Symbolism

Symbolism in Literature

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

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.

WinterWinter represents death or impending death; however, after winter, there is always a new spring.

A theme may be represented through symbols.

• For example, a storm occurring when there is a conflict or high emotions.– Why do you think Dorothy was caught up in a

tornado in Kansas and swept away to Oz?

• Harry Potter also has a lot of symbolism. One clear symbol is that of a snake to represent evil. It is no coincidence that they symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent.

The Raven….

• Edgar Allan Poem used a lot of symbols in his literature. One of his most famous poems, The Raven, had a dark, sinister bird watching over him like a dark shadow. Why do you think in the poem about loss and death did Poe use a dark raven rather than a dove?

Star Wars

• Have you ever seen Star Wars. Why do you think Luke SkyWalker wears white and Darth Vader wears all black? What do those colors symbolize? How do they show us more meaning about the characters?

What does the lion represent?• No one really knows who first

thought of using a lion as a symbol of power, courage, and domination

• Once these qualities were associated with the animal, images of lions appeared on flags, banners, coats of arms and castle walls

• The lion became a public symbol that shows up in art and literature, even today!

People throughout history have endowed ordinary objects with meanings far beyond their simple

meaning:

A crown symbolizes royalty

An olive branch

symbolizes peace

Five linked rings

symbolize the Olympics

Invented Symbols

What is the symbol for our school?

Writers often take a new object, character, or event and make it the embodiment of some human concern.

Some invented symbols in literature have become so widely known that they often have gained the status of public symbols.

For example: Peter Pan is a symbol for eternal childhood