Name______Date______Period ______
Interpreting the symbolic meaning of Edward Hick’s painting, Peaceable Kingdom
Explain the symbolic message of the painting by Edward Hicks, Peaceable Kingdom, created in 1890.
A. What are the main colors the artist used? What do you think each color means in this picture?
(use your notes to help you.)
Color Symbolism
1) ______
2) ______
3) ______
4) ______
5) ______
6) ______
7) ______
8) ______
B. List the animals you see and the symbolic meaning of each (use your notes.)
Animal Symbolism
1) ______
2) ______
3) ______
4) ______
5) ______
6) ______
7) ______
8) ______
9) ______
10) ______
C. There are three babies with the animals. What are they doing?______
D. In the bottom right corner a bear and a bull are eating corn. What do you think this means?
______
E. The left side of the painting has an entirely different scene. Please describe it.
Who is on the left of the painting?______
What are they doing?______
Where are they?______
F. Using your ideas from above, write a paragraph explaining the message (theme) of this painting.
______
Standards:
· State both the literal and/or inferred main ideas in literary/narrative text and provide supporting text-based details.
· State the theme/message and supporting details
· Identify literary devices and explain how they make the story more interesting or convey a message
· Identify and explain author’s purpose
· Infer and explain the author’s beliefs and assumptions, citing text-based evidence for choice
· Identify implied themes in text and support with evidence from the text
4 / 3 / 2 / 1All significant colors and animals identified from the painting, thoughtful and accurate choice of symbolic meaning for each color and animal highlights the meaning of the painting / Many significant colors and animals identified from the painting, reasonable choice of symbolic meaning for each color and animal highlights the meaning of the painting / Some significant colors and animals identified from the painting, choice of symbolic meaning for each color and animal may relate to the meaning of the painting / Few significant colors and animals identified from the painting, choice of symbolic meaning for each color and animal inaccurate
Descriptions of the different scenes of the painting enhance understanding the theme of the painting / Descriptions of the different scenes of the painting relate to the theme of the painting / Partial descriptions of the different scenes of the painting, implied relationship to the theme of the painting / Incomplete or inaccurate descriptions of the different scenes of the painting, may not relate to theme of the painting
Paragraph explanation of the painting’s message (theme) relates to the title of the painting, consistent use of evidence from the painting cited to explain the theme / Explanation of the painting’s message (theme) relates to the title of the painting, some use of evidence from the painting cited to explain the theme / Partial explanation of the painting’s message (theme) may relate to the title of the painting, little use of evidence from the painting cited to explain the theme / Incomplete or inaccurate explanation of the paint’s message (theme), explanation does not relate to the title of the painting, and/or little evidence from the painting cited
Score____/4
Comments______
1) Brainstorm what colors, animals and objects symbolize love, hate, jealousy, guilt, innocence, the fall season, and the spring season. Make a 4x8 table like the one below. This is not a grade; I just want to see how symbolically you currently think.
For each concept try to list three symbols
Concept / Color / Animal / ObjectLove
Hate
Jealousy
Guilt
Innocence
Fall (season)
Spring (season)
2) Symbols have been used for thousands of years to represent feelings, ideas, events and other concepts. Take notes in class on common symbolic meanings for several animals, colors, and objects.
3) Use the notes from yesterday to analyze the large print displayed in the classroom of Edward Hicks’s 1890 painting, Peaceable Kingdom. Edward Hicks was a Quaker who lived in Pennsylvania and created many paintings full of symbolism. Discuss with your shoulder partner how you think Hicks creates a peaceable kingdom through his use and placement of colors, animals and people.
4) Complete the symbolism quiz on your own. Use your notes to help you interpret the paintings message or theme. You can us the copy of the painting below or you can move to see the large print of the painting in the front of the classroom.
Bull The bull is usually related, in its solar sense, to the masculine, strength, the SUN, and KINGLY power. Horns are seen as the sun-bow, shooting its ray-arrows. Is a God to a great many ancient cultures.
But the bull can also be a lunar symbol, when ridden by a MOON goddess. In this context the bull usually has the meaning of the taming of masculine and animal nature. Its horns, in this case, are seen as a moon-shape. It is connected with humidity and rain. In Egypt, it is a passive power as opposed to the active LION. Together with the solar connotation, represents earth and the underworld, fertility and reincarnation, often connected with the wandering souls of the dead.
In general, shows fecundity, protector qualities, sacrifice, chastity and patience. Many of its body parts, especially the tail, foot and hide, are also symbolic of special powers, fertility and land respectively. In the zodiac, the sign of Taurus represents the sun and the spring.
Bull Symbol The bull symbolizes fighting ability and male fertility while the symbol of the bull stands for valor and magnanimity ever since the prehistoric times.
The bull symbol represents heaven in Babylonia and Syria with the god of storm riding on its back. In Egypt it is a symbol of royalty and is sacrificed in religious rituals for millennia, associated with the sun, fire, resurrection, earth, water, night and even death. Since its blood is used in sacrifices, it is associated with the death of winter and the return of spring; they are emblems of death, tyranny, ferocity, brutality, stubbornness, lust, and the Devil. The jumping of man over bulls shows the mans superiority over animals as is seen in Ancient Crete but on the contrary leading a bull to the arena sometimes symbolizes when Christ was led to the cross.
Since the bull has different colors, black bulls were associated with death as in Egypt where god Osiris' body was borne on the back of a black bull while In Indonesia and India bodies of princes were cremated in coffins baring shapes of bulls. The wild nature of the bulls, its roar, the windy breath and the sound of his hooves were associated to tempests, thunder, wind and ocean respectively. This made them be seen as sea gods like Poseidon, Adad, Thor, and Ishkur who were depicted as riding bulls.
Bull symbolizes strength and fertility in Hinduism. The cow here represents a fruitful earth while the bull is the fertile sky. The Rig-Veda associated the bull to a heavenly creature that fertilized the earth with his sperm. This bull was known as bull Rudra. They called their god Agni mighty bull while the bull-god Vrishabha was known to be responsible for the spinning of the cosmic wheel. The Nandi bull symbolizes sexual energy when ridden by Shiva but this energy is transformed at times to spiritual energy. In India Shiva's white bull stands for cosmic order, strength and justice. In some cultures the violent earthquakes are caused since celestial bull is believed to carry the world upon its horns and at times gets rowdy.
Cow: symbol of motherhood The Cow is predominantly a symbol of motherhood.
The Cow is a symbol of the moon as many moon goddesses wears the horns of a Cow. The Great Mother Cow is in many cultures. There is Hathor the divine Cow of Egypt. Europa, the white moon Cow that mated with Zeus.
The Cow can be a wonderful teacher to all women who desire to grow and learn to be a truly nurturing woman. Having the Cow by your side is a very positive experience
Lion The lion is a very diverse symbol. Its most common traits are: majesty, strength, courage, justice, and military might. It can be both solar and lunar. Commonly referred to as "the KING of the beasts," it is a symbol of Kingly power and might, but as the lioness it is commonly related to the Great Mother and protection. In a Christian context, the lion can be the power and might of Christ, or the open maw of Satan. Greek myth links this beast to Heracles and his epic wrestling match with a supernatural lion, which no earthly weapon could harm. In this context the lion is death, beaten by the solar hero. After killing the lion with his bare HANDS, Heracles wore its skin as a sort of ARMOR.
As the opposite of the EAGLE, the lion can represent earth, as the presider over many floods he can represent fertility, and as a hellish beast he can represent the underworld. Relates to almost any proud, courageous characteristic. In psychology, the wild lion is the type of the latent passions, the dangers of the Unconscious. The parts of the lion carry different symbolism as well: carcase - connected with honey; head - care and vigilance; tooth - eternal and indestructible, Yeats; winged - fire.
Lion Symbol The lion is a symbol for deathless courage, strength, fearlessness, bravery and royalty. Its body has been used in mythological creatures and in most cases when composing the body of the sphinx in Egyptian community.
Seen as the lord of the land, the lion is compared to the Eagle which is supreme in the air. Lion is one of the favorite symbols of leadership, warriors and emperors. It is not only seen as a leader on earth but also in the spiritual realms. The lion has speed, is alert and has power, this represents all that is majestic. Just like the eagle, Kings and emperors have long included it on their coat of arms to symbolize supreme strength.
Lion as a symbol of power, courage and strength was seen by Egyptians to represent wealth. They used the lion on tribe banners at the time when Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt. In today’s world since the roar of the animal is strong, it is often associated with fearlessness. The lion has captured imagination of human beings for many centuries as a sign of majesty. When the animal is carved on statues they are commonly found guarding palaces, bridges, temples and tombs. Its strength and courage have made it to be associated with power as well as grandeur. This animal knows how to get what he wants since they have the ability to knock off balance the life of the enemy or prey. Because of its noble character, strength and courage, the lion’s totem represents great power humans may have like self-control and balance of life which leads to own personal power. The lion has many valuable lessons to teach us and these lessons remain the symbols that they are associated with: self control, personal strength and courage and balance.
Water Water popularly represents life. It can be associated with birth, fertility, and refreshment. In a Christian context, water has many correlations. Christ walked on water, and transmuted it into WINE, thus these acts can be seen as a transcendence of the earthly condition. Christians are baptized with or in water, symbolizing a purification of the soul, and an admission into the faith. However, water can also be destructive (as in the biblical flood which only Noah and his family escaped); water drowns and erodes, wearing away even the densest of stones given enough time. Water is also one of the FOUR ELEMENTS essential to life in traditional western philosophy; In this form it is represented by undulating lines, or a triangle pointing down. Colors commonly associated with it are BLUE and GREEN. Its qualities are fluidity and cohesiveness. Flowing water usually represents change and the passage of time.
Wolf Symbol The wolf is a symbol for cruelty, cunning and greed in some cultures but others admires it because it represents courage and victory.
Wolf is a symbol for companion and guardian. In a positive light they are a symbol of loyal, faithful, honesty and willing to fight injustice.
It is seen as a powerful symbol of loyalty, intelligence and vigilance. As a descendant from the Asiatic Wolf man’s relationships with wolfs goes back over 40,000 years and then it was the 11th sign of the Zodiac where it represented symbols both positive and negative. In some ancient civilizations the Wolf was a symbol of the underworld. In Egypt, the guardian of the dead was Anubis who was a wolf-headed god. The jackal portrayed as black was the symbol of both death and regeneration.
The Wolf’s quality made it associated to a guardian and therefore the protector of souls that entered the underworld. Its ability see well in the dark makes it a symbol of instinctive knowledge and the Greeks, North American Indians and Romans were said to associate Anubis with a star (Sirius) and called it a wolf star. Additionally, in ancient Mexico, the wolf was buried with human sacrifice so that it could guide it to the hereafter while in ancient Scottish legend the green wolf of the faerie world was believed to drive nursing mothers into the hills so as to provide milk for the fairy creatures. In the recent world, a wolf is a beloved human companion and friend because of its fidelity, loyalty, and affection. Despite this some cultures it is considered unclean.