Allegory in Literature

The Lesson Activities will help you meet these educational goals:

21st Century Skills—You will employ online tools for research and analysis,use critical-thinking skills,communicate effectively, and collaborate with others

Directions

Pleasesave this document before you begin working on the assignment. Type your answers directly in the document. ______

Teacher-GradedActivities

Write a response for each of the following activities. Check the Evaluation section at the end of this document to make sure you have met the expected criteria for the assignment. When you have finished, submit your work to your teacher.

  1. Definition of Allegory

Locate the definition of allegoryin thisglossary of literaryterms. After reading the definition, jot down a few words or a phrase that will help you remember the definition. Think of an example of an allegory that you have read and add it to the Examples column. Also read the definitions of fable, parable, and symbol—all of which are closely related to allegory—to refine the definition of allegory. Include here any additional definitions or information that you find helpful.

Type your response here:

Term / My Definition / Examples
allegory
fable
parable
symbol
  1. Symbolic Characters and Places

Refer to the list of allegorical works below or other allegorical works that you are familiar with. Choose two allegorical narratives and write down the names of characters and places you considerimportant as symbols.Jot some notes about what those characters and places signify. An example has been provided for you. If feasible, work with a classmate to discuss your answers. See whether you can explain your answers to one another. Use the empty boxes in the table to write examples of allegory that you have learn from one another.

Examples of allegories:

  • Animal Farm by George Orwell
  • Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
  • Hard Times by Charles Dickens
  • “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathanial Hawthorne

Type your response here:

Title and Author / Characters / Landscape and Setting
Hard Times by Charles Dickens / Gradgrind: name suggests he grinds or crushes others; grad refers to graduation, perhaps of the students he teaches / Stone Lodge: works with character’s name to suggest a grindstone, something one sharpens an object upon--like one’s mind—as well as the relentless and unpleasant job of doing so
  1. InterpretingAllegory

Look back at the table you completed for the previous activity and reconsider the symbols you listed there for your two selected works of literature. For each literary work you examined, write a paragraph explaining what you think the main lesson or type of allegory (e.g., social, moral, political, religious, romantic) is in that piece of literature. Be sure to use examples to explain your position.

Type your response here:

  1. Reasons for Using Allegory

Consider why a writer might rely on allegory to tell a story rather than communicateto readers more directly what he or she wants them to know. Think of a number of possible reasons why an author might choose to create an allegory and discuss them in a three- to four-paragraph essay. Support your answers with examples of allegorical works.

Type your response here:

Evaluation

Your teacher will use these rubrics to evaluate the completeness of yourwork as well as the clarity of thinking you exhibit.

Activity 1: Definition of Allegory

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points) /
  • Writes definitions that are accurate and thorough
  • Provides examples that are accurate and highly relevant
  • Includes additional definitions with examples that are relevant and accurate

Proficient
(3 points) /
  • Writes definitions that are accurate
  • Provides examples that are relevant
  • May include additional definitions with examples that are relevant

Developing
(2 points) /
  • Writes definitions that are somewhat accurate
  • Provides examples that demonstrate some aspects of the term
  • Does not include additional definitions or additional definitions are mostly inaccurate

Beginning
(1 point) /
  • Writes definition that are completely inaccurate
  • Provides examples that are irrelevant
  • Does not attempt to include additional definitions

Activity 2: Symbolic Characters and Places

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points) /
  • Chooses works that are widely acknowledged as allegorical narratives
  • Chooses the best examples from the works
  • Convincingly brings out the symbolism of characters and places
  • Includes one or two extra and appropriate examples of a classmate's work

Proficient
(3 points) /
  • Chooses works that are acknowledged as allegorical narratives
  • Chooses appropriate examples from the works
  • Correctly brings out the symbolism of characters and places
  • May include an appropriate example from a classmate's work

Developing
(2 points) /
  • Chooses works that have aspects of allegorical narratives
  • Refers to correct examples from the works occasionally
  • Attempts to bring out the symbolism of characters and places accurately
  • May use extra examples from aclassmate's work

Beginning
(1 point) /
  • Chooses works that are not allegorical narratives
  • Provides incorrect examples from the work
  • Incorrectly analyzes symbolism of characters and places
  • Extra examples are not used or are incorrect

Activity 3: Interpreting Allegory

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points) /
  • Uses works that are superior allegorical narratives
  • Chooses the best examples from the works
  • Convincingly brings out the symbolism of characters and places
  • Includes one or two extra and appropriate examples of symbols
  • Identifies the type of allegory convincingly
  • Provides answers of appropriate length

Proficient
(3 points) /
  • Uses works that are standard allegorical narratives
  • Chooses appropriate examples from the works
  • Brings out the symbolism of characters and places accurately
  • Includes one extra and appropriate example of a symbol
  • Identifies the type of allegory correctly
  • Provides answers of sufficient length

Developing
(2 points) /
  • Uses works that have aspects of an allegorical narrative
  • Chooses some examples from the works
  • Attempts to brings out the symbolism of characters and places
  • May include one extra example of a symbol
  • Attempts to identify the type of allegory correctly
  • Provides answers that are almost of appropriate length

Beginning
(1 point) /
  • Uses works that are not allegorical narratives
  • Does not choose examples from the work
  • Incorrectly brings out the symbolism of characters and places
  • Does notinclude extra examples of symbols
  • Identifies the type of allegory incorrectly
  • Provides answers of inappropriate length

Activity 4: Reasons for Using Allegory

Criteria
Distinguished
(4 points) /
  • Gives a thoughtful and insightful explanation for why a writer may use an allegory rather than communicate with a reader directly
  • Provides several examples from allegorical works
  • Provides detailed analysis

Proficient
(3 points) /
  • Gives some analysis as to why a writer may use an allegory rather than communicate with a reader directly
  • Provides one or two examples from allegorical works
  • Provides reasonably long analysis

Developing
(2 points) /
  • Proposes why a writer may use an allegory, but does not describe how this may be better than communicating with the reader directly
  • Provides one example from an allegorical work
  • Provides brief analysis

Beginning
(1 point) /
  • Gives an incorrect analysis of the purpose of allegories
  • Does not useallegories as examples
  • Provides analysis of inadequate length

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