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SYMBOLS IN LITERATURE

SYMBOLS IN LITERATURE. Symbol Background. Writers use many literary devices to add layers of meaning to their writing.  One way they do this is by using symbolism . Symbolism is when writers use animals, elements, things, places, or colors to represent other things. 

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SYMBOLS IN LITERATURE

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  1. SYMBOLS IN LITERATURE

  2. Symbol Background • Writers use many literary devices to add layers of meaning to their writing.  One way they do this is by using symbolism. • Symbolism is when writers use animals, elements, things, places, or colors to represent other things.  • The symbols they use are usually well known in literature or culture.  • When you understand the symbol being used, you connect its meaning to the story you are reading and understand the story on a deeper level. • In fiction, authors may use symbols to communicate key ideas to the audience. • Symbols are a tangible representation of an intangible idea. • For example, a dove may represent peace.

  3. Symbolic Colors Colors often play a role in stories. Usually they represent emotions like love, anger, or sadness Colors may have more than one meaning. In order to determine the proper meaning, using context is very important. Meaning Love or anger Calmness or sadness Growth Warmth or cowardliness Evil or absence Good or innocence Color • Red • Blue • Green • Yellow • Black • White • Look to see if a color or a series of colors are repeatedly mentioned, does it hold meaning?

  4. Symbolic Flowers Type of flower Meaning Love Remembrance Fidelity Egotism Remembrance and Friendship Good Luck Innocence Faithfulness • Roses • Forget-Me-Nots • Ivy • Narcissus • Pansy • Four-leafed clover • Lily • Violet ROSES – symbolize love, but the colors of roses define the type of love: white for love yellow for friendship red for passion pink for a secret crush.

  5. “Every Valentine's Day, the student council sponsored a holiday fundraiser by selling roses that would be delivered in class. The roses came in four colors: white, yellow, red, and pink. The subtleties of their meaning were parsed and analyzed by the female population to no end. Mimi had always understood it. Melissa de la Cruz, Masquerade

  6. Symbolic Animals Animal Meaning Freedom, the ability to travel Loyalty Independence/ malevolence Wisdom Deception, evil • Birds • Dogs • Cats • Elephants and Owls • Snakes

  7. Symbolic Seasons Season Meaning Death, rest Elderly phase of life Rebirth, hopefulness Infant/teenage phase of life Adventure, carefree attitude Early adulthood phase of life Change, resourcefulness Later adulthood phase of life • Winter • Snow • ice • Spring • Flowers • Plant buds • Summer • Sunshine • Long days • Fall • Leaves changing color • Plants dying

  8. Symbolic Elements Element Meaning Passion, purification, masculinity, vengeance Necessity, mobility, inspiration Peacefulness, purity, life Stability, sustenance, femininity • Fire • Air • Water • Earth

  9. Weather Symbols Symbol Meaning Trouble Depression, cleansing Anger, trouble Hopefulness, pleasantness Change Chaos, destruction • Storms • Rain • Heat • Sunny days • Wind • Hurricanes, Tornados, Tsunamis

  10. General Symbols • Seeds, plants • If a character plants a seed or buys a plant, this may symbolize growth, change or new beginnings. • Clocks, timepieces • If a character is surrounded by clocks or notices them often, this may symbolize an awareness of mortality. • Flying • tends to represent freedom • Falling • tends to represent???????????? • Candles • If a character lights a candle, this could represent hope. It could also represent acknowledgement or “lighting the way”.

  11. General Symbols • Books, Libraries • Characters surrounded by books or who spend a great deal of time in libraries are usually associated with intelligence and knowledge. • Road, path • Roads and paths symbolize journeys. The more difficult a path, the more the character must overcome to achieve his or her goal.

  12. General Symbols • Darkness • If a character is often enveloped in darkness, this could symbolize being lost, or feeling hopeless. Darkness often represents the unknown, fears or evil. • Light • If a character is often enveloped in light, this could symbolize knowledge or hopefulness. Light often represents security and goodness. • Sunrise • Typically represents a new beginning or hope. • Sunset • Typically represents closure or the end.

  13. Literary Symbol Examples • Chopin’s The Awakening • In this novel, the protagonist, Edna, feels trapped within her marriage. The author surrounds Edna with birds, both caged to represent her current state and flying free to represent her wish for freedom. • Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby • In this novel, the protagonist, Gatsby, is captivated by a green light. This light symbolizes his goal, his hope: Daisy.

  14. Identifying Symbols • A reader should pay attention to tangible items the author repeats in the text. • For example, a character may always notice clocks or perhaps different types of birds appear throughout the novel. • The author will most likely include symbols during important passages in the text.

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