Symbolism

Symbolism Meanings beyond the obvious

A symbol is…
an object that stands for itself and a greater idea .
We see symbols every day…

PART 1: HOW MANY SYMBOLS CAN YOU ASSOCIATE WITH UNIVERSAL , ABSTRACT IDEAS OR VALUES??
HINT: Don’t limit yourselves to objects, think also about shapes and colors or just parts of a picture

In literature, symbolism…
creates a direct, meaningful link between…
a specific object, scene, character, or action
and
abstract ideas, values, persons or ways of life.

Symbolism is be used to…
Provide meaning beyond the obvious:
Emphasize key ideas or themes:
A river can represent the flow of life… … or its depth may represent the unknown… … the water might be purity… … or there could be dangers beneath the surface.

Draw attention to the plot:
A walk into a tunnel – or change from day to night – could show movement from good to evil, or that something bad is coming… A storm at a critical moment can represent the intense emotion and trouble… And dawn may show the end of conflict, the “start of a new day.”

And give insights into characters:
In Poe’s “Telltale Heart,” the sound of the beating heart represents the man’s guilt… … a character’s name may tell you something about them, in “The Lottery” Mr. Graves has authority over the killing… … and a character’s appearance can be symbolic – in Cask of Amontillado, Fortunato wears a fool’s costume – and he is, in fact, a fool for trusting the narrator.

How can you spot a symbol?
There’s no one way, but some things to look for are:
Colors or objects that are used repeatedly: if it’s mentioned often, it’s probably important
Unusual character names
Objects / creatures that have cultural meanings (lions = strength, owls = wisdom, etc.)

One warning…
Many “symbols” are personal interpretations – and unintended by the author!
Consider this dialogue from Peanuts:
Lucy: “ Do you always have the people’s hands behind their back to symbolize your shyness?” So… don’t go crazy with this stuff! It’s all open to interpretation… Charlie Brown: “ No, I just don’t know how to draw hands.”

What do these images symbolize?

And these…

The end. 

http://ncvps.blackboard.com	185
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Symbolism

by Derek Pizzuto on Nov 23, 2008

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Symbolism — Presentation Transcript