Symbolism, Allegory, and Allusion

Literary Devices
Authors use different
literary devices in their
writing.
What are some examples
of literary devices?
Simile
Metaphor
Diction
Foreshadow

Symbolism
Symbolism is a device in
which a concrete object
represents an abstract
idea.
Concrete objects: objects
that are physically
tangible.
Objects that can be
sensed by at least one of
our five senses: sight, smell,
taste, touch, or hear.

Symbolism
Symbolism is a device in
which a concrete object
represents an abstract
idea.
Abstract idea: ideas that
exist in our minds, and can
be defined but not sensed
by our five senses.
Objects that can not be
sensed by at least one of
our five senses: sight, smell,
taste, touch, or hear.

Symbolism
Some symbols are widely known, such as the dove, which
symbolizes peace.
Other symbols reflect a cultures superstitions or beliefs,
such as the number 13, which symbolizes bad luck to an
American.
What other symbols do we see in our Mexican-American
culture?

Symbolism
Read the following paragraph, and pay attention to the symbol
of the bicycle.

Dwaynes bicycle is a symbol representing the innocence of his

childhood. Now that Dwayne has entered school, he must face the
realities of work and leave his carefree summer innocence behind.

Allegory
When authors use a
symbol in longer form to fill
the entirety of their
narrative, they are using
allegory.
An allegory is a story ,
poem, or play that serves
as an extended metaphor
to reveal a hidden
meaning.

Allegory
Many fables and parables are allegories, because they
take one metaphor or lesson and use an entire text to
teach it.
In many cases, an author trusts readers to make the
connection and solve the allegory themselves.
Many fables often use animals or other nonhuman
characters as allegories to reveal truths about humans.

Allegory
The Fox and the Grapes is one of Aesops best-known
fables.
In the fable, a fox longs to have a bunch of grapes he
sees hanging from a vine; however, they are too high,
and he cannot reach them.
After trying unsuccessfully to steal the grapes, he finally
decides that they must be too sour to eat anyway.
This fable is an allegory illustrating human vanitypeople
often rationalize that the things they cannot have are
simply not worth having.

Allusion
An allusion is a reference
to a familiar person, place,
thing, event, or literary
work in a text.
Authors sometimes use
allusions to add further
description,
understanding, or
meaning to their work.
Not all allusions are easily
deciphered by the reader.

Allusion
Hes a real Romeo with the ladies.
Chocolate was her Achilles heel.
When he lost his job, he acted like a Scrooge, and
refused to buy anything that wasnt necessary.

In this example, the author makes reference to the folktale about

Paul Bunyan, a woodsman with great strength and size who, as
legend sates, chopped down trees in record time and kept a huge
blue ox as a pet.
The allusion helps to further illustrate Joeys power and height.
It only works, however, if the reader is familiar with the Paul Bunyan
tale.

Allusion

Thinking It Through
Read the following paragraph, and pay attention to the symbol
of the bicycle.

Identify the symbol in the paragraph, and explain what it means.

The central image

in the paragraph
represents a more
abstract concept
from Susannas
past.