Literary Terms

Literary Terms

Allegory

From Gk: allegoria, meaning “speaking otherwise.” An allegory is a story with a double-meaning – the primary or surface meaning, and another meaning at a second (or even third or fourth) level. The story (or fable or parable) can thus be read to really represent something else.

Symbolism

When an author uses an otherwise ordinary object in a story represents an abstract concept or idea. The object has more meaning than its actually literal form, representing a larger concept.

Imagery

The use of descriptive language to appeal to the senses. Imagery creates vivid and evocative ideas in our mind that are often used for another purpose (to help develop a theme or character).

Consider how the following may be allegorical or symbolic in The Hunger Games:

·  The Thirteen Districts

·  The Mockingjay Pin

·  The Tracker Jackers

·  Reality Television

·  Dandelions

·  Rue’s Flowers

·  The Double Suicide

Read an analysis of the significance of the above items from The Hunger Games at: http://www.shmoop.com/hunger-games/symbolism-imagery.html