Themes & Symbolism
What is Theme? Themes can be found everywhere: literature, stories, art, movies etc… The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of literature is its view about life and how people behave.
Theme is… underlying meaning of the story, a universal truth, a significant statement the story is making about society, human nature, or the human condition.
Theme = idea The theme of a literary work is its underlying central idea or the generalization it communicates about life.
Theme...the meaning of life? The theme expresses the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of human experience.
At times the author's theme may not confirm or agree with your own beliefs. Even then, if skillfully written, the work will still have a theme that illuminates some aspects of true human experience.
Be aware that the theme never completely explains the story. It is simply one of the elements that make up the whole. Some short stories have secondary themes as well.
Meanings beyond the obvious Symbolism Meanings beyond the obvious
A symbol is… an object that stands for itself and a greater idea. We see symbols every day…
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 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.)
Colors Possibly the most pervasive of literary symbols Shade is important—can show the potency of the symbolic meaning Consider combinations of colors (separate or blended) As many colors can be seen positively or negatively, their effects and contexts must be taken into account
White Associated with light Purity and innocence Timelessness Blinding truth Death and the supernatural Mirrors = reflection
Yellow Cheerfulness, happiness, warmth, and joy Hope (e.g. yellow ribbons) Hazard and danger (e.g. road signs) The sun (and its meanings) Gold = sovereignty and wealth Cowardice and deceit
Red Blood; life and death Energy Violence, disorder, sacrifice, rage, danger Warmth and heat
Green Fertility, growth, and the abundance of nature Hope Renewal Envy Naïveté Rottenness, decay, and death
Blue Closely associated with water Also associated with the sky Spirituality and religious beliefs Peace, calm, stability and order Intelligence Sadness and depression
Black Closely associated with darkness and night Darkness, chaos, and emptiness Mystery and the unknown Primal wisdom The unconscious Evil Melancholy
Orange Red’s intensity and aggressiveness, tempered by yellow’s cheer Vibrancy, warmth and joy Courage and strength The sun (and its meanings) Light orange = summer Dark orange = autumn
Purple Royalty, nobility, and authority Mystery Spirituality
Brown Wholesomeness and earthiness Dependability, simplicity, and friendliness Health Permanence Dullness