Literary Symbols

Symbol An object that stands for or represents something else An object that stands for or represents something else We see certain symbols without having to think about what they mean We see certain symbols without having to think about what they mean

Symbols in Literature: A person place, or thing within a piece of literature A person place, or thing within a piece of literature Stands for something other than itself Stands for something other than itself Associated with an idea not closely related to the object itself Associated with an idea not closely related to the object itself Not always obvious Not always obvious

How to spot a symbol in a story Not everything in literature can be a symbol. That would get really confusing. An object that reappears or is referenced more than once in a story is often a symbol It is referenced in the title It seems out of place

Interpreting what they mean Sometimes a symbol represents something that looks similar to it The Grim Reaper (Skull—looks like death, symbolizes death) The Grim Reaper (Skull—looks like death, symbolizes death) More often, a symbol represents something that acts like it: Justice represented as… Justice represented as… Freedom represented as… Freedom represented as… The heart often represents… The heart often represents…

On-the-spot symbol analysis: Look at the following images.Look at the following images. Explain:Explain: 1) What idea they represent 1) What idea they represent 2) How they work as a symbol 2) How they work as a symbol

The counterpoint—What do you think? “There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish.” -Ernest Hemingway, speaking about his classic novel The Old Man and the Sea. -Ernest Hemingway, speaking about his classic novel The Old Man and the Sea.