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Think about the movie Avatar
What is it about?
Watch the trailer
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Read the article entitled, “Movie's
blue-skinned aliens aim to open our
eyes to War on Terror”
What is the article saying about the
overall message in the movie?
What is the article saying about the
overall message in the movie?
Allegory
Definition: a complete and self
contained narrative that can can also
be applied to a parallel set of external
situations that may be political, moral,
religious, or philosophical.
In other words…it tells a real story and
a symbolic story simultaneously!
Allegories vs. Symbolism
Allegories differ from symbols!
RECALL: symbols are objects. They
stand for themselves and something
more obscure, while allegories are
symbolic narratives.
Avatar allegory
Real story:
Symbolic story:
•Movie about aliens
•Drawing parallels to
American War on Terror
(Iraq and
Afghanistan).
•A love story
•Fighting “terror with
terror.”
Allegorical example
Lord of the Flies:
Real Story:
Symbolic Story:
•Boys crash landing
on island
•Savagery vs.
the desire for power
The Crucible allegory
Real story:
Symbolic story:
The Crucible, Act 1
In pairs, take a close look at Act 1 and
identify at least 3 specific quotes that
show a clear parallel between the
Salem witch trials and McCarthyism.