Symbols

Symbols • A symbol is often an ordinary object, event, person, or animal to which we have attached extraordinary meaning and significance.

Symbolism • Symbolism = an ordinary object, event, person, or animal to which we have attached extraordinary meaning and significance.

We use a rectangle of dyed cloth to symbolize a country.

We use a picture of a skull and crossbones to symbolize poison or danger. • We send red roses as a symbol of love.

Where Do Symbols Come From? • Symbols can be inherited or invented • The most familiar symbols have been inherited, meaning, they have been handed down over time

For example: no one really knows who first thought of using a lion as a symbol of power, courage and domination • Once these qualities were associated with the animal, images of lions appeared on flags, banners, coats of arms and castle walls • The lion became a public symbol that shows up in art and literature, even today! • Can you think of some examples of how lions are used as a symbol of courage and power?

People through out history have endowed ordinary objects with meanings far beyond their simple meaning, A crown symbolizes royalty An olive branch symbolizes peace Five linked rings symbolize the Olympics

Why Create Symbols? You may ask why writers don’t just come right out and say what they mean. • Symbols allow writers to suggest layers and layers of meaning-possibilities that a simple, literal statement could never convey. • A symbol is like a pebble cast into a pond: It sends out ever widening ripples of meaning

You will always find that the symbol, if it s powerful and well chosen, will speak forcefully to your emotions and to your imagination. • You may also find that you will remember and think about the symbol long after you have forgotten other parts.

Identifying Symbols • 1-10 on a separate sheet of paper

1. The boy looked at the girl with passion in his eyes as he dropped down onto one knee. He reached for her hand as he said, “I want to spend everyday of the rest of forever with you.” The girl looked down at her hand to see a sparkling diamond ring glinting in the moonlight. What does the diamond ring symbolize?

2. Both parties stared at one another with tense apprehension. As if on cue, each of their leaders stepped forward to face one another. The leader from the Denali Clan slowly began to draw something from behind his back. Every member from the Zel Pack held their breath and placed their hands on the weapons ready to strike at the first sign of hostility. The Denali leader finally removed his hand fully from his back to reveal what he had in his hand, which was a perfect and docile dove. Both sides breathed a sigh of relief and quietly retreated. • What does the dove symbolize?

3. The sun was shining brightly as the young child skipped through the meadow of daisies. The child’s white sundress blended in almost perfectly with the flowers around her. She continued on skipping only coming to a stop when she heard a strange noise in close proximity. Heart pounding the girl pushed aside a bouquet of flowers and then let out a peal of laughter when she discovered that the thing that caused her momentary concern was a snow white lamb. • What objects were used to symbolize innocence?

4. The rain appeared to be coming down in sheets the evening of Molly’s cousin’s funeral. Molly sat on the edge of her bed watching the dark clouds roll through the sky, watching the light dim from the sky, and listening to the clock slowly tick away the seconds. She finally gathered enough strength to reach into her closet to pull out a black dress. Before walking out of her room, Molly bent down and blew out the candle that was resting on her nightstand leaving behind a puff of smoke. What objects were used to symbolize death/sadness?______________

5. “Dad can’t wait for me to leave” thought Jim as he crawled into bed late one evening with a sigh of defeat. Jim didn’t know what else he could do he had spent every day of the last three years of school working towards getting a full scholarship to the university of his choosing to make his father proud. Three months ago all his dreams came true when he received a letter saying he had made it. However, his father barely said a word to him after that and seemed to avoid him at all costs. When Jim woke up the next morning he vowed to not let his father’s lack of pride or love influence his day. On his way down to breakfast Jim heard his father say, “Son, can you come outside for a moment?” Jim slowly trudged outside to find a gleaming red truck sitting in the driveway. Jim’s father said, “It has taken me months but I built this truck for you from the ground up and I finally finished early this morning. I hope that you can use it to visit your mother and me on your breaks from your fancy new school.” Jim looked at his father with tears in his eyes and said, “Sure thing Dad.” What does the truck symbolize?

6. Amanda flung herself onto her bed as tears dripped down her face. She always thought that she and Ben would be together forever. That was until Ben dropped the bombshell of information on her earlier that day about having feelings for someone else. Amanda turned over onto her side and through her watery eyes she saw the roses that Ben had sent her for her birthday the week before. When she first received them they had been a brilliant red but now they were dulling in color and withered. As she watched a single petal untangled itself from the bouquet and fell to the floor. What did the flowers symbolize when Amanda first received them and what did they symbolize at the end?

7. Tibby ran away from her assailant, her heart pumping faster than any heart should be able to. She skidded to a halt when she came to a fork in the road barely hesitating before choosing the pathway to her right, not noticing the dead end sign hidden behind overgrown shrubbery. When she came to the end of the dark alley with nowhere else to run Tibby let out a scream of frustration. Within a minute the perpetrator caught up to her. She could see his blood red eyes burning into her and his sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. The last thing Tibby heard was the sound of a crow circling above. • What objects were used to symbolize danger/evil?__________

8. Lena struggled with the wrapping paper on the small box as her best friend Sam looked on. Sam’s impatience got the best of her and she grabbed the box out of Lena’s hands and opened the box for her. Nestled inside of the box on a bed of tissue paper was a intricately braided bracelet. Lena looked up and said, “Oh, Sam, it is so pretty! Thank you so much!” Sam blushed with happiness and said, “I made it myself and, look, I am wearing one just like it so when we are apart at college next year we can remember each other.” What does the bracelet symbolize?

9. Everyone in the class stood up at the same time and faced the flag before saying the “Pledge of Allegiance.” • What does the flag symbolize?

10. Dawn was just breaking and the sun was just stretching across the horizon the morning that I was born. Mom said that I was the most beautiful baby that she had ever seen, but I think that she might be just a little bit biased. The day that they brought me home my parents planted a tree in the front yard that was no bigger than a kitten. Thirteen years later that tree has grown bigger than thirteen kittens! What objects were used to symbolize life?

1. The boy looked at the girl with passion in his eyes as he dropped down onto one knee. He reached for her hand as he said, “I want to spend everyday of the rest of forever with you.” The girl looked down at her hand to see a sparkling diamond ring glinting in the moonlight. What does the diamond ring symbolize?

Diamond ring symbolizes love and commitment • Dove symbolizes peace • Innocence symbolized in flowers, meadows, white sundress, snow white lamb… • Death/sadness symbolized in rain, clouds, clock slow tick, black dress • Truck symbolizes his father’s pride and love • The flowers symbolize love and the start of the relationship in the beginning and the end/break up of the relationship in the end. • Her heart, fork in the road, blood red eyes and the crow may have symbolized the danger • Bracelet represents friendship • Flag represents patriotism and freedom • Dawn, horizon, baby, kitten, and tree may represent life