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Literary Symbolism

Literary Symbolism. As literature has developed over hundreds of years, certain symbolic meanings have attached themselves to such things as colors, places, times, and animals. The following list does not exhaust the possible meanings and associations of a symbol.

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Literary Symbolism

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  1. Literary Symbolism

  2. As literature has developed over hundreds of years, certain symbolic meanings have attached themselves to such things as colors, places, times, and animals. • The following list does not exhaust the possible meanings and associations of a symbol. • You cannot merely plug these meanings into literature and expect to completely understand the piece.

  3. Your own knowledge, associations, and experience are what will lead you to a deep and personal connection to the literature.

  4. Sleep is often related to death. • Dreams are linked to the future or fate. • Water is sometimes linked to the idea of birth or purification. • Forests are often places of testing or challenge. • Light—as the sun, moon, stars, candles—often symbolizes good, hope, freedom.

  5. Darkness is associated with evil, magic or the unknown. • The moon has several associations. It is sometimes a feminine symbol, sometimes associated with madness, sometimes with resurrection. • Caves and underwater images often womb-like • Nature imagery, in general, is often associated with the mother or the female.

  6. Seasons often represent ages: • Spring = youth • Summer = prime of life • Autumn = middle age • winter = old age or death

  7. Animals have various associations • Doves, lambs, sleeping animals = peace • Felines, birds of prey = dissension, war, danger • Snakes, serpents = evil, sexuality, fall from virtue, magic

  8. The cycle of natural growth: • Birth, degeneration, death—often suggests the cycle of love • For example a story may trace a rose from bud to bloom to withered vine.

  9. Color symbolism

  10. Red • Excitement, energy, passion, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, aggression, all things intense and passionate.

  11. Yellow • Joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard

  12. Blue • Peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, cold, technology, depression, appetite suppressant

  13. Orange • Energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention

  14. Green • Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience

  15. Purple • Royalty, spirituality, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning

  16. Gray • Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring

  17. Brown • Earth, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity, and comfort

  18. White • Reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile

  19. Black • Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures).

  20. http://www.rrsd.mb.ca/riverscoll/snr1/Color%20Symbolism%20Chart.htmhttp://www.rrsd.mb.ca/riverscoll/snr1/Color%20Symbolism%20Chart.htm

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