DENOTATION is the literal definition of a word Ex. dove: any of various birds of the family Columbidae, including pigeons Signs, words, phrases, images, or other objects that stand for or represent something else. (Timeless Themes, pg. 1225) CONNOTATION are the associations that a word calls to mind Ex. dove means innocence, peace, love

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL USUALLY REPRESENTS  Water, rain  Storms  Weather (in general)  Blood  Swords  Knives  Flowers, cups caves  Cleansing, life, baptism, purity  Bad omen, storm inside character  Reflects the character’s mental side  Death, sacrifice, family  Male power, honor, positive  Male power, deceit, negative  Womanhood, beauty, adventure

UNIVERSAL SYMBOL USUALLY REPRESENTS  Wilderness /forests  Mountains /Valleys  Animals (various)  Voyages  Colors (various)  Fire  Ailments (mental or physical)  Barbarism, primitive human nature  God, supernatural, majesty, knowledge  Death, descending, human failings  Different animals can symbolism different ideas, ex. Eagle, chicken, fox  Journey of discovery, quests  Colors hold meaning, ex. Green is life, blue is coolness, black varies  Destruction, hell, torment, but also life  Outward physical appearance from injury or mentally unbalanced behavior represents the character within.

If you need a resource for looking up common universal symbols, check out this website from the University of Michigan’s Science Fiction Club:  mproject/symbolism.html/ mproject/symbolism.html