Symbols and Allegory

1. A symbol is often which of the following:

• a) An event to which an extraordinary meaning or significance has been attached

• b) An object to which an extraordinary meaning or significance has been attached

• c) A person or animal to which an extraordinary meaning or significance has been attached

• d) All of the above

Symbols allow writers to suggest layers of:

• a) Allegory and metaphor

• b) Meaning and possibility

• c) Assumptions and suggestions

• d) Inferences and predictions

Why is a symbol compared to a pebble cast in a pond?

• a) It sends out ever widening ripples of information that gives animals and objects human qualities

• b) It sends out ever widening ripples of comparisons of unlike things using like or as

• c) It sends out ever widening ripples of inferences using proper citation

• d) It sends out ever widening ripples that provide meaning beyond the symbols’ literal meaning.

An allegory is a story in which:

• Characters, setting and actions stand for something beyond their literal meaning

• a story in which characters, settings, and symbols have new definitions

• a story in which characters, settings, and symbols have magical powers

• a story in which characters, settings, and symbols know one another

In some types of allegories, the characters and settings represent abstract ideas of what type of qualities?

• Moral

• Visual

• Empirical

• Physical

An allegory can be read (interpreted) for the following reasons except?

• Symbolic

• Straightfoward

• Literal

• Personal

True or False: Allegories are often intended to teach a moral lesson or make a comment about goodness or depravity.

• True

• False

Which of the following allegories teach lessons about life?

• Narratives

• Fables

• Parables

• Bedtime Stories

Compare and Contrast Allegory vs. Symbolism: Which of the following is the correct contrast AND comparison?

• Contrast: Allegory can be a word, place, character, or object that means something beyond what is on a literal level. A symbol involves many interconnected allegorical figures in such a way that nearly every element of the narrative has meaning beyond the literal. Comparison: Both allegory and symbols show the meaning of a story.

• Comparison: Both allegory and symbols show the meaning of a story.

• Comparison: Both symbols and allegories can reveal ideas or meaning beyond the literal level. Contrast: a symbol can be a word, place, character, or object meaning something beyond its literal meaning. An allegory is a story in which everything is a symbol that relates to other symbols within the story to teach a moral lesson.

• Contrast: a symbol can be a word, place, character, or object meaning something beyond its literal meaning. An allegory is a story in which everything is a symbol that relates to other symbols within the story to teach a moral lesson.

On a scale of 1 to 4, how confident do you feel with your understanding of allegories and symbols? (1 being not confident, 2 being somewhat confident, 3 being mostly confident, 4 being confident)

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4