Symbolism

Meaning Beyond the ObviousA symbol is what it is, but something more.

Universal SymbolsUniversal symbols embody ideas or emotions that the writer and the reader share in common as a result of their social and cultural heritage. For example. . .

Birthday

Fire

DangerWise Owl

Direction Idea

Symbolism Makes Literature Meaningful

•Characters come alive.•Action becomes more vivid.•Impressions paint a picture in our minds.

Symbolism Emphasizes Ideas or Themes

A flowing river can represent life, or as Thoreau said about Walden Pond: It represents “the depth of the human soul.”

Time of Day

The sunrise can be the promise of a new day, a new beginning.

The sunset can be the end of day, the end of life.

Symbolism Stresses PlotA storm can represent an intense moment or pending trouble, such as in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Dawn is the promise of a new day.

Symbolism Gives InsightsInto Characters

In Poe’s “Telltale Heart,” the sound of the beating heart represents guilt

A character’s name tells about him/her; in “The Lottery,” Mr. Graves has authority over the killing

In Poe's, The Cask of Amontillado, Fortunato wears a fool’s costume – and indeed-- he is a fool for trusting the narrator.

Name Becomes Character

Seasons Often Represent Life

Spring represents new life, a new opportunity, birth, or even rebirth.

Summer

Summer is a time of experience, a time for young adults to gain wisdom, making a mark on life.

Fall

•Fall represents old age or older adults.•If there has been a good spring and summer, fall will be beautiful.

WinterWinter represents death or impending death; however, after winter, there is always a new spring. In fact, winter waits impatiently by holding swollen buds on the trees, waiting for the warm sun.

Spotting a SymbolSince spotting a symbol can be difficult, here are some things to look for—•Repeated colors or objects.•Unusual character names.•Objects that have cultural meaning—Christmas tree, owl, and flag.