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A Guide to Symbolism and Allegory in Maus SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY

Symbolism and Allegory

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Symbolism and Allegory. A Guide to Symbolism and Allegory in Maus. SYMBOLISM:. *symbol  ( sim-bol ): a symbol is a word or object that stands for another word or object. . Symbolism in literature is abstract…. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Symbolism and Allegory

A Guide to Symbolism and Allegory in Maus

SYMBOLISM AND ALLEGORY

Page 2: Symbolism and Allegory

SYMBOLISM:*SYMBOL (SIM-BOL): A SYMBOL IS A WORD OR OBJECT THAT STANDS FOR ANOTHER WORD OR OBJECT. 

Page 3: Symbolism and Allegory

Symbolism in literature is abstract…

THE OBJECT OR WORD CAN BE SEEN WITH THE EYE, OR IT CAN BE AN INVISIBLE IDEA.

FOR EXAMPLE, A DOVE STANDS FOR PEACE. THE DOVE CAN BE SEEN AND PEACE CANNOT.

Page 4: Symbolism and Allegory

In Maus…• Spiegelman uses a cartoon mouse to symbolize Jews at the time of the Holocaust.

• Together, let’s think of some famous mice.

Page 5: Symbolism and Allegory

What are some characteristics of a mouse?• Is a mouse…

• loud or quiet?

• strong or timid?

• warm or cold?

• hunter or gatherer?

• predator or prey?

• big or small?

• threatening or meek?

• annoying or welcomed?

Page 6: Symbolism and Allegory

In Maus…• Spiegelman uses cats to symbolize the Nazis. Let’s think of some famous cats!

Page 7: Symbolism and Allegory

What are some characteristics of a cat (think lions and tigers too!)• Are cats…• Mean or nice?

• Predator or prey?

• Timid or aggressive?

• Controlling or docile?

• Dangerous or friendly?

• Proud or Scared?

Page 8: Symbolism and Allegory

Cat vs. Mouse•Idiom: “to play a game of cat and mouse”•to repeatedly try to make someone react in a way that will cause them problems•to try to find someone who is hiding from you•Etymology (history of the expression): based on the way a cat plays with a mouse before killing it

Page 9: Symbolism and Allegory

What about other animals?• Spiegelman includes pigs in the story and uses them as a symbol for Poles, or Polish people. This is because Nazis often referred to the Poles as “pigs” during World War II.

• Americans are portrayed as dogs. Why?

• French are frogs

• Gypsies are moths

Page 10: Symbolism and Allegory

ALLEGORYALLEGORY (AL-EH-GOR-EE): A NARRATIVE THAT SERVES AS AN EXTENDED METAPHOR.

ALLEGORIES ARE WRITTEN IN THE FORM OF FABLES, PARABLES, POEMS, STORIES, AND ALMOST ANY OTHER STYLE OR GENRE.

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF AN ALLEGORY IS TO TELL A STORY THAT HAS CHARACTERS, A SETTING, AS WELL AS OTHER TYPES OF SYMBOLS, THAT HAVE BOTH LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE MEANINGS.

Page 11: Symbolism and Allegory

SYMBOL vs. ALLEGORYTHE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ALLEGORY AND A SYMBOL IS THAT AN ALLEGORY IS A COMPLETE NARRATIVE THAT CONVEYS ABSTRACT IDEAS TO GET A POINT ACROSS, WHILE A SYMBOL IS A REPRESENTATION OF AN IDEA OR CONCEPT THAT CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT MEANING THROUGHOUT A LITERARY WORK (A HANDBOOK TO LITERATURE).

Page 12: Symbolism and Allegory

• The Wizard of Oz• The Tin Man• The Cowardly Lion• The Scarecrow

• The Fox and the Hound• The Fox• The Hound

• Avatar• Americans/ Scientists• Na-’vi

Page 13: Symbolism and Allegory

Is Maus an allegory?