SYMBOL IN LITERATURE
DR. HUSNIAH SAHAMID
Symbols – some definition
• A symbol is a sign
• further layers of meaning
• a symbol means more than it literally says
•
http://web.mst.edu/~gdoty/classes/concepts-practices/def-symbols.htmlre literal - symbols
are not!.
General symbols
• Religious symbols
• Political symbols
Symbol - Defn
• a word or object that
stands for another word
or object
• object or word can be
seen with the eye or not
visible
• Ex. a dove stands for
Peace.
• The dove can be seen and
peace cannot.
Symbol- Defn
• Something that represents something else by
association,
• resemblance, or convention
• especially a material object used to represent
something invisible.
Literature - Symbols
• provide meaning to the writing beyond what
is actually being described
• plot and action thought of as one level,
• symbolism of certain things
• act on another level to enhance the story.
Classic examples
• Adam and Eve: when Eve ate the apple
• Apple stood for sin
• Serpent – negative :
evil/temptation/satan
• Great Gatsby
• Huge pair of bespectacled
eyes
• Over wilderness of a
rubbish heap
• Symbol: God
Symbol association
- can have 3 kinds:
• Often will have all three
• 1. personal
• 2. cultural
• 3. universal
Personal:
• associations with things in our experience
• One person may have strong affection for
dogs
• another person may fear them intensely.
Cultural
• Different symbols different meanings in
different cultures.
• A lion can represent Christ in Christian
culture;
• Sumerian culture, sun represents god Marduk.
• Chinese culture: dogs - devotion & loyalty
• Islamic culture: impurity.
Common Cultural Symbols?
• When looking for cultural symbols in literature
• think of what symbols represent moral standards,
beliefs or patriotic themes for a culture / country.
• American cultural symbols: Red, white and blue
colors; Bald Eagle; coin with "In God We Trust"
• Indian cultural symbols: yogi, banyan tree, image
of Indian god or goddess
• Chinese cultural symbols: Bamboo tree, bonsai
tree, yin/yang symbol
Universal:
•
•
•
•
•
Jungian psychology, & other theories
Argue: some symbols have universal meaning.
Lions : deity in a variety of cultures
Serpent/snake
Trying to discern,
express universal
meaning of a symbol
is tricky.
Common literary symbols
• Symbols referring to damnation:
Fire, flames, heat, hot temperatures
• Symbols referring to salvation:
angels, haloes, clouds, churches
/mosques/temples
Common literary symbols
• Symbols referring to reincarnation or
reinvention:
Phoenix rising from flames, crosses, rainbows,
passing storms, dawn, sunrise, broken chains
• Symbols referring to death or endings:
Gravestones, cemeteries, Grim Reaper, Day of
the Dead, skulls, candle blowing out, coffin,
ringing of bell
Symbolic Act
• A gesture/ action with
larger significance
• Barn – burning
• The act symbolise more
than destroying barn
• Symbol of expression of
hatred
• Father’s memories of the
“waste & extravagance of
war”
•
Kennedy and Gioia . (1995) Literature.
Allegory
• Animal Farm,
• entire story is a symbol for the evils of
communism,
• animal characters representing key figures in the
Russian revolution.
• can be read as hildren's story
• Realise - various elements and characters in the
story symbolize
• the novel takes on a whole new meaning.
• story is called an allegory.
Why use symbols?
•
•
•
•
•
Its compact
Its powerful/profound
Able to suggest
Watch – symbol for time
Ticking of watch – slow &
invisible passage of time
• Sense of helplessness
associated with ‘ticking’
Recognising symbols
Sometimes writer:
• gives paticular emphasis
• may repeat
• may appear in the title of the story
- a clean well-lighted place,
- barn-burning
Symbol or not?
•
•
•
•
Maybe NOT a symbol but
Tie in with the theme
With the message
what the writer is trying to convey