Symbolism in
Literature
Symbolism
Basic Definition:
A symbol is something
that represents something
else
They are learned
associations, arising
mainly out of cultural
traditions.
Mathematical Symbols
Symbolism . . .
 Specific
Definition: When an author
uses a CONCRETE object to
represent an ABSTRACT idea …
 CONCRETE objects are REAL and
have physical properties!
 ABSTRACTIONS are REAL but have
no physical properties
Concrete Objects
Abstractions
 Love
 Hate
Courage
 fear
Always Remember . . .

In order to determine WHAT a
symbol represents . . .
1.
ALWAYS determine its physical
traits first
2.
THEN, see what those traits can
be like (represent).
So, what traits do you see in
this object?
13 stripes
 50 stars
 RED
 WHITE
 BLUE
 (Question: Do we
pledge allegiance
to this piece of
cloth?)

What does each trait mean?










The 13 stripes represent . . .
The 13 original colonies!
The 50 stars represent . . .
Each of the 50 states in the union.
The stars are in a blue field to represent . . .
UNITY!
Some stripes are white to represent . . .
HONESTY, INTEGRITY, NEWNESS.
Some stripes are red to represent . . .
The COURAGE it took to form this nation!
Remember . . .
 Just
like we use “enhancements” to
“pimp” a ride . . .
 An
author uses SYMBOLISM to
enhance (or “pimp”) the story!!!!
 The
story is cooler and has clearer
meaning with symbols in it!!!!!
So, how do we find symbols in a
story???
1.
2.
3.
Look for concrete objects . . .
That appear often in the story
Note when and with whom the
object appears . . .
Also Ask: is that object
sometimes or often associated
with “other” things or ideas?
So, what do we look for?
Colors!
 Flowers!
 Weather!
 Seasons or times of the day or year!
 NAMES!!!!!!!!!!!
 ANYTHING concrete can probably be a
symbol in some context!
 Just remember that each of these
things can mean different things in
different contexts (different
situations)!

Symbolism in Writing
Symbolism
is used to provide
meaning to the writing
beyond what is actually being
described
Plot and action are one level
in the story, symbolism is
another level
Symbolism in Writing
 The
theme is represented on a
physical level
 Example: A storm occurring
when there is a conflict or high
emotions
 Example: Transition from day
to night might = move from
goodness to evil
Symbols in literature…
Are related to the culture they come from.
The ones here come mainly from a
western/Eurocentric tradition
 Can be recognized by the frequency an
object or character is mentioned in a piece
of literature--if it is mentioned often, it is
probably important. Or, look at how much
detail is used in describing an object. (“How to

Understand Symbolism in Literature”, www.ehow.com)
Examples from Literature
Examples from Literature
Harry Potter
Could be seen as containing a lot of
symbolism, although there are as
many interpretations as there are
creatures in the books. One clear
symbol is a commonly used one—the
use of the snake to represent evil. It
is no coincidence that the symbol of
Slytherin House is a serpent.
All information and examples from: http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/symbolism/page.html
Examples from Literature
Symbols in literature…
 Can
stand for more than one thing
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: nothing clearly
represents one particular thing--objects are generally
contained in their individual episode. The garden may
symbolize the Garden of Eden, an idyllic space of beauty
and innocence that Alice is not permitted to access. Also,
the garden may represent the experience of desire, in that
Alice focuses her energy and emotion on trying to attain it.
The two symbolic meanings work together to underscore
Alice's desire to hold onto her feelings of childlike
innocence that she must relinquish as she matures.
(www.sparknotes.com)
Common
Conventional
Symbols in
Literature
Sun & Light
Father principle (i.e. male)
 Consciousness: thinking,
enlightenment, wisdom,
spiritual vision, awareness
 Passage of time and life

– Rising sun: birth, creation,
enlightenment
– Setting sun: endings, death
Creative energy
 Sun: Law in nature

Moon
 Mother
principle
(i.e. female)
 Cycles
 Resurrection
 Madness
Night & Dark
The mysterious
 The unknown (e.g. to be “in the dark”)
 Death
 Evil, shadiness of quality (i.e. the darker
the night, the purer the evil)
 Darkness can also be calming,
 restful, serene—much like still
 being in the womb

Image from:
www.stepheniemeyer.com
APPLES!
**One of the most common and
famous symbols
Water
The mystery of creation
 Purification and cleansing
 Redemption and rebirth (e.g. baptism)
 The unconscious
 Rivers: the flow of time, journeys
 Lakes: the unconscious (“what lies
beneath”)
 Sea/Ocean: the mother of all life,
spiritual mystery and infinity,
timelessness and eternity, cycles (the
tides)

Fire & Lightning
 Fire:
associated with the sun
and light
– Purification
– Destruction
– Power
– Passionate emotions: love, hate, rage,
anger
– Sexuality
 Lightning:
dramatic, instantaneous
divine retribution and destruction
Flowers: The Rose
Traditionally (since the Victorian era, anyway),
the
colour of the rose determines the kind of love:
 Red = romance, beauty
 Yellow = friendship
 Deep pink = gratitude and appreciation
 Light pink = sympathy and admiration
 White = reverence, purity, innocence,
remembrance (and, therefore, also death)
 Orange = passion, excitement
 Lavender = enchantment, love at first sight
Flowers: A Few More
 Calla
lily = beauty
 Daffodil = regard
 Daisy = innocence
 Narcissus = egotism
 Red poppy = consolation, death
Circle / Sphere
 Wholeness,
completeness
 Unity
 Having
no weak point
 The feminine spirit
Numbers: One & Two
One: the original, the creator
 Two: duality

–
–
–
–
Male and female
Good and evil
Night and day; hot and cold; etc.
Two-facedness (e.g. Janus:
Roman god of gates, doors,
doorways, beginnings and
endings)
– Yin and yang: female and male
opposites
Numbers: Three
Spiritual awareness
 Completeness and unity
 Phases of life: past, present and future;
maiden, mother, and crone; etc.
 Triads

–
–
–
–
Christianity: The Holy Trinity
Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha
Family: mother, father, child
The three Fates; three Sirens; three Witches;
three Furies; three Graces
Cross
Associated with the number four, for the
quadrants it creates
 Christianity: suffering, death and
resurrection, Jesus, the faith itself and its
followers
 Red cross: medical care and assistance
 Ankh: Egyptian symbol of life and fertility
 Saltire (diagonally crossed lines): skull
and crossbones represent danger, poison,
pirates

Animals: Serpent / Snake
Energy and pure force
 Evil and corruption
 Sensuality
 Destruction
 Mystery
 Wisdom
 The unconscious
 Primitiveness and origins
 Includes worms, because of their
resemblance

Animals: Eagle, Dove, Phoenix
 Eagle
– Bravery, leadership
– United States of America
 Dove
– Peace, hope for peace
 Phoenix
– Resurrection
Animals: Cat & Dog
 Cat
– Independence
– Meditation, mystery, and watchfulness
– Cleverness and wisdom
– Black cats = bad luck (superstition)
 Dog
– Loyalty
– Guardianship (e.g.
Cerberus)
Colours
 Possibly
the most pervasive of literary
symbols
 Shade is important—can show the
potency of the symbolic meaning
 Consider combinations of colours
(separate or blended)
 As many colours can be seen positively
or negatively, their effects and
contexts must be taken into account
Red
 Blood;
life and death
 Energy
 Violence,
disorder, sacrifice, rage,
danger
 Warmth and heat
 Passion
 Lust
Green
 Fertility,
growth, and the abundance
of nature
 Hope
 Renewal
 Envy
 Naïveté
 Rottenness, decay, and death
Black
 Closely
associated with darkness and
night
 Darkness, chaos, and emptiness
 Mystery and the unknown
 Primal wisdom
 The unconscious
 Evil
 Melancholy
White
 Associated
with light
 Purity, innocence, and virginity
 Timelessness
 Blinding truth
 Death and the supernatural
 Mirrors = reflection
Purple
 Royalty,
nobility, and authority
 Mystery
 Spirituality
Brown
 Wholesomeness
and earthiness
 Dependability, simplicity, and
friendliness
 Health
 Permanence
 Dullness