, but Malik moved the giant branch out of the road.

• very strong

• very brave

Drag and Drop

Last Slide! This image is BOTH a symbol and an allusion



Can you guess to what?

It's a symbol for: ​

Placeholder

It's an allusion to: ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

a coffee shop

a siren from Greek mythology

a mermaid from The Little Mermaid

happiness

The queen of England

a cell phone company

a country

a day of the week

a banshee from Irish folklore

a daycare company