Symbolism

Meanings beyond the obviousMeanings beyond the obvious

A symbol is…

an object that stands for itself and a greater idea.

We see symbols every day…

PART 1: HOW MANY SYMBOLS CAN YOU ASSOCIATE WITH UNIVERSAL, ABSTRACT IDEAS OR VALUES??

HINT: Don’t limit yourselves to objects, think also about shapes and colors or just parts of a picture

In literature, symbolism…

creates a direct, meaningful link between…

a specific object, scene, character, or action

and

abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.

Symbolism is be used to…

Provide meaning beyond the obvious: Emphasize key ideas or themes:

A river can represent the flow of life…

… or its depth may represent the unknown…

… the water might be purity…

… or there could be dangers beneath the surface.

Draw attention to the plot:

A walk into a tunnel – or change from day to night – could show movement from good to evil, or that something bad is coming…

A storm at a critical moment can represent the intense emotion and trouble…

And dawn may show the end of conflict, the “start of a new day.”

And give insights into characters:

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

…a character’s name may tell you something about them, in “The Lottery” Mr. Graves has authority over the killing…… and a character’s

appearance can be symbolic – in Cask of Amontillado, Fortunato wears a fool’s costume – and he is, in fact, a fool for trusting the narrator.

How can you spot a symbol?

There’s no one way, but some things to look for are: Colors or objects that are used repeatedly: if

it’s mentioned often, it’s probably important Unusual character names Objects / creatures that have cultural

meanings (lions = strength, owls = wisdom, etc.)

One warning…

Many “symbols” are personal interpretations – and unintended by the author!

Consider this dialogue from Peanuts:

Lucy: “Do you always have the people’s hands behind their back to symbolize your shyness?”

So… don’t go crazy with this stuff! It’s all open to interpretation…

Charlie Brown: “No, I just don’t know how to draw hands.”

What do these images symbolize?

And these…

And these…

The end.