- Symbols in literature can represent abstract ideas, themes or concepts and help reveal deeper meaning. They can have both contextual meanings determined by the author as well as widely recognized societal meanings. - Common symbolic elements in literature include colors, numbers, plants, animals, seasons, directions, objects like sun/moon/water, and shapes like circles and triangles. These symbols often represent concepts like life/death, masculinity/femininity, spirituality, consciousness. - The meaning of a symbol depends on context and how it is used within a work, as a single symbol may have multiple interpretations or represent different themes. Authors use symbols to add deeper layers of significance to their stories.

1. Symbolism in Literature English 12 Fall 2009 Ms. Ross

2. Images from: wikipedia.org/ www.jorymon.com www.stepheniemeyer.com/

3. What is a symbol? A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something else. They are learned associations, arising mainly out of cultural traditions.

4. Symbols in literature… Are shaped by our own associations as well as the author’s Moby-Dick, the white whale, is usually interpreted as a symbol of evil, God, or an indifferent universe. (www.pbs.org) The lion is a symbol of bravery, strength, and power. Conventional symbols: those widely recognized by society Contextual symbols: those whose meaning are determined mainly by the author

5. 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) Symbols in literature…

6. Can stand for more than one thing Symbols in literature… 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)

7. Motifs & Allegories Motif: recurring thematic symbols, images, ideas or items. These point in the direction of the overall theme Allegory: a story whose characters, setting, events, etc. are meant to represent general truths about human existence. The entire story is a collection of symbols

8. Common Conventional Symbols in Literature

9. 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

10. Moon Mother principle (i.e. female) Cycles Resurrection Madness

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. Flowers: A Few More Calla lily = beauty Daffodil = regard Daisy = innocence Narcissus = egotism Red poppy = consolation, death

16. Noteworthy Plants Bamboo = longevity, strength, grace Laurel = glory Oak = wisdom, strength Acorn = potential, strength Tree = fertility, life, growth, immortality or long life Garden = paradise and unspoiled beauty, innocence, fertility

17. Circle / Sphere Wholeness, completeness Unity Having no weak point The feminine spirit

18. Triangle The masculine spirit (positive or negative) The sky, the earth and the living creatures The union of two that creates the third (such as parents and child) The perfect union when two become one In Christianity: The father, the mother and the son The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit The power of the One to become All ( www.wiki.answers.com ) NB: Nazis used triangle markings in concentration camps to categorize prisoners

19. 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

20. 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

21. Numbers: Four The earth (associated also with the square) Cycles, because of the seasons Four elements: air, water, fire, earth Four directions: north, south, east, west Ovid’s Four Ages of the World: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron Four rivers of Hades

22. Numbers: Seven The union of three (spirituality) and four (earth) Eternal life: human life linked with divine life Completion of a cycle; perfect order (week, music scale, rainbow, etc.) Wisdom Christianity: creation in seven days Judaism: Passover and the menorah branches

23. Numbers: Twelve & Forty Twelve: completion (of a cycle) Year, zodiac Twelve gods of Mount Olympus, twelve labors of Hercules Forty: negative associations, usually religious “ Quarantine” was originally 40 days of isolation in the Roman port Examples of 40s in the Old Testament: 40 days Hebrews wandered in the desert, 40 days and nights of the great flood

24. 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

25. Sphinx & Crown Sphinx: part human (usually female) or ram, part lion, part bird Knowledge and wisdom The sun (and its associated meanings) Power and might Crown Monarchy, royalty or head of state Power and wealth Often associated with the number two (double crown) or three (triple crown) and their meanings

26. 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

27. Animals: Eagle, Dove, Phoenix Eagle Bravery, leadership United States of America Dove Peace, hope for peace Phoenix Resurrection

28. Animals: Cat & Dog Cat Independence Meditation, mystery, and watchfulness Cleverness and wisdom Black cats = bad luck (superstition) Dog Loyalty Guardianship (e.g. Cerberus)

29. Desert Spiritual aridity Hopelessness Nihilism Death

30. 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

31. Red Blood; life and death Energy Violence, disorder, sacrifice, rage, danger Warmth and heat Passion Lust

32. Green Fertility, growth, and the abundance of nature Hope Renewal Envy Na ï vet é Rottenness, decay, and death

33. Blue Closely associated with water Also associated with the sky Spirituality and religious beliefs Peace, calm, stability and order Intelligence Sadness and depression

34. Black Closely associated with darkness and night Darkness, chaos, and emptiness Mystery and the unknown Primal wisdom The unconscious Evil Melancholy

35. White Associated with light Purity, innocence, and virginity Timelessness Blinding truth Death and the supernatural Mirrors = reflection

36. Yellow Cheerfulness, happiness, warmth, and joy Hope (e.g. yellow ribbons) Hazard and danger (e.g. road signs) The sun (and its meanings) Gold = sovereignty and wealth Cowardice and deceit

37. Orange Red’s intensity and aggressiveness, tempered by yellow’s cheer Vibrancy, warmth and joy Courage and strength The sun (and its meanings) Light orange = summer Dark orange = autumn

38. Purple Royalty, nobility, and authority Mystery Spirituality

39. Brown Wholesomeness and earthiness Dependability, simplicity, and friendliness Health Permanence Dullness