Symbolism

Symbolism is …

A symbol is something that represents something else.

peace

commitment

What can be a symbol?

• An object• A picture• Written word• Sound• Numerals• Language

Religious Symbols

Mathematical Symbols

Political Symbols

• American Flag = all things American

• Red and White Bars = the original 13 colonies

• The Stars = The Fifty States

Color Symbolism• Black is used to represent death

or evil.• White stands for life and purity.• Red can symbolize blood, passion,

danger, or immoral character.• Purple is a royal color.• Yellow stands for violence or

decay.• Blue represents peacefulness and

calm.

Symbolism in Writing

• Symbolism is used to provide meaning tothe writing beyond what is actually beingdescribed.• Plot and action are one level in the story;symbolism is another level.

Symbolism in Writing

• EXAMPLE: A storm occurring when thereis a conflict or high emotions

• EXAMPLE: Transition from day to nightmight = move from goodness to evil

Good -> Evil

Examples from Literature

Harry PotterCould be seen as containing a lot ofsymbolism, although there are as manyinterpretation as there are creatures in thebooks. One clear symbol is a commonlyused one-the use of the snake torepresent evil. It is no coincidence that thesymbol of Slytherin House is a serpent.

Examples from Literature

“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst• The "red, dead bird" symbolizes the frailty of Doodle,

the boy whose life is also suddenly cut short. • Like the ibis, which has traveled a great distance only

to discover that he is lost in a strange land, Doodle also has lived longer and covered more ground than anyone could have imagined.

• He is found in the appropriately named “bleeding tree.”

• Darkness comes early, symbolizing the approach of death.

“Nothing Gold Can Stay”by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold, (youth & new life = beauty)

Her hardest hue to hold. (beauty is difficult to hold onto)

Her early leaf's a flower; (nature = woman; youth = flower)

But only so an hour. (appearances fade quickly)

Then leaf subsides to leaf, (time passes like turning pages)

So Eden sank to grief, (refers to creation and fall of mankind)

So dawn goes down to day (time shortening to a single day)

Nothing gold can stay. (references to spring and new life become references to fall and death)