Symbolism Literary term

Symbolism the use of an object, person, situation, or word to represent something else (an idea) in literature Object Person Situation Word

Worldwide symbols Smile = friendship Wave = greetings Handshake = peace

Cliché symbols in North America Darkness = evil White = purity Dove = peace Rainbow = hope Blood = death

Popular symbolism in literature Colors = represent emotions Water = rebirth, purification, or death Fire = anger, passion, love, pain or death Night = death, peace Day = new life, lightness Darkness = death, hiding

It is abstract A concrete symbol, symbolizes an abstract concept Blood = Death You can touch, see, feel and smell blood (concrete) You cannot touch death, feel or smell death (abstract)

All in context Symbols can change meaning depending on the context of the story Water = rebirth in “Castaway” Water = death in “Jaws”

The same throughout the story A symbol’s meaning remains the same throughout the entire story

Figuring it out Look up the definition in the dictionary for the concrete item Read the context of the story Research on symbolism dictionary Match the item to an abstract concept The abstract concept must make sense throughout the story

Questions for symbolism What does ______________ symbolize? Find a symbol in the story. What does it symbolize?