Hello Students:

As you think about the allegory you will write this weekend, I thought the ideas below might help:

Let's connect Plato's allegory to the ideas he is trying to express.

1. Most people in the world are ignorant about life's truths

          Prisoners are in chains and in darkness.

2. People try to remain ignorant or do not know they are ignorant.

          Prisoners only look straight ahead and see only shadows on the wall.

3. Some people discover "truths" about life, but the truth hurts at first.

          One prisoner is released and sees the sun and it hurts his eyes.

4. People who see the beauty of truth are amazed and they want others to see the truth.

           The prisoner's eyes adjust. She is amazed by what she sees. She decides to return to the cave and tell the other prisoners.

5. Sometimes understanding the truth means you have to stand alone.

           The others do not believe her.


So, now you are going to choose an idea that you want to express.
Break down the idea into a minimum of three smaller ideas like 1 - 5 above.
Choose a symbolic way to tell a story of these ideas.

Use Leah's example as an example, but write this in your own way.

Have fun!

Heather