Symbolism, Allegory, & Motif Presentation

Inherited Symbolism

Inherited

Inherited symbolism is commonly used throughout the world. The object or character being used as a symbol is publicly known to the audience. One example of inherited symbolism can be the color red, representing emotions or details. The color red can represent love, danger, luck, blood, and anger, depending on the event.

Invented Symbolism

Invented

Invented symbolism are symbols that the creator specifically made up for specific circumstances or events occuring in their creation. The invented symbol correlates to what is happening in that event. For example, the story "The Hare and The Tortoise." This story contained characters, a hare which represented confidence and a tortoise which represented consistancy. The two different characters represented two different perspectives.

Straightforward Allegory

1st Level

The first level of understanding an allegory is in a brief, straightforward way. They'll have characters with names or ideas that are literal and can tell you directly what lesson or idea is being taught throughout the story.

Symbolical/Allegorical Understanding

2nd Level

The second level of understanding an allegory is understanding it symbolically or allegorically. The ideas won't be directly given, and the reader will need to dig deeper. The reader will think about how the actions, characters, or setting make up a moral or goodness idea related to the story.

How to motif

How to Motif

Step 1. Review the patterns that are reappearing throughout the story

Step 2. Write down patterns that relates to the story

Step 3. Pick an element that best fits the material (Reocurring characters can be included)

The Differences

Theme: The main idea of the whole story.

Differences between Themes and Motifs

Motif: Motifs are relative to the theme. The motif are the ideas that reoccur throughout the story, helping you figure out the main theme.

Symbolism

A common use of symoblism are colors. Authors and directors use different colors to portray different meanings and emotions. The most common ones are: black for death, red for love, and white for purity.

Symbolism

An example of symbolism is Snow White from the Disney story, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Her pale, white skin represnts her purity, her black hair represents the death (that will come later in the story) and her red lips represent the life of the adventure she experiences.

Allegory

Allegory

An example of an allegory comes from the story Animal Farm. On the simplest level, the story seems to just be about animals revolting against their farmer, but on a deeper level, the author uses the story to show his concerns about the Bolshevik Revolution and its impact on the Russian government

Motif

One example of a motif is the mockingjay pin that the main character, Katniss, carries with her in the book, "The Hunger Games." This pin is repetitonized as it appears multiple times throughtout the story.

Motifs

The pin represents rebellion of the 13 districts against the Capitol. It's also the symbol that represents district 12 during the 74th annual Hunger Games.