Literary Element Series:
—Symbolism—
Literary Symbols, Motifs, and Allegory
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolism

Symbolism is the art or practice of assigning abstract
meaning to physical objects.

Let’s think of an everyday object such as a mirror.
What exactly do we use a mirror for?
Well, we use a mirror to see our reflection and make sure we are
properly put together.
 We all know a mirror is an object, but do we know what it
represents symbolically?


© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolism

Through history certain objects have taken on more
than their literal meaning.

Mirrors have become symbols of: truth, deceit, vanity,
and beauty to name a few. Abstract meaning has been
assigned to a mirror thereby making it a symbol.

Think of another object that people have assigned
abstract meaning to.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
What are Symbols?

Symbols are objects, characters, figures,
sounds or colors used to represent
abstract ideas or concepts. A symbol is
the physical representation of an
intangible idea, concept, emotion, or
state of mind.
Symbol/Object =
Shamrock
Abstract Idea/Concept
LUCK
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolic Significance

When we talk of a symbol’s symbolic significance we
are referring to the important or profound meaning
beyond the symbol.

Therefore, objects that have taken on more than their
literal meaning have symbolic significance.

Again, let’s think about an everyday object. Let’s use
the moon. It is a celestial body. It is a large natural
satellite that revolves around the Earth, but what does
it symbolically represent?
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolic Significance

People from many different cultures have looked to
the moon as a source of light but some also
believed it was an ancient goddess. Artemis or
Diana was one such goddess. She represented
youth, chastity, and protected all animals. People
believed in and worshipped her in their time of
need.

Another legend says that during a full moon certain
people transformed into wolf like beings and went
mad for human flesh. Because of these ancient
beliefs the moon has taken on new symbolic
meaning.
Symbol/Object
= Moon
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
?
Symbolic Significance > Example:
The Moon as a Symbol
SYMBOL/OBJECT =
THE MOON
SYMBOLIC
SIGNIFICANCE
 Immortality
 Eternity
 Wisdom
 Darkside of Human Nature
 Lunacy
 The Imagination
 Light and Darkness
 Superstition
 Youth
 Adolescence
 The Hunt
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolic Meaning in 3 Forms
Positive Meaning
 When a symbol’s
significance represents a
quality that is “good” it is
a symbol with positive
meaning.
Negative Meaning
 When a symbol’s
significance represents
“bad” qualities it is a
symbol with negative
meaning.
Neutral Meaning

When a symbol’s meaning is neither good
nor bad then it is classified as neutral.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolic Qualities
Symbol =
a wedding ring
Positive
Meaning
Neutral
Meaning
Negative
Meaning
 Unity
 Love
 Trust
 Fidelity
 Partnership
 Legality
 Infinity
 Eternity
 Marriage
 Lust
 Obsession
 Covetousness
 Domination
 Manipulation
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Literary Symbolism

Literary Symbolism is the usage and
recognition of symbols in works of
literature (as well as film).

Literary Symbols can be either Archetypal
(Traditional) or Constructed.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Archetypal (Traditional) Symbols

Archetypal or Traditional
symbols are objects that have
taken on profound meaning
through the years.

The symbolic significance of
archetypal symbols are
recognize by people of different
cultures across the world.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Archetypal Symbols
Example 1:
 Love
 Beauty
 Mortality
 Death
Example 2:
 Wisdom
 Knowledge
 Memory
 Power
Example 3:
 Peace
 Innocence
 Purity
 Freedom
Example 4:
 Life
 Briefness
 Warmth
 Death
Rose
Dove
Book
Candle
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Constructed Symbols

Constructed symbols are objects
that take on their own special
symbolic meaning according to an
author or film maker.

The object in question might hold
traditional symbolic meaning but
it also takes on new meaning in
the context of the author’s story.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Constructed Symbols 1 & 2

In Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The
Masque of the Red Death,” there are
seven rooms, each a different color.
Each room is symbolic of an abstract
idea. For example, the last room was
clad in black with scarlet stained
windows. This is clearly symbolic of the
Red Death (a deadly plague) and the
finality of life.

In both the film and novel versions of
The Color Purple, while sauntering
through a field of violets, Shug Avery
explains that “I think it [makes] God
[mad] when you walk by the color
purple in a field and don't notice it.” The
color purple is clearly representative of
all nature’s beauty and the simplicity of
the little things in life.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Constructed Symbols 3

In Tolkien’s Lord of the
Rings volumes, there is a
small gold ring which an
unfathomable amount of
power. The One Ring
symbolizes power without
limits—a power utterly
corrupting. It is immensely
difficult for many of the
characters to resist the
temptation to take the Ring
for themselves and use it
for their own ends.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolic Characters

Sometimes in a work of literature or film a
particular character takes on the role of a
symbol.

This character usually demonstrates a
dominant character trait that exemplifies
an abstract concept.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Examples of Symbolic
Characters
1] Hamlet (Hamlet)
Contemplation & Manipulation
2] Captain Ahab (Moby Dick)
Obsession & Vengeance
3] Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)
Selfishness & Greed
4] Huck Finn (Adv. of Huckleberry Finn)
Self-Reinvention & Conscience
5] Dorothy Gale (The Wizard of Oz)
Belonging & Determination
6] Gandalf the Grey (Lord of the Rings)
Sacrifice & Resurrection
7] Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Corruption & Redemption
8] Harry Potter (Harry Potter Series)
Courage & Humility
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Places as Symbols

The setting—either fictional or real—of a work of
literature or film can also take on symbolic
meaning.
1] Paris
 Romance
 Civilization
 Revolution
2] Antarctica
 Bleakness
 Isolation
 Tranquility
3] The Shire
 Agriculture
 Humbleness
 Peace
4] Hogwarts
 Scholarship
 Education
 Wizardry
The Hobbit
Harry Potter
Series
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Major Categories of
Literary Symbols
Traditional Symbols
Colors as Symbols
Animals as Symbols
Symbols of Love
Symbols of Death
Symbols of Luck
American Symbols
People & Occupations
as Symbols
Places & Monuments
as Symbols
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Common Colors
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Violet [Purple]
Black
White
Brown
Pink
Silver
Gold
© 2013 James D.
Whitaker,
SophistThoughts™
Colors as
Symbols 2
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Animals as
Symbols
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbols of
Love
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbols of
Death
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbols of
Luck
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbols of
Education
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
American
Symbols
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Places &
Monuments as
Symbols
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbols, Symbols, Symbols…
Enough is Enough!

We should not make the
mistake of trying to find a
symbol in every story or
movie. Every object is not a
symbol. Please be aware
that one can be prone to
overanalyzing. Sometimes
the creator of a work did
not intend a certain object
to hold any symbolic
importance.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Motif

A motif is a recurrent symbol—an idea, an
object, a place, or statement that appears or is
mentioned many times in a text or film.

Motifs are very closely related to the theme of
works of literature and film.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Motifs in Film and Literature

The reappearance of the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg,
resonating with a green light, in The Great Gatsby, and
the repeated statement, “My father said that the reason
for living is getting ready to stay dead,” in William
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, are examples of motifs.

In the film The Sixth Sense whenever there is an evil spirit
among the living they start to shiver and exhale a cold
mist. A lot of red colored objects stand out from scene to
scene. This foreshadows something sinister.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Shakespearean Motifs
Romeo and Juliet
Night/Day; Light/Dark Imagery
Othello
Desdemona’s Handkerchief
Macbeth
Bloody Dagger and Hands
Hamlet
King Hamlet’s Apparition
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Leitmotif

A leitmotif is a melody that accompanies the
reappearance of an idea, person, or situation.

In many television shows and movies certain characters
have their own dominant theme music. For instance, in
John Carpenter’s Halloween Series, whenever Michael
Meyers appears a bone chilling melody ensues.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Allegory

An allegory is basically a story which can be seen as one
enormous symbol or metaphor. It is a symbolic fictional
narrative that conveys a secondary meaning that is not
explicitly or out right stated.

An allegory strikes the imagination and makes you think
about a story or movie in another light or like you were
looking through another lens. Fables and parables are short
allegories with one definite moral.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Notable Allegories in Literature
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
Animal Farm – George Orwell
The Crucible – Arthur Miller
His Dark Materials – Phillip Pullman
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Notable Allegorical Films
Apocalypse Now
The Wizard of Oz
Dawn of the Dead
V for Vendetta
The People Under the Stairs
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
When is an Allegory not an Allegory?

Since meaningful stories can be easily connected to larger issues,
the use of allegory may be assumed—sometimes distorting an
author’s original meaning.

For instance, many people believe that The Lord of the Rings was
an allegory for World Wars I and II. J.R.R. Tolkien was already
working on his story when the wars broke out. He has stated:

“It is neither allegorical nor topical... I cordially dislike allegory in all
its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and
wary enough to detect its presence.”
J.R.R. Tolkien in his
Military Uniform—
Hmmmm?
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolism and Theme 1

A symbol is an object or image that
stands out in a text or film. Symbols
become more easily recognizable
when they are repeatedly shown or
referred to. When this happens a
symbol becomes a motif.

A symbol that becomes a motif (or
various objects in a film or story
that hold the same symbolic
significance) greatly influence or
even create the foundation of a
theme.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Symbolism and Theme 2

A theme is an idea set forth by a text, where a motif is
a recurring element which often symbolizes that idea.
The motif can also be more like the central idea
behind the theme, such as love, vengeance, or
courage.

A motif can be an event or idea that reemerges to
develop a theme in a novel.

In the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird the children
are told never to shoot a mockingbird because
mockingbirds do nothing in their life but sing
beautifully for people. At the end of the novel the
theme of senseless killing is re-visited when Mr.
Underwood talks of Tom’s death.
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Lead-In Words & Phrases for Analyzing and
Interpreting Symbolic Significance
symbolically
represents…
symbolizes
symbol of
embodies
embodiment of
stands for
incarnates
incarnation of
represents
representative of
signifies
personifies
personify
epitomizes
epitome of
typifies
typify
denotes
suggests
suggestive of
associated with
indicates
indicative of
© 2013 James D. Whitaker, SophistThoughts™
Sample Introductory Phrases
The color red symbolically represents
love, passion, and temptation.
An hourglass epitomizes the
concepts of time and human
mortality.
A lion embodies courage, strength
and nobility.
The American flag incarnates
freedom, bravery, and sacrifice.
Both the crow and raven are birds
that personify death.
Doves, swans, and bees all typify
love.
Wolves are very social animals who
symbolize kinship, community,
and loyalty.
Paris is a famous city that is
associated with love and
romance.
Thanks For Your Patronage!
Check Out My Other Products…
Click Picture Below