1. A Brief Introduction to Symbolism
Nothing is ever what it seems.

2. Symbols
A symbol is a person, place, thing, or event that stands both for itself and for an idea, emotion, or philosophy.
Symbols may be:
Personal
Public
Literary

3. Personal Symbols
Personal symbols have special meaning for an individual.
What are some of your personal symbols?

4. Public Symbols
Public symbols are widely recognized throughout a culture and sometimes even universally.
Can you think of any Public Symbols?

5. Can you think of any Literary Symbols?
Literary symbols are created when writers assign a special, symbolic meaning to a person, place, thing or event. They appear in works of fiction, poetry, and drama.
Can you think of any Literary Symbols?

6. More Literary Symbols

7. What to Know About Symbols
To make a symbol in literature authors can:
make use of well-known (public) symbols
create their own symbols (take a personal symbol and explain)
combine elements of both public and literary symbols.
Example:

8. What to Know About Symbols
Are concrete or visual
Often reappear throughout the work
Are literary elements and stand for something essentially different from themselves
Relate to the work’s theme
Common Personal, Public, and Literary Symbols are:
Animals
Plants
Elements (wind, water, fire)
Colors
Numbers