Month: October 2016
Allegory – Examples and Definition of Allegory
Allegory Definition from http://literarydevices.net/allegory/
Allegory is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events. It can be employed in prose and poetry to tell a story with a purpose of teaching an idea and a principle or explaining an idea or a principle. The objective of its use is to preach some kind of a moral lesson.
Although an allegory uses symbols, it is different from symbolism. An allegory is a complete narrativewhich involves characters, and events that stand for an abstract idea or an event. A symbol, on the other hand, is an object that stands for another object giving it a particular meaning. Unlike allegory,symbolism does not tell a story. For example, Plato in his “Allegory of Cave” tells a story of how some people are ignorant and at the same time, some people “see the light” – stands for an idea and does not tell a story.
Examples of Allegory in Everyday Life
Allegory is an archaic term and used specifically in literary works. It is difficult to spot its occurrence in everyday life, although recently, we do find example of allegory in political debates. The declaration of an ex-US president G.W Bush was allegorical when he used the term “Axis of Evil” for three countries and later the term “allies” for those countries that would wage war against the “Axis”.
Allegory Examples in Literature
Below are some famous examples of Allegory in Literature:
1. “Animal Farm”, written by George Orwell, is an allegory that uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WW II. The actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the revolution. It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society. One of the cardinal rules on the farm for the animals is:
The Voices
The Voices
By: Hannah Bowman
The voices.
They taunt me,
With their continuous laughter.
The voices.
They tell me,
Things that aren’t true.
The voices.
They help me,
Suppress feelings with a smile.
The voices.
They lead me,
To have bad intentions.
The voices.
They protect me,
From shedding a tear.
The voices.
They soothe me,
Singing words of hope.
The voices.
They keep me,
From letting it all out.
Personal Narrative
July 5th, 2016
Ramstein Air Force Base, Ramstein, Germany
7:30 am 3 hours before we had to leave
“Time to wake up, Ashlynn,” my mom said while opening the door to my room.
As I opened my eyes, I realized today was the day. The day my whole life changes, again. I didn’t want to move, but I had to. Leaving behind a life I was familiar with was always hard. I could feel it swiftly building up in the pit of my stomach. The panic always came with this feeling. I didn’t want to cry. Crying didn’t change the fact of what was happening. Sitting up to get ready I just went through the motions.
Walking into the dinky kitchen in our tiny TLF housing my mom said 2 hours and 30 minutes before we had to leave “Your dad went and got Dunkin Donuts for everyone”
All I could do was nod my head and walk past. The donuts only put more heaviness into my heart. The Dunkin Donuts place in the Exchange just opened. I mean I’m probably going to get it in America, but it just reminded me of the experiences I could’ve had with my friends there. My brother and sister were sitting on the couch watching Teen Titans Go. Looks like they had everything they needed. Nobody was at the table, so I sat there enjoying my donuts the best I could.
“Ash you have 15 minutes to get the rest of your stuff together hurry up” my dad expressed.
“I know, dad,” I exclaimed, getting up to throw away the rest of my trash.
I left my phone and kindle plugged in for a few more minutes. The time flew by; next thing I know I’m walking outside to where our friends are standing. Mr. Andrew and Ms. Kim the parents of one of my best friends.
“Hey Ashlynn,” Ms.Kim said in her overly happy voice.
Chucking my bags in the back her car I walked over to Mr. Andrew’s car to hop in. I waited and waited. Every second that passed the feeling would keep growing. Hate is a strong word, but I used it for these feelings. I felt anxious, sad, stressed. “Finally,” I thought as my dad and Mr. Andrew rushed into the car. I looked at all the familiar things as we passed by. All the houses were exactly the same color, but each had its own unique feel to it. Kind of like a million different stars in the sky, each one looks the same when you look at it from the ground, but when you got closer you could see the difference . The dancing and karate studio were exactly the same color as the houses.Next door, the grass of the soccer field was as green as Mike Wazowski, you know that green guy from Monsters Inc. Donnelly Park was right next to the soccer field, and it was a couple of blocks down from my house. This park wasn’t any fun anymore after they took out the slides on the hill. The streets were all named after a state form the US. Mine was Vermont Circle, the street I lived on for the past 4 years. My house 1063 B was right across from Mr. Andrew’s and Ms. Kim’s.
Gabby and her sisters were waiting outside on the porch to say goodbye. Even though I’ve only known Gabby for a year and a half, it feels like I’ve known her my whole life.
“Hey Ashlynn,” Gabby said while I got out of the car.
“Hey Gabby,” I tried my best to fake a smile but I couldn’t.
“I guess this is goodbye.” Gabby exclaimed.
“I guess so,” I said.
Hugging her family was easier than hugging her. Blinking the tears back I pulled away. I smiled one more time at my best friend, a person who I’ve grown close to in the past year and a half.
By the time we got to the airport we had an 1 hour and 30 minutes. Walking towards the front I saw Jaycee and her family standing there. Before walking in, my parents wanted a picture of all the kids.
“Say goodbye Germany,” Mrs. Jennifer said while taking her picture.
Reaching the stairs we had to find our gate. Stopping by another gate we said goodbye. I saved hugging Jaycee for last. As I hugged her she started crying.
“ You’re gonna make me cry,” I said.
“ I can’t help it,” she exclaimed between each heart wrenching sob.
“This isn’t a goodbye though this is just a see you later,” I told her trying to hold back my own tears.
As we waved goodbye one last time we turned to walk up the stairs. Waiting in the long line at security was hard. 1 hour and 30 minutes turned to 1 hour. By the time we sat down in the waiting area we only had to wait 15 minutes. The time finally hit 11:00; we could board now. The past 4 years were the best of my life. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I met friends I’ll have for the rest of my life. As I sat on the seat when the plane started to take off I realized it was time to let go. So I did. A new adventure was going to start when this plane landed. Who knows what it would bring? It was finally time for a new start.
The Most Dangerous Game
How does the author build suspense in the story. What suspense techniques does Connell use?
Some stories are so fantastic or contrived that we have to suspend our disbelief – we don’t believe that some stories are possible, so we disregard them. Is this one of those stories? Were there situations so unrealistic you don’t believe them?
12 Ways to Create Suspense – Ingrid Sundberg
12 Ways to Create Suspense – Ingrid Sundberg:
12 WAYS TO CREATE SUSPENSE
September 7, 2010 / 9 / Author Advice
Gail Carson Levine spoke at the 2010 SCBWI Conference and as part of her keynote speech she share these twelve tips on how to create suspense in your novel!
12 Ways to Create Suspense in Your Novel:
1. Time: Make the pressure loom by using a ticking clock device. There needs to be a destination in the future that is looming. Worried thoughts can also work to help emphasize the time.
2. Distance: Create space between your character and his/her goal. A need to reach a far away destination creates suspense. Don’t worry obsessively; worries are a good way to end a chapter. You can also use chapter titles to create distance.
3. Thoughts: Make your characters worry, show us the tension through their thoughts.
4. Setting: A dangerous environment will create immediate tension in your book.
5. Separation: Make the main character physically separated from the problem, send them away. Then ask yourself what is the villain doing while the main character is away? What is the enemy doing? Seeing what the enemy is up to can create tension.
6. Isolation: Create a situation where there is danger around the main character but the he/she is also isolated. What will they do on their own?
7. Expectation: We all wonder if we can we live up to the expectations around us. Build tension through what others expect of your main character. How do those expectations stress the character out? Self expectations can also be used as well.
8. A Test: Pop Quiz! Give your character some sort of test. This is an immediate tension producer. For example many of you at this conference may have a manuscript critique coming up. That’s tension you’re feeling!
9. Disaster: Create a disaster for your characters. This can be both small or large. There’s a tornado, or a character’s clothes fly off!
10. Main Character Flaw: Example – in Back to the Future the main character Marty can’t tolerate being called a coward. Now the reader will worry about when he will be called a coward and what he will do.
11. Secondary Character Flaw: Same as main character flaw. Reader and the main character will both be waiting to see what they will do.
12. Loss: Something is lost and the main character thinks it is necessary, the tension comes from the fact that they must get it back.