IN ANNABEL LEE, HOW DOES EDGAR ALLAN POE USE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE (SYMBOLISM AND IMAGERY) TO DEVELOP THE THEME?
WHAT IS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE? v Figurative language is when an author uses words or phrases that go beyond the literal meaning of a word to give the reader new insights into the text. v Example: She is such a leech. (The literal meaning of this sentence would be that she is like a leech, the blood-sucking worm, which is also a parasite. A non-literal meaning of this would be that she uses people.
WHAT IS FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE? v There are several types of figurative language. Two examples are symbolism and imagery: v Symbolism is when an author uses symbols (objects) to represent ideas and qualities. Sometimes the symbol has a different meaning from its literal meaning. Actions, events or spoken words can also be symbolic.
SYMBOLISM v Some common symbols include: a dove representing peace or black representing death. v The cardinal is a symbol that represents Wooddale. v A BMW is a symbol of wealth. v An NBA/NFL career may represent a way out of poverty.
IMAGERY v Imagery is when the author uses words to appeal to a reader s senses. The children were hollering as they rode the rollercoaster. This sentence appeals to the reader s sense of hearing. The lemonade was warm and bitter. This appeals to the reader s sense of taste. v It s also when an author uses literary devices such as similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia to appeal to a reader s senses.
IMAGERY v Simile When an author makes a comparison using like or as. Ex: He is as ferocious as a lion. She eats like a bird. v Metaphor When an author makes a comparison by saying one thing is another. Ex: That test was a walk in the park. She is the sunshine in my life. v Personification When an author gives human like qualities to an inanimate object. The leaves danced in the wind. The light swallowed the darkness. v Onomatopoeia When a word imitates the natural sound of something. Ex: The buzzing bee flew back to the hive. He jumped into the pool with a splash. (meow, moo, tweet, etc.)
DEFINITION OF DEVELOP AND THEME v www.dictionary.com defines develop as to bring out the capabilities of possibilities of; to bring to a more advanced or effective state; to cause to grow or expand; to elaborate or expand in detail. v theme the theme refers to the central idea of the text or message the author wishes to convey to the reader. It can also be the author s view of the world or an epiphany (revelation, light bulb moment, or aha moment) about human nature. Ex: Hopelessness is a theme of The Looking Glass.
DETERMINING THE THEME v Summarize the plot or the events in the story. What happens in the story? v What did you learn from the characters? v Identify the types of characterization used in the story. Characterization is how the author reveals the personality of a character. Static when a character does not change over the course of the text Dynamic when a character changes over the course of the text
DIRECT/INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION v Direct characterization (telling) when the author directly tells the reader about the personality of the character. v Ed Johnson scratched his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dell s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. The old mechanic hated modern electronics, preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of manuals and a good set of tools. (fictionfactor.com)
DIRECT/INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION v Indirect characterization (showing) when the author shows things to reveal the personality of the character through what the character is saying, doing, feeling or thinking. v That Ed Johnson, said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dell s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. He hasn t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he d be happy as a hungry frog in a fly-field. (fictionfactor.com)
BREAK DOWN QUESTION v What is the theme of Annabel Lee? What evidence do you have to prove this? Explain. v What symbolism is used in Annabel Lee? What evidence do you have to prove this? How do these symbols help develop the theme? v What imagery is used in Annabel Lee? What evidence do you have to prove this? How does the imagery help develop the theme?