A PowerPoint discussing symbolism in: "The Thing in the Forest," Young Goodman Brown," and A Wall of Fire Rising."

1. Symbolism
Group 5
Jessica Jarrett
Nicole Dollarhide
Chenoah Rost
A look at symbolism in:
“A Thing in the Forest” –A. S. Byatt
“Young Goodman Brown” –Nathaniel Hawthorne
“A Wall of Fire Rising” –Edwidge Danticat

2. What is Symbolism?
• In The Norton Introduction to Literature Kelly J. Mays sums up pretty nicely the
importance of a symbol stating “A literary symbol may be understood as
an extended figure of speech that rewards further interpretation”
(Mays 286).
• What this is saying is that symbolism can essentially bring more depth to the
story that carries it.

3. What is a Figure of Speech?
• Used in somewhat the same manner as symbols to bring more meaning to a piece
(Mays 287).
Types:
• Allegory
• Allusion
• Irony
• Metaphor
• Symbol
• Metonymy
• Oxymoron
• Personification
• Simile
• Synecdoche

4. How is Symbolism and Figure of Speech Used
in “The Thing in the Forest?”
Allusion
• “Penny, who was a
reading child, imagined
Victorian dark pillars of
severity, like Jane Eyre’s
Mr. Brockelhurst, or
David Copperfield’s Mr.
Murdstone” (Byatt 304).
• The name “Alys” is an
allusion to the famous
character from Lewis
Caroll’s “Alice in
Wonderland.”
• Byatt also references
Hansel and Gretel writing
“[…] like Hansel and
Gretel to find the way
back” (Byatt 304).
https://d.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1395952336ra/9067797.gif

5. The names Penny and Primrose are symbols as
well.
Penny
• Materialism
• Logical
• Thinking
Primrose
• Fanciful
• Story Telling
• Emotional
http://myhoneysplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Polyanthus-400x380.jpg
http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-LK673_penny1_G_20151124100101.jpg

6. What did the “Loathly Worm” symbolize?
• The worm could have symbolized the horror that Penny and Primrose faced
from being a part of a time consumed by war and the destruction it caused.
• The girls are both scarred by the sight of the worm, much in the same way
human beings in general can be scarred due to the influences of war.

7. Symbolism: “Young Goodman Brown”
• Throughout the story, there are several symbols.
• Examples:
• Goodman Brown’s wife Faith
• Goodman Brown’s name
• Allegory: The Forest
• The Rock
• The Wind
• The Four Pine Trees
• The minister and deacon
• The church choir
Lizardi, Katelyn. Young Goodman Brown Illustration. 2012.
Lizardi Digital Illustration, California. Web. 10 Mar. 2016

8. Allegory (Extended Symbolism): “Young
Goodman Brown”
• The Forest contained many symbols which created an allegory for the devil’s church.
• The members of Young Goodman’s puritan church were gathered in the forest, the devil’s church. The
minister and Deacon Gookin stood by the “blazing rock” in the forest (Hawthorne).
• The rock was said to have had “an natural resemblance either to an altar or a pulpit” (Hawthorne).
• The wind was described as sounding like church bells.
• The four pine trees were on fire (a symbol related to the devil) which resembled the pillars of a church.
• The minister and deacon were symbolic of the best people of the puritan church entering into the dark
forest.
• The familiar church choir was also heard in the forest.

9. Symbolism and Names: “Young Goodman
Brown”
• Young Goodman Brown
• Goodman was a “good” man. He was the ideal character in the puritan society. His
name was symbolic of his personality and character.
• Faith
• Faith’s name is symbolic of Young Goodman’s faith in a deity. He believed his wife was
a role model and a woman of God; therefore he put his faith into his wife. When she
disappoints him by appearing in the forest, he loses his faith.
Cervantes, Linda. Young Goodman Brown. 2013. Young
Goodman Brown Color Studios. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.

10. Symbolism and Setting: “Young Goodman
Brown”
• The setting of the story created the allegory.
• The forest that the people of the society gathered in was
symbolic of the devil’s home: a place very opposite of the
church in this puritan society.
• Effect on Conflict: Because of this allegory, Goodman
questioned his faith, because he sees his wife faith and other
members of his church in the forest symbolizing the devil.

11. Symbolism: “A Wall of Fire Rising”
• “We may either live freely or we should die.” –Little Guy
• Symbolism within “A Wall of Fire Rising”
• Wall of fire
• Hot air balloon
• Flying
• Freedom
• Little Guy’s Speech

12. Symbolism: “A Wall of Fire Rising”
• How is the wall of fire an example of symbolism?
• The wall of fire symbolizes the struggle and conflict throughout the short story.
From beginning to end, Guy’s conflict within himself is increasing as the story
goes on and ultimately ends with him taking his own life.
• The hot air balloon
symbolizes freedom
and Guy’s longing for
escape.

13. Symbolism: “A Wall of Fire Rising”
• Freedom:
• One major theme of this short story is freedom. Guy is torn because he feels less of
himself for being unable to care for his family, Lili and Little Guy. They have been living a
life of poverty and struggle, so Guy feels ashamed of himself and the life he lives.
• Flying: Throughout the tale, Guy mentions flying quite often. By
mentioning how he wants to fly, specifically in a hot air balloon,
he symbolizes his longing for freedom and to get away.

14. Symbolism: “A Wall of Fire Rising”
• Little Guy’s speech:
• Little Guy was given a part in a play and the lines he practiced were
symbolic.
• “We should either live freely or we should die” is one of his lines
that has a symbolic relationship with his father’s fate at the end of
the story. Guy was unable to live a free life like he longed for, so he
ended his own life.

15. Works Cited
• "A Wall of Fire Rising." N.p., 29 Oct. 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. <https://mlopez33.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/a-wall-of-fire-
rising-3/>.
• Boyle, Tim. The Penny Costs More to Make than It's Worth. Digital image.The Wall Street Journal. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
• Byatt, A. S. “The Thing in the Forest.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Kelly J. Mays. Norton, 2013. 302-17. Print.
• Cervantes, Linda. Young Goodman Brown. 2013. Young Goodman Brown Color Studios.
Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
• Creepy Forest Gif. Digital image. Goodreads. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
<https://d.grassets.com/hostedimages/1395952336ra/9067797.gif>.
• Hawthorne, Nathaniel. ""Young Goodman Brown"." Ibiblio. The Public's Library and
Digital Archive, 1835. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
• Lizardi, Katelyn. Young Goodman Brown Illustration. 2012. Lizardi Digital Illustration,
California. Web. 10 Mar. 2016
• Rahn, Josh. "Reference Guide to Symbolism in Literature." Bright Hub Education. N.p., 2 Mar. 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/126289-understanding-symbolism-in-literature-a- guide/>.
• Yonaz. Forest Dragon. Digital image. Devian Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.
<http://orig04.deviantart.net/320d/f/2011/225/c/b/forest_dragon_by_yonaz-d46dqez.jpg>.