Symbolism Review

What is a symbol?

• anything (an object, person, situation, etc.) that represents an idea other than what you can literally see.

• Descriptive language using the 5 senses

• Clues about what will happen in the text

Concrete details + abstract traits =

• Symbolism

• Metaphor

• Imagery

Concrete Traits are what you

• think

• believe

• see

What are the concrete traits of a rose?

• Delicate, rare, given as a romantic gift

  
  

• Smells good, is pretty, has thorns

  
  

• Could represent a person who is beautiful, but not very nice

Abstract traits are what you

• see

• know

• believe

Symbolism is what the concrete traits and abstract traits

• Mean

• See

• Know

In the lottery the black box represents

• the villagers lives

• death/ a coffin

• safety

What are the concrete traits of the black box in "The Lottery"

• Black, shabby & holds lottery papers

  
  

• Old, part of the original box, lottery winner is stoned to death

• Could represent a coffin and death by a tradition passed down for generations

What is a universal symbol

• A symbol that depends on the author and the text

• A symbol that is understood by most people without context

• A symbol for the universe

What does a butterfly symbolize?

• Strength

• Life; Flow of time

• Transformation