Symbolism
Symbol: Person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning
Symbols work to reinforce, clarify, or enlarge a text's meaning. A symbol
may appear as a pattern, significant detail, etc.
Symbols from our reading:
The black box - black represents death, also represents dogma.
The black dot - the person is being marked.
The wallpaper design (the bars) - her room is barred.
Harrison breaking out of jail - trying to free himself of the restraints, breaking free
from conforming.
The trick to recognizing a symbol is often (but not always) to look for
repetition. If the author constantly calls forth some sort of image or theme, it is
likely that it is functioning as a symbol.
Conventional Symbols: symbols that are widely recognized by a society or
culture.
The text points out that we encounter in our daily lives. For example,
logos/brands are certainly a part of a capitalistic discourse. We are able to
recognize these symbols, assign them to a particular hierarchy, and even work to
infer something about the person who wears/owns that product. (Authentic vs.
knock-off)
These sorts of symbols can be used to reinforce meanings/themes within a text,
because the author doesn't have to explain to the audience what these symbols
indicate/represent, because a large part of the audience will recognize their
significance (Winter = Death, Spring = birth)
*However, conventional symbols can rapidly become outdated, then even
obscure. As a result, later audiences may not be able to relate or appreciate the
significance without research.
Literary Symbol: Can include traditional, conventional, or public meanings, but
must also be established internally by the total context of the work in which it
appears. These symbols can be a setting, character, action, object, name or
anything else that maintains a literal significance while suggestion other
meanings.
In order to be a symbol it must have more than one meaning!
Remember, symbols are suggestive, offering various interpretations, rather than
one definitive meaning. These multiple meaning help create unity within the
story, while establishing the ambiguity, that allows the reader to create his/her
own interpretation. As such they suit the purpose of literature, which often seeks
to pose questions rather than offer definitive solutions.
Theme
Theme: central idea, insight, or meaning of the story. It provides a unifying point
around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, other elements
of a story are organized.
For modern writers, "theme" is often implicit, rather than explicit concept. In
other words, it is not spelled out for you directly. Rather you have have to apply
a close analysis of the various elements of fiction that we have been discussing.
Through such an analysis, you should be able to start recognizing some main
ideas or principles that seem to bring everything together (i.e. the theme of the
text).
*You can often identify a number of themes in a single text; theme is often very
open to debate/interpretation.
Subject vs. Theme:
There is a subtle, but important difference between these two concepts.
Subjects may be shared from story to story. Remember, literature often
addresses universal concerns, so it is not uncommon for the subject to be
similar. Some "common" subjects are as follows:
• Fate
• Death
• Innocence
• Youth/Age
• Loneliness
• Racial Prejudice
• Gender Discrimination
• Disillusionment
• Power
• Truth
• The Human Condition* (what dos it mean to be a human? An individual? Part
of a society, etc.)
• Sex
In other words, if you're not sure what a story's theme is, you can at least begin
by considering these possible subjects as a starting point.
Even though stories share similar subjects, their takes, or interpretations of the
subjects, are often radically different. This is where theme enters the discourse
about a text.
Process of Determining Theme:
It can be a bit frustrating to articulate a story's theme, even though we are often
able to understand the meaning intuitively. Consider the following process the
next time you are confronted with a text which seems too odd or you can't quite
get your finger on the meaning.
• Consider Title of text (does it suggests a tone, or point to certain symbols? The
reader's first impression begins with the title, so authors tend to use the
title as a tool to indicate an important factor in the story.)
• Consider details (names, places, objects, minor characters, events, etc)
that have potential for more than their literal meaning (i.e. symbols).
• Determine whether or not the protagonist changes/develops some insight as
a result of the action. (Is the protagonist dynamic/static?)
• Be especially mindful of generalizations the narrator makes, as these are
often the sorts of concepts the author wants to examine, which is why the
narrator, rather than another character, speaks them.
• Attempt to write a generalized statement (1-2 sentence) that indicate a
particular point about the subject matter.
• Don't allow your interpretation of theme to be too specific to the text as
literature often intends to question some aspect of our life/reality/culture as
a whole, rather than those merely in the world of story.
• Avoid cliches. (Love conquers all" = lame) This sort of pat theme is more
appropriate to fables (which themselves can have more complex themes
than is stated).
Group Exercise
Harrison Bergeron
Summary: Harrison is taken away from his family at 14 years old because he is
in opposition to the government controlling everyone by giving them handicaps in
order to make them equal.
Questions:
1. Equality and the government trying to control everyone. Total equality cannot
be achieved by giving people handicaps.
2. Diana Moon Clampers is a flat character. The characterization of her is not
realistic, but it doesn't need to be because she represents conformity.
3. The story is told in third person. It's more effective than Harrison telling it
because if it was told from his point we wouldn't be able to see the issues clearly.
4. Yes, they have to remain the same in order to stay equal.
Symbols:
Diana Moon Clampers – conformity
The ceiling – a glass ceiling
Theme: Equality doesn't always bring about a fair society.
Song: The Power of Equality - Red Hot Chili
Peppers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQtLeCoqkd0