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TOAFK - Allegory in the Lesson of the Ants in "The Sword in the Stone" More options

Activity Overview


Allegories rely on extensive symbolic meaning to convey their messages. For students to decipher and understand these extended metaphors, it is helpful to track parallels between the text and the larger issues it is representing.

In “The Sword and the Stone”, the lesson of the ants teaches Arthur the dangers of losing free thought and waging continual war. It is a direct commentary from author T.H. White on the political workings of fascist and communist societies, veiled behind the colony of ants who end up making Arthur miserable.

As a lesson, have your students create a storyboard that shows the parallels between the lesson of the ants and the fascist political system of the Nazis in the 1930s.

Lesson Enhancer: Have students examine the concept of “Newspeak” in George Orwell’s 1984 and compare it to the ants’ language.

Allegory Examples from "The Sword and the Stone"

TOPICTEXT EXAMPLEALLEGORICAL MEANING
Language For Arthur, the ants’ language is one of the most frustrating things he encounters. Their entire vocabulary is reduced to phrases such as “done” and “not done” which apply to all questions of value. There are no words for independent thought, or for emotions, such as “freedom”,“happiness”, or “liking”. If a word does not exist for something, then that something cannot be pondered. In a totalitarian state, free thought is repressed because duty outweighs free will. Just like Hitler demanded full obedience and the repression of differentiated ideas through book burnings and the Hitler youth, the ants demand uniformity, and individuality is not tolerated.
Numbers In Arthur’s experience, he becomes known as “number 42436/WD.” There are no names in the ant colony; every ant is assigned a number. During the time that this portion of the novel was being written, White was watching the basic civil rights of the Jews being stripped away. They were forced to register with the government and were stripped of their freedoms and individual rights. In Nazi Germany, they quickly became numbers, even before they were sent to the concentration camps.
The Leader “In the middle, the Leader sat complacently, laying eggs, attending to the broadcasts, issuing directions or commanding executions, surrounded by a sea of adulation.” This is a comparison to how Hitler was running the Nazi party. While men were being killed in war, Hitler was being exalted as the leader of the Third Reich. He was also in control of everything, much like the Leader of the ants.
Thisnest vs. Othernest Arthur is overwhelmed by the broadcasts about patriotism, war, and the economic situation. Ant the Father has ordained that Othernest ants will be the slaves of Thisnest ants. The Othernest ants are threatening the property, boundaries, and food supplies. “We are a mighty race and have a natural right to subjugate their puny one. They are a mighty race and are unnaturally trying to subjugate our inoffensive ones.” This broadcast highlights the reasoning behind the Nazi’s persecution of the Jews (“they are a threat”), and their justification for waging war and expanding territory in Europe (“we are a mighty race”).
The Religious Ceremony “After the second kind of address, the religious services began. These dated—the Wart discovered later—from a fabulous past so ancient that once could scarcely find a date for it—a past in which the emmets had not yet settled down to communism. They came from a time when ants were still like men, and very impressive some of the services were.” The psalms that the ants sing are filled with war imagery, and have obviously been perverted from their original religious form. Arthur sees that religion has been distorted to highlight warfare and war as something the “King of Glory” has ordained. The ants have turned religious sentiments into a weapon, just as Hitler capitalizes on the patriotic sensibilities of the German people by promising the restoration of glory to the Fatherland. This also relates to the Nazi propaganda machine.


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Template and Class Instructions

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Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows examples of allegory in "The Sword and the Stone".


  1. Identify instances of allegory in the text.
  2. Depict and describe the example of allegory from the text on the left side.
  3. Depict and describe the reference to the larger issue or event on the right side.
Allegorical Reference - Worksheet More options

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual, Partner, or Group

Type of Activity: Allegory


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Rubric

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Allegory
Allegories rely on extensive symbolic meaning to convey their messages. Create a storyboard that tracks the allegorical references in the text and links them to their real-world examples. For each allegory, create a scene that depicts the original example of how it appears in the text, along with a quote and some background information. Then, create a scene that depicts the real-world example of that allegory. In a short analysis, discuss the impact of the allegory on the deeper meaning of the work as a whole.
Proficient
20 Points 		Emerging
17 Points 		Beginning
13 Points 		Try Again
10 Points
Allegory Identification and Completion
The allegories identified are correct, and all major/important allegories in the text have been addressed. There is a quote or summary provided with each allegory.
Most of the allegories identified are correct, and all major/important allegories in the text have been addressed. There is a quote or summary provided with each allegory.
Most of the allegories identified are incorrect, or some of the major/important allegories in the text are not addressed. Quotes or summaries may not be provided for all of the identified allegories.
Most of the allegories identified are incorrect, or the major/important allegories may be missing, or the allegories provided are too limited to score. Quotes or summaries may be missing or too limited to score.
Real-World Examples Identification and Completion
The real-world examples connected to each allegory are correct, showing a thoughtful correlation between the two.
Most of the real-world examples connected to each allegory are correct, and show a correlation between the two.
Most of the real-world examples connected to each allegory are incorrect.
Most of the real-world examples connected to the allegories are missing or too limited to score.
Analysis of Allegory and Real-World Example
Analysis of allegories and real-world examples explores a connection between the two that adds insight to the understanding of the text as a whole.
Analysis of allegories and real-world examples shows a connection between the two. There is a basic discussion of how the allegory adds to the understanding of the text as a whole.
Some analysis of allegories and the real-world examples is minimal, unclear, or incorrect. There is an attempt of discussion of how the allegory adds to the understanding of the text as a whole.
Most of the analysis of the allegories and the real-world examples is minimal, unclear, incorrect, or too limited to score. There is no attempt of discussion of how the allegory adds to the understanding of the text as a whole.
Artistic Depictions
The art chosen to depict the allegories and the real-world examples are historically appropriate to both the allegory, the work of literature, and the real-world example. It is evident that the student spent a lot of time, creativity, and effort into carefully crafting each artistic depiction.
The art chosen to depict the allegories and the real-world examples should be historically appropriate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. It is evident that the student stayed on task and put time and effort into crafting each artistic depiction.
Most of the art chosen to depict the scenes are historically appropriate, but there are serious deviations that cause confusion or inaccuracies. The student may not have paid much attention to detail in crafting each depiction, and there may be evidence of rushing or limited effort.
Most of the art chosen to depict the scenes are historically inappropriate, missing, or too limited to score. It is evident that the student did not put a lot of time, effort, and creativity into crafting each artistic depiction.
English Conventions
Ideas are organized. Displays control of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Shows careful proofreading.
Ideas are organized. Contains few errors in grammar, usage and mechanics. Shows some proofreading.
Ideas are organized. Contains errors in grammar, usage and mechanics which interfere with communication. Shows a lack of proofreading.
Contains too many errors in grammar, usage and mechanics; (and/or) errors seriously interfere with communication. Shows a lack of proofreading.


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