A Practice in Symbolism Name/Date/Class Period: ________________________
Keeping in mind that a general understanding of symbolism helps to make the experience of reading richer and more satisfying, complete the exercise below to prepare for group work on
Monday.

Your assigned symbol: the scarlet ibis
1) Determine the role of your symbol:

What is a scarlet ibis?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of ideas/concepts are usually associated with this animal/ symbol in general?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Where do we see this symbol appear in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Textual Evidence:

Why do you think Hurst incorporated the symbol at this/these point(s) in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2.
Address if there are any parallels in the story to that of your symbol.
Parallelism : occurs when a writer or speaker creates a relationship or connection between an object/symbols and a character.
Example: Lennie and Candy’s dog are parallel characters because they both serve the role of a troublesome companion.
.


Does this symbol relate closely to a character or character’s actions? If not, does it represent an object or action in the story? Please explain the parallel or connection of your symbol.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3). Conventional Symbols vs Archetypal Symbols.
Conventional Symbols: A conventional symbols is a symbol that an author has chosen to represent an idea or concept within their story. This symbol could be ANYTHING . The author has the right to choose what object/animal/weather occurrence etc. they would like to make significant.
Example: Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol in his story. However, just because Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol, does not mean that scarlet ibis’s are symbols in every/any story.
Example: In OMM, Steinbeck chooses to use the rabbits to symbolize Lennie’s naivety and American Dream.
Now if there was a rabbit in The Scarlet Ibis , just because Steinbeck used it to represent an American Dream, does not mean that Hurst would use it to symbolize an American Dream in his story. (It wouldn’t make sense).
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of a conventional symbol is, based on the examples above.
2). Define : Conventional symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Archetypal Symbols : Archetypal symbols are symbols that have been symbols in literature since the beginning of time. In every culture, in every type of literature, an archetypal symbol has a specific meaning.
Example: In almost any story that you read, regardless of culture or time period, the sun will always symbolize life or light.
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of an archetypal symbol is based on the examples and definitions above.
2). Define: Archetypal symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Conventional Symbols (Authors Choice)




Heart –symbols love
Cross- religion/ faith
Dog-companion (OMM)
Bunny-innocence (OMM)
Archetypal Symbols (Has been a symbol since the beginning of time)
Light vs. Dark Colors: Black, Red, White
Heaven vs Hell
Fire and Ice
Good vs. Evil
A river
A bird
(Note! This is a tricky concept. If you are lost or are not confident in your understandings of the definitions DO NOT PANIC! Take your best guess!)

Based on the definitions and chart up above would you categorize your symbol as a conventional symbol or an archetypal symbol? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

4). Determine the symbol’s meaning
 Now it’s time to determine what the object in question symbolizes. Based on the support above, what does your object symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

A Practice in Symbolism name: ________________________
Keeping in mind that a general understanding of symbolism helps to make the experience of reading richer and more satisfying, complete the exercise below to prepare for group work on Monday.

Your assigned symbol: the coffin
2) Determine the role of your symbol:

What is a coffin?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of ideas/concepts are usually associated with this object in general?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Where do we see this symbol appear in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Textual Evidence:

Why do you think Hurst incorporated the symbol at this/these point(s) in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
3.
Address if there are any parallels in the story to that of your symbol.
Parallelism : occurs when a writer or speaker creates a relationship or connection between an object/symbols and a character.
Example: Lennie and Candy’s dog are parallel characters because they both serve the role of a troublesome companion.
.


Does this symbol relate closely to a character or character’s actions? If not, does it represent an object or action in the story? Please explain the parallel or connection of your symbol.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3). Conventional Symbols vs Archetypal Symbols.
Conventional Symbols: A conventional symbols is a symbol that an author has chosen to represent an idea or concept within their story. This symbol could be ANYTHING . The author has the right to choose what object/animal/weather occurrence etc. they would like to make significant.
Example: Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol in his story. However, just because Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol, does not mean that scarlet ibis’s are symbols in every/any story.
Example: In OMM, Steinbeck chooses to use the rabbits to symbolize Lennie’s naivety and American Dream.
Now if there was a rabbit in The Scarlet Ibis , just because Steinbeck used it to represent an American Dream, does not mean that Hurst would use it to symbolize an American Dream in his story. (It wouldn’t make sense).
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of a conventional symbol is, based on the examples above.
2). Define : Conventional symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Archetypal Symbols : Archetypal symbols are symbols that have been symbols in literature since the beginning of time. In every culture, in every type of literature, an archetypal symbol has a specific meaning.
Example: In almost any story that you read, regardless of culture or time period, the sun will always symbolize life or light.
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of an archetypal symbol is based on the examples and definitions above.
2). Define: Archetypal symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Conventional Symbols (Authors Choice)




Heart –symbols love
Cross- religion/ faith
Dog-companion (OMM)
Bunny-innocence (OMM)
Archetypal Symbols (Has been a symbol since the beginning of time)
Light vs. Dark Colors: Black, Red, White
Heaven vs Hell
Fire and Ice
Good vs. Evil
A river
A bird
(Note! This is a tricky concept. If you are lost or are not confident in your understandings of the definitions DO NOT PANIC! Take your best guess!)

Based on the definitions and chart up above would you categorize your symbol as a conventional symbol or an archetypal symbol? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

4). Determine the symbol’s meaning
 Now it’s time to determine what the object in question symbolizes. Based on the support above, what does your object symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

A Practice in Symbolism name: ________________________
Keeping in mind that a general understanding of symbolism helps to make the experience of reading richer and more satisfying, complete the exercise below to prepare for group work on Monday.

Your assigned symbol: the grindstone
1) Determine the role of your symbol:

What is a grindstone?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of ideas/concepts are usually associated with this object in general? (consider the shape, what it is used for)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Where do we see this symbol appear in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Textual Evidence:

Why do you think Hurst incorporated the symbol at this/these point(s) in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4.
Address if there are any parallels in the story to that of your symbol.

Parallelism : occurs when a writer or speaker creates a relationship or connection between an object/symbols and a character.
Example: Lennie and Candy’s dog are parallel characters because they both serve the role of a troublesome companion.

Does this symbol relate closely to a character or character’s actions? If not, does it represent an object or action in the story? Please explain the parallel or connection of your symbol.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3). Conventional Symbols vs Archetypal Symbols.
Conventional Symbols: A conventional symbols is a symbol that an author has chosen to represent an idea or concept within their story. This symbol could be ANYTHING . The author has the right to choose what object/animal/weather occurrence etc. they would like to make significant.
Example: Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol in his story. However, just because Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol, does not mean that scarlet ibis’s are symbols in every/any story.
Example: In OMM, Steinbeck chooses to use the rabbits to symbolize Lennie’s naivety and American Dream.
Now if there was a rabbit in The Scarlet Ibis , just because Steinbeck used it to represent an American Dream, does not mean that Hurst would use it to symbolize an American Dream in his story. (It wouldn’t make sense).
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of a conventional symbol is, based on the examples above.
2). Define : Conventional symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Archetypal Symbols : Archetypal symbols are symbols that have been symbols in literature since the beginning of time. In every culture, in every type of literature, an archetypal symbol has a specific meaning.
Example: In almost any story that you read, regardless of culture or time period, the sun will always symbolize life or light.
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of a archetypal symbol is based on the examples and definitions above.
2). Define: Archetypal in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Conventional Symbols (Authors Choice)

Heart –symbols love

Cross- religion/ faith

Dog-companion (OMM)

Bunny-innocence (OMM)
Archetypal Symbols (Has been a symbol since the beginning of time)
Light vs. Dark Colors: Black, Red, White
Heaven vs Hell
Fire and Ice
Good vs. Evil
A river
A bird
(Note! This is a tricky concept. If you are lost or are not confident in your understandings of the definitions DO NOT PANIC! Take your best guess!)

Based on the definitions and chart up above would you categorize your symbol as a conventional symbol or an archetypal symbol? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4). Determine the symbol’s meaning
 Now it’s time to determine what the object in question symbolizes. Based on the support above, what does your object symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

A Practice in Symbolism name: ________________________
Keeping in mind that a general understanding of symbolism helps to make the experience of reading richer and more satisfying, complete the exercise below to prepare for group work on Monday.

Your assigned symbol: the hurricane
1). Determine the role of your symbol:

What is a hurricane?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of ideas/concepts are usually associated with this kind of weather in general?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Where do we see this symbol appear in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Textual Evidence:

Why do you think Hurst incorporated the symbol at this/these point(s) in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

5.
Address if there are any parallels in the story to that of your symbol.
Parallelism : occurs when a writer or speaker creates a relationship or connection between an object/symbols and a character.
Example: Lennie and Candy’s dog are parallel characters because they both serve the role of a troublesome companion.

Does this symbol relate closely to a character or character’s actions? If not, does it represent an object or action in the story? Please explain the parallel or connection of your symbol.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3). Conventional Symbols vs Archetypal Symbols.
Conventional Symbols: A conventional symbols is a symbol that an author has chosen to represent an idea or concept within their story. This symbol could be ANYTHING . The author has the right to choose what object/animal/weather occurrence etc. they would like to make significant.
Example: Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol in his story. However, just because Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol, does not mean that scarlet ibis’s are symbols in every/any story.
Example: In OMM, Steinbeck chooses to use the rabbits to symbolize Lennie’s naivety and American Dream.
Now if there was a rabbit in The Scarlet Ibis , just because Steinbeck used it to represent an American Dream, does not mean that Hurst would use it to symbolize an American Dream in his story. (It wouldn’t make sense).
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of a conventional symbol is, based on the examples above.
2). Define : Conventional symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Archetypal Symbols : Archetypal symbols are symbols that have been symbols in literature since the beginning of time. In every culture, in every type of literature, an archetypal symbol has a specific meaning.
Example: In almost any story that you read, regardless of culture or time period, the sun will always symbolize life or light.
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of an archetypal symbol is based on the examples and definitions above.
2). Define: Archetypal symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Conventional Symbols (Authors Choice)

Heart –symbols love

Cross- religion/ faith

Dog-companion (OMM)

Bunny-innocence (OMM)
Archetypal Symbols (Has been a symbol since the beginning of time)
Light vs. Dark Colors: Black, Red, White
Heaven vs Hell
Fire and Ice
Good vs. Evil
A river
A bird
(Note! This is a tricky concept. If you are lost or are not confident in your understandings of the definitions DO NOT PANIC! Take your best guess!)

Based on the definitions and chart up above would you categorize your symbol as a conventional symbol or an archetypal symbol? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4). Determine the symbol’s meaning
 Now it’s time to determine what the object in question symbolizes. Based on the support above, what does your object symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

A Practice in Symbolism name: ________________________
Keeping in mind that a general understanding of symbolism helps to make the experience of reading richer and more satisfying, complete the exercise below to prepare for group work on Monday.

Your assigned symbol: the broken vase of red
flowers
1). Determine the role of your symbol:
What might be the symbolic difference between a whole vase with flowers and a broken vase with scattered flowers?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

What kind of ideas/concepts are usually associated with a flower or vase in general?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Where do we see this symbol appear in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Textual Evidence:

Why do you think Hurst incorporated the symbol at this/these point(s) in the story?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

2). Address if there are any parallels in the story to that of your symbol.
Parallelism : occurs when a writer or speaker creates a relationship or connection between an object/symbols and a character.
Example: Lennie and Candy’s dog are parallel characters.

Does this symbol relate closely to a character or character’s actions? If not, does it represent an object or action in the story? Please explain the parallel or connection of your symbol.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
3). Conventional Symbols vs Archetypal Symbols.
Conventional Symbols: A conventional symbols is a symbol that an author has chosen to represent an idea or concept within their story. This symbol could be ANYTHING . The author has the right to choose what object/animal/weather occurrence etc. they would like to make significant.
Example: Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol in his story. However, just because Hurst chooses to make the scarlet ibis a symbol, does not mean that scarlet ibis’s are symbols in every/any story.
Example: In OMM, Steinbeck chooses to use the rabbits to symbolize Lennie’s naivety and American Dream.
Now if there was a rabbit in The Scarlet Ibis , just because Steinbeck used it to represent an American Dream, does not mean that Hurst would use it to symbolize an American Dream in his story. (It wouldn’t make sense).
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of a conventional symbol is, based on the examples above.
2). Define : Conventional symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.

__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Archetypal Symbols : Archetypal symbols are symbols that have been symbols in literature since the beginning of time. In every culture, in every type of literature, an archetypal symbol has a specific meaning.
Example: In almost any story that you read, regardless of culture or time period, the sun will always symbolize life or light.
1). Check In : Check in with your group members. Discuss what their interpretation of an archetypal symbol is based on the examples and definitions above.
2). Define: Archetypal symbol in your own words, based on your understanding.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Conventional Symbols (Authors Choice)

Heart –symbols love

Cross- religion/ faith

Dog-companion (OMM)

Bunny-innocence (OMM)
Archetypal Symbols (Has been a symbol since the beginning of time)
Light vs. Dark Colors: Black, Red, White
Heaven vs Hell
Fire and Ice
Good vs. Evil
A river
A bird
(Note! This is a tricky concept. If you are lost or are not confident in your understandings of the definitions DO NOT PANIC! Take your best guess!)

Based on the definitions and chart up above would you categorize your symbol as a conventional symbol or an archetypal symbol? Why?

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
4). Determine the symbol’s meaning
 Now it’s time to determine what the object in question symbolizes. Based on the support above, what does your object symbolize?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________