analysis+&+symbol+activity+for+The+Landlady

Analysis & symbol activity for //The Landlady// THE LANDLADY extended activity What is the time period & setting? Describe the main character (protagonist)using DARTS Description: age looks… Actions: what they do   Reactions: how others react or speak about them Thoughts: what do they think? Speech: what and how they speak Describe the landlady, using DARTS: Did you like the story, what made you want to keep reading? Locate and describe the paragraphs that have suspense or foreshadowing (forewarning, a clue that something will happen) What happened to the previous tenants? What is a symbol? What are common symbols in literature? Is there any symbolic imagery in the story? Red nails? Are there any vivid descriptions or realistic descriptions that resonated for you? What were the descriptions of? Why is this important? Could this story work in a modern setting? What would have to change? ACTIVITY: IN PAIRS change elements to make the story modern and applicable to today’s youth. 2 young 21 YO girls, country trip B&B in York? Include Symbols and stereotypes What do the following symbols/ stereotypes mean today & in the past: A man’s beard A red rose Blue jeans Stiletto heel Mini skirt Kaftans SYMBOLS A sign is anything that stands for something else. A sign represents something—an idea, an experience, a feeling, an object, etc. Words as ordinarily used are signs in this sense. The object referred to by a sign does not need to be present for the meaning of the sign to be understood Some people believe that some symbols have a universal range of meaning; that is, like C. G. Jung, they believe that some symbols occur with the same meaning across individual and cultural boundaries. These universal symbols are often called archetypes, especially by followers of Jung. While there is much evidence to support the existence of universal symbols, or archetypes, one must remember that any use of a symbol is specific, and that makes its meaning specific. Just as the word "tree" used in a sentence has a specific meaning, rather than the general meaning given in the dictionary, so an archetype used in a work of art has specific meanings, rather than a general meaning one might find in a dictionary of archetypes. Archetypes include more than symbols—they also include character types, basic plots (cf. the Monomyth), scenes, and so on. Essentially, archetypes are universally meaningful, nonliteral elements in the arts and culture. > > > http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/kafka/
 * discuss the use of symbols in literature;
 * select a symbol to represent an important issue; and
 * write a description of the symbol's meaning.
 * the role of symbols in literature? Why do authors use symbols? What do symbols convey? Are a powerful literary device.
 * think about Franz Kafka's masterpiece, //Metamorphosis//. Discuss the compelling symbol at the centerpiece of the novel — Gregor Samsa's transformation from a man into a large insect. Ask students for ideas about what this symbol represents. Some suggested ideas are listed below:
 * The transformation, or metamorphosis, represents Gregor's personal alienation and the effect of his deadening job.
 * Gregor's metamorphosis symbolizes problems in his family and how the demands placed on him have worn him down.
 * Gregor's metamorphosis poignantly illustrates the power struggle within this family and shows how Gregor's transformation alters the family's dynamics.
 * Working individually or in pairs, think of a symbol that represents a big idea. Examples include increasing violence in our society, the threat of terrorism, or how peer pressure affects behaviour. Explain that a symbol representing the threat of terrorism may be an image of a student burdened by the weight of a heavy backpack. The student could represent people in the United States or throughout the world, and the backpack symbolizes the burden of having to worry about a random act of terrorism happening anywhere, at any time.
 * think of a symbol, and incorporate it into a piece of writing. The piece could be an essay on what the symbol means, a piece of fiction, or a poem describing the symbol's meaning.
 * alienation **
 * Definition:** The separation of a person from other people or objects to which he or she was formerly attached
 * Context:** Gregor Samsa's alienation was the result of his long working hours and the lack of affection and affirmation he received from his employer and his family.
 * Franz Kafka **
 * Definition:** A Czechoslovakian writer who lived from 1883 to 1924; most well known for //Metamorphosis//, published in 1915; //The Trial//, published in 1925; and //The Castle//, published in 1926
 * Context:** Franz Kafka's works did not achieve recognition until long after his death, but today he is known as a powerful writer who wrote about pain, suffering, and loneliness in a unique and compelling way.
 * metamorphosis **
 * Definition:** Change in physical form or structure
 * Context:** Gregor's metamorphosis from a man into a giant insect dramatically conveys all the pent-up frustrations and unresolved issues of both Gregor and his family.
 * symbol **
 * Definition:** A concrete representation of abstract ideas that makes those ideas clearer and more accessible to readers
 * Context:** The American flag is a symbol of the United States and its democratic ideals.