Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Homework Blog Question- Wednesday

Essential Questions:
Why are symbols important in literature and life?
What is their significance as well as their role in society and literature?

Assignment:
1. Give one example of a symbol from life, meaning the real world, and it's significance to a society or group of people.

2. Give one example of a symbol from literature, meaning a novel, and it’s significance to the overall theme, or meaning of that text.

3. Attempt to answer the essential questions.

4. Please post your response under comments and bring a hard-copy to class.

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Symbol means "something that stands for something else; something concrete that represents or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured". Symbol is a very strong word and we see a symbol in our everyday lives. The American flag is a symbol of the USA. The Flag symbolizes all of our states in the U.S. and we represent our flag as USA in the summer and winter Olympics. A symbol in a literature would be the conch in Lord of The Flies. Ralph uses the conch to call for meetings or any special gatherings. Also, the conch is a symbol of the leader in this case, Ralph. The word symbol can mean so much and in real world or in books, it represents something big.

Unknown said...

A symbol is something used for or regardred as representing something else; a material object represnting something. In our society we use symbols everyday. The peace sign is one of the most diverse symbols ever created. It of course represents peace but also human rights, hope, and global affairs. In the novel Lord of The Flies Piggy;s glasses symbolizes what the boys have left from civilization; home. Symbols are used every day in books, life, plays and much more.

Alex said...

A symbol is an object, an image, or a person that represents an idea or something abstract. Symbols are shown everywhere in our daily life.

One example of a symbol in the real world is the Massachusetts pineapple which symbolizes hospitality. It's important because it allows people to picture the meaning of the idea so they can relate to it. It's real and concrete.

In literature, a good example would be from the novel "To Kill A Mocking Bird", the title itself is
a symbol of vulnerability and fragility. This is why, in the book, it is a sin to kill a mocking bird.

Symbols play a significant role in society. They carry a meaning everyone can understand. It's a universal language.

FitretY said...

A symbol is an object, person, or place that is significant and stands for something larger. Symbols are important in life because they help us to see more out of life. They help us to understand important ideas and elements, such as freedom, liberty, and justice. Symbols are important in literature not only because they make the book more in depth, but also because symbols help us to see things in a different light. They help us to understand significant things in life. An example of a symbol from life is the bald eagle. The bald eagle represents America and the values it stands for, such as freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is important because it instills a sense of pride and unity among the American people. A symbol from a work of literature is the cell phone in the novel cell by Stephen King. In the novel, the cell phone represented the choice between loneliness and sanity of mind, or going into madness and not being alone. This was important to the book not only because the book plot was people going crazy after getting strange signals on their cell phone, but also because the cell phone that the main character, Clayton Riddell, had represented descent into anarchy, or strength of mind.

john said...

A symbol is something that represents something larger. For examole the shamrock is a symbol representing the irish. Many irish people use this a common ground for coming together as a nationality. One example from a text would be in Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet's parent disapproval of the others seeing each other symbolizes the families hate for each other. There inability to be together represents there families hate something much larger than the two of them

matt said...

a Symbol is something representing something else. Symbols are important in literature and life because it helps show what something means and helps us better understand something. A symbol from the real world is the yin and yang symbol showing peace and balance. An example from literature is the fire from lord of the flies. The fire is the light to civilization and without it civilization is lost forever for the boys on the island

j.rose said...

Symbols are used to represent a greater meaning usually by a material object. Symbols are important in literature and in life because they are a more subtle way to express something.

An example of a symbol in life is the Spy Ponder logo. This image is used to represent all of the high school's athletics. This symbol is very significant to anyone who plays for an athletic team because in essence, it is who you are.

An example of a symbol in literature would be fire in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Fire is life to the boys, and without it they will die. Everything the boys do revolves around fire, whether it be cooking or signaling to planes.

Symbols play a major role in society and literature. Symbols are everywhere around us.

Unknown said...

A symbol is an object associated with and serving to identify something else. We see symbols in our everyday lifes.

An example of a symbol that we see in the real world is the symbol for breast cancer, the symbol is a pink ribbon. This symbol represents hope and faith for people associated with breast cancer.

A symbol in a work of literature is in the novel, Lord of The Flies by William Golding, the conch is a symbol of communication. Without this the boys on the island would be wild savages.

Symbols are very important, they help to convey messages that people want to get across. They are used everyday in literature and everday life.

will said...

A symbol is used for representing one thing with another thing. A symbol for money would be an bank or the symbol for Britain would be its flag. A symbol in literature would be the coat of arms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which symbolizes the "unity" of the four houses. A symbol can be used to symbolize both large things and small things.

Unknown said...

A symbol is "something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, or convention" (ask.com)

Symbols are very important in our society because we use and see them everyday. It is kind of like a hidden language.

An example of a symbol is the all-seeing eye. It represents the watchful and protective power of the supreme being.

A symbol in a peice of literature is the sows head in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. The sow's head represents the savagegeryand violance that exists within everybody

William Gould said...

A symbol is an image or an object that represents something larger and more complex. Symbols are significant to life because they supply simpler versions of more complex subjects such as war, peace, and justice. The four leaf clover is a symbol of good luck and fortune. Around the world the clover is used as good luck charm and is one of the more popular symbols. In literature symbols are used to relay complex concepts and ideas to the reader. The conch from the book lord of the Flies is a symbol of rule, laws, civilization and order.

Nick said...

A symbol is "something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial" In my own worse a symbol is something that represents its self and something greater then itself. We see examples of symbols everyday, whether it be the McDonald M, the Red Sox sox or even the Arlington A. Although the most renowned symbol would have to be the bald eagle, it is a representation of our country and a symbol for freedom. A symbol from a piece of literature could be the mockingbird from To Kill a Mockingbird. Although mockingbirds were hardly even mentioned in the book it was what the mockingbird represented that made it so great. Symbols are very important in both life and literature. In life they normally used more for abbreviations meant for advertising. In literature though it is very different, the meanings are very in depth and insightful.

Anonymous said...

A Symbol is something that is used to represent something else, it is an object used to depict an idea or belief.
An example of a symbol in the real world is the bald eagle. It is a real object but in the USA represents patriotism, strength, grace and the USA its self.
An example of a symbol in literature is Boo Radley. Boo represents fear of the unknown. Because Boo never comes out of his house Jem and Scout fear him and make up wild stories simply because they fear the unknown; in this case its Boo.
Symbols are important in literature because a simple thing can mean so many different things depending on how you interpret it. They make the story exciting and interesting. Symbols play a huge role in life as well. They are used to represent a team or a country and can cause huge conflicts as well as solve them.differently.

Alex Worcester said...

A symbol is something used to represent something else. Something used for or regarded as representing something else. A symbol in literature is usually a material item representing something that is not a material item such as a belief. An example of a symbol in literature is the title To Kill A Mocking Bird. This symbolizes for the idea that you should not persecute the innocent. A symbol in real life for a group of people is their flag. It symbolizes their unity and power as a group. Symbols are very important in society because they can breach a language barrier and everyone can understand them. You do not need to speak English to recognize the golden arches of Mconalds. Symbols can also strike fear in the hearts of people like the swastika did in the 1940s. The Swastika symbolized the strength of the Nazi party.

tricia said...

A symbol is something used for or regarded as representing something else; emblem, token, or sign. (dictionary.com). We see symbols in our life every day, whether it be a flag representing a country's freedom or unity, or something we see in history class, like a Nazi swastika, which often impies fear into some people.Symbols are also frequently used in literature. For exanple, the conch from Lord Of The Flies. It represents power, which all the boys were so hungry for. Symbols are a very important part in our lives as well as good literature, for it is everywhere

Joe said...

A symbol is something that represents somethying larger than itself and they get the same message across. One example of a symbol from life, is the president of the united states. Although he seems larger than almost anything else, the president is chosen as a representitive for his or her political party. The decisions made by the president are decided by his or her party. Also, in To Kill a Mockingbird, there is a large symbol. When the father says that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because all that they do is produce beautiful music, it also relates it to humans. It also meens that it is a sin to kill or punish a human if you know that they had done nothing wrong. Without this symbol, the theme of the novel would not exist. Symbols are important in life and literature because they seem to give everything more of a significant purpose. Most things in life are in some way a symbol of something larger.

Isaac said...

A Symbol is something that stands for something else. A good example would be the bald eagle representing America. Symbols sometimes don't always match, since bald eagles can be very cruel. In books, symbols are harder to spot. But in the Warriors series, the oracles are always looking for signs in nature. For example, if a battle is approaching, the clouds could be stained red. The color red is used a lot and hidden things are frequently in the text. Colors can mean a lot in certain book like red is obviously blood and green can stand for plants and/or life. I may be wrong about that, but they can be used as symbols.

Cherag said...

An object associated with and serving to identify something else: attribute, emblem, such as the last gift of a grandparent. The Mockingbird was a symbol to show, Jem and Scout a larger meaning of life. IT is something, which provides a lesson or a moral, in literature, which has a greater meaning than its general meaning.

Abz Gingrande said...

A symbol is something that stands for or represents something else, especially an object representing an abstraction. We use symbols to invest things with a representative meaning or to represent something abstract by something concrete. The Bald Eagle represents freedom in the U.S.A.In Christianity, the belief that the bread and wine used in the Communion are symbols and not literally the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. A symbol in a literature would be piggy's glasses in Lord of The Flies. he glasses, however, help
illustrate his intellectual strength, his ability to think
situations over logically and use reason, rather than
emotions to decide upon important dilemmas. Piggy does not
let his emotions guide him.