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Symbolism in Symbolism in
Literature Literature
English 12 English 12
Fall 2009 Fall 2009
Ns. Ross Ns. Ross
Images from:
wikipedia.org/
www.jorymon.com
www.stepheniemeyer.com/
What is a symbol? What is a symbol?
A symbol is something that stands for, or A symbol is something that stands for, or
represents, something else. represents, something else.
They are learned associations, arising They are learned associations, arising
mainly out of cultural traditions. mainly out of cultural traditions.
Symbols in literature. Symbols in literature.
-- Are shaped by our own associations as Are shaped by our own associations as
well as the author's 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 Conventional symbols: those widely recognized
by society by society
Contextual symbols: those whose meaning Contextual symbols: those whose meaning
are determined mainly by the author are determined mainly by the author
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-- Are related to the culture they come from. Are related to the culture they come from.
The ones here come mainly from a The ones here come mainly from a
westernfEurocentric tradition westernfEurocentric tradition
-- Can be recognized by the frequency an object Can be recognized by the frequency an object
or character is mentioned in a piece of or character is mentioned in a piece of
literature literature-- --if it is mentioned often, it is if it is mentioned often, it is
probably important. Or, look at how much probably important. Or, look at how much
detail is used in describing an object. detail is used in describing an object. (How to (How to
Understand Symbolism in Literature", www.ehow.com) Understand Symbolism in Literature", www.ehow.com)
Symbols in literature. Symbols in literature.
-- Can stand for more than one thing Can stand for more than one thing
Symbols in literature. 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)
Notifs 8 Allegories Notifs 8 Allegories
-- Notif: recurring thematic symbols, Notif: recurring thematic symbols,
images, ideas or items. These point in images, ideas or items. These point in
the direction of the overall theme the direction of the overall theme
-- Allegory: a story whose characters, Allegory: a story whose characters,
setting, events, etc. are meant to setting, events, etc. are meant to
represent general truths about human represent general truths about human
existence. The entire story is a existence. The entire story is a
collection of symbols collection of symbols
Common Common
Conventional Conventional
Symbols in Symbols in
Literature Literature
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Sun 8 Light Sun 8 Light
-- Father principle (i.e. male) Father principle (i.e. male)
-- Consciousness: thinking, Consciousness: thinking,
enlightenment, wisdom, enlightenment, wisdom,
spiritual vision, awareness spiritual vision, awareness
-- Passage of time and life Passage of time and life
-- Rising sun: birth, creation, Rising sun: birth, creation,
enlightenment enlightenment
-- Setting sun: endings, death Setting sun: endings, death
-- Creative energy Creative energy
-- Sun: Law in nature Sun: Law in nature
Noon Noon
-- Nother principle Nother principle
(i.e. female) (i.e. female)
-- Cycles Cycles
-- Resurrection Resurrection
-- Nadness Nadness
Night 8 Dark Night 8 Dark
-- The mysterious The mysterious
-- The unknown (e.g. to be in the dark") The unknown (e.g. to be in the dark")
-- Death Death
-- Evil, shadiness of quality (i.e. the darker Evil, shadiness of quality (i.e. the darker
the night, the purer the evil) the night, the purer the evil)
-- Darkness can also be calming, Darkness can also be calming,
-- restful, serene restful, serene--much like still much like still
-- being in the womb being in the womb
Image from:
www.stepheniemeyer.com
Water Water
-- The mystery of creation The mystery of creation
-- Purification and cleansing Purification and cleansing
-- Redemption and rebirth (e.g. baptism) Redemption and rebirth (e.g. baptism)
-- The unconscious The unconscious
-- Rivers: the flow of time, journeys Rivers: the flow of time, journeys
-- Lakes: the unconscious (what lies beneath") Lakes: the unconscious (what lies beneath")
-- SeafOcean: the mother of all life, spiritual SeafOcean: the mother of all life, spiritual
mystery and infinity, timelessness and eternity, mystery and infinity, timelessness and eternity,
cycles (the tides) cycles (the tides)
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Fire 8 Lightning Fire 8 Lightning
-- Fire: associated with the sun Fire: associated with the sun
and light and light
-- Purification Purification
-- Destruction Destruction
-- Power Power
-- Passionate emotions: love, hate, rage, anger Passionate emotions: love, hate, rage, anger
-- Sexuality Sexuality
-- Lightning: dramatic, instantaneous divine Lightning: dramatic, instantaneous divine
retribution and destruction retribution and destruction
Flowers: The Rose Flowers: The Rose
Traditionally (since the victorian era, anyway), the Traditionally (since the victorian era, anyway), the
colour of the rose determines the kind of love: colour of the rose determines the kind of love:
-- Red = romance, beauty Red = romance, beauty
-- Yellow = friendship Yellow = friendship
-- Deep pink = gratitude and appreciation Deep pink = gratitude and appreciation
-- Light pink = sympathy and admiration Light pink = sympathy and admiration
-- White = reverence, purity, innocence, remembrance White = reverence, purity, innocence, remembrance
(and, therefore, also death) (and, therefore, also death)
-- Orange = passion, excitement Orange = passion, excitement
-- Lavender = enchantment, love at first sight Lavender = enchantment, love at first sight
Flowers: A Few Nore Flowers: A Few Nore
-- Calla lily = beauty Calla lily = beauty
-- Daffodil = regard Daffodil = regard
-- Daisy = innocence Daisy = innocence
-- Narcissus = egotism Narcissus = egotism
-- Red poppy = consolation, death Red poppy = consolation, death
Noteworthy Plants Noteworthy Plants
-- Bamboo = longevity, strength, grace Bamboo = longevity, strength, grace
-- Laurel = glory Laurel = glory
-- Oak = wisdom, strength Oak = wisdom, strength
-- Acorn = potential, strength Acorn = potential, strength
-- Tree = fertility, life, growth, immortality Tree = fertility, life, growth, immortality
or long life or long life
-- Garden = paradise and unspoiled Garden = paradise and unspoiled
beauty, innocence, fertility beauty, innocence, fertility
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Circle f Sphere Circle f Sphere
-- Wholeness, completeness Wholeness, completeness
-- Unity Unity
-- Having no weak point Having no weak point
-- The feminine spirit The feminine spirit
Triangle Triangle
-- The masculine spirit (positive or negative) The masculine spirit (positive or negative)
-- The sky, the earth and the living creatures The sky, the earth and the living creatures
-- The union of two that creates the third (such The union of two that creates the third (such
as parents and child) as parents and child)
-- The perfect union when two become one The perfect union when two become one
-- !n Christianity: !n Christianity:
-- The father, the mother and the son The father, the mother and the son
-- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
-- The power of the One to become All The power of the One to become All
-- ((www.wiki.answers.com www.wiki.answers.com))
-- NB: Nazis used triangle markings in NB: Nazis used triangle markings in
concentration camps to categorize prisoners concentration camps to categorize prisoners
Numbers: One 8 Two Numbers: One 8 Two
-- One: the original, the creator One: the original, the creator
-- Two: duality Two: duality
-- Nale and female Nale and female
-- Good and evil Good and evil
-- Night and day; hot and cold; etc. Night and day; hot and cold; etc.
-- Two Two--facedness (e.g. Janus: facedness (e.g. Janus:
Roman god of gates, doors, Roman god of gates, doors,
doorways, beginnings and doorways, beginnings and
endings) endings)
-- Yin and yang: female and male Yin and yang: female and male
opposites opposites
Numbers: Three Numbers: Three
-- Spiritual awareness Spiritual awareness
-- Completeness and unity Completeness and unity
-- Phases of life: past, present and future; Phases of life: past, present and future;
maiden, mother, and crone; etc. maiden, mother, and crone; etc.
-- Triads Triads
-- Christianity: The Holy Trinity Christianity: The Holy Trinity
-- Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha
-- Family: mother, father, child Family: mother, father, child
-- The three Fates; three Sirens; three Witches; The three Fates; three Sirens; three Witches;
three Furies; three Graces three Furies; three Graces
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Numbers: Four Numbers: Four
-- The earth (associated also with the square) The earth (associated also with the square)
-- Cycles, because of the seasons Cycles, because of the seasons
-- Four elements: air, water, fire, earth Four elements: air, water, fire, earth
-- Four directions: north, south, east, west Four directions: north, south, east, west
-- Ovid's Four Ages of the World: Gold, Silver, Ovid's Four Ages of the World: Gold, Silver,
Bronze, !ron Bronze, !ron
-- Four rivers of Hades Four rivers of Hades
Numbers: Seven Numbers: Seven
-- The union of three (spirituality) and four The union of three (spirituality) and four
(earth) (earth)
-- Eternal life: human life linked with divine life Eternal life: human life linked with divine life
-- Completion of a cycle; perfect order (week, Completion of a cycle; perfect order (week,
music scale, rainbow, etc.) music scale, rainbow, etc.)
-- Wisdom Wisdom
-- Christianity: creation in seven days Christianity: creation in seven days
-- Judaism: Passover and the menorah branches Judaism: Passover and the menorah branches
Numbers: Twelve 8 Forty Numbers: Twelve 8 Forty
-- Twelve: completion (of a cycle) Twelve: completion (of a cycle)
-- Year, zodiac Year, zodiac
-- Twelve gods of Nount Olympus, Twelve gods of Nount Olympus,
twelve labors of Hercules twelve labors of Hercules
-- Forty: negative associations, usually religious Forty: negative associations, usually religious
-- Quarantine" was originally +0 days of isolation in the Quarantine" was originally +0 days of isolation in the
Roman port Roman port
-- Examples of +0s in the Old Testament: +0 days Examples of +0s in the Old Testament: +0 days
Hebrews wandered in the desert, +0 days and nights Hebrews wandered in the desert, +0 days and nights
of the great flood of the great flood
Cross Cross
-- Associated with the number four, for the Associated with the number four, for the
quadrants it creates quadrants it creates
-- Christianity: suffering, death and resurrection, Christianity: suffering, death and resurrection,
Jesus, the faith itself and its followers Jesus, the faith itself and its followers
-- Red cross: medical care and assistance Red cross: medical care and assistance
-- Ankh: Egyptian symbol of life and fertility Ankh: Egyptian symbol of life and fertility
-- Saltire (diagonally crossed lines): skull and Saltire (diagonally crossed lines): skull and
crossbones represent danger, poison, pirates crossbones represent danger, poison, pirates
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Sphinx 8 Crown Sphinx 8 Crown
-- Sphinx: part human (usually female) or ram, part Sphinx: part human (usually female) or ram, part
lion, part bird lion, part bird
-- Knowledge and wisdom Knowledge and wisdom
-- The sun (and its associated meanings) The sun (and its associated meanings)
-- Power and might Power and might
-- Crown Crown
-- Nonarchy, royalty or head of state Nonarchy, royalty or head of state
-- Power and wealth Power and wealth
-- Often associated with the number two (double crown) or Often associated with the number two (double crown) or
three (triple crown) and their meanings three (triple crown) and their meanings
Animals: Serpent f Snake Animals: Serpent f Snake
-- Energy and pure force Energy and pure force
-- Evil and corruption Evil and corruption
-- Sensuality Sensuality
-- Destruction Destruction
-- Nystery Nystery
-- Wisdom Wisdom
-- The unconscious The unconscious
-- Primitiveness and origins Primitiveness and origins
-- !ncludes worms, because of their resemblance !ncludes worms, because of their resemblance
Animals: Eagle, Dove, Phoenix Animals: Eagle, Dove, Phoenix
-- Eagle Eagle
-- Bravery, leadership Bravery, leadership
-- United States of America United States of America
-- Dove Dove
-- Peace, hope for peace Peace, hope for peace
-- Phoenix Phoenix
-- Resurrection Resurrection
Animals: Cat 8 Dog Animals: Cat 8 Dog
-- Cat Cat
-- !ndependence !ndependence
-- Neditation, mystery, and watchfulness Neditation, mystery, and watchfulness
-- Cleverness and wisdom Cleverness and wisdom
-- Black cats = bad luck (superstition) Black cats = bad luck (superstition)
-- Dog Dog
-- Loyalty Loyalty
-- Guardianship (e.g. Guardianship (e.g.
Cerberus) Cerberus)
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Desert Desert
-- Spiritual aridity Spiritual aridity
-- Hopelessness Hopelessness
-- Nihilism Nihilism
-- Death Death
Colours Colours
-- Possibly the most pervasive of literary Possibly the most pervasive of literary
symbols symbols
-- Shade is important Shade is important--can show the potency of can show the potency of
the symbolic meaning the symbolic meaning
-- Consider combinations of colours (separate Consider combinations of colours (separate
or blended) or blended)
-- As many colours can be seen positively or As many colours can be seen positively or
negatively, their effects and contexts must negatively, their effects and contexts must
be taken into account be taken into account
Red Red
-- Blood; life and death Blood; life and death
-- Energy Energy
-- violence, disorder, sacrifice, rage, danger violence, disorder, sacrifice, rage, danger
-- Warmth and heat Warmth and heat
-- Passion Passion
-- Lust Lust
Green Green
-- Fertility, growth, and the abundance of Fertility, growth, and the abundance of
nature nature
-- Hope Hope
-- Renewal Renewal
-- Envy Envy
-- Na Navet vet
-- Rottenness, decay, and death Rottenness, decay, and death
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Blue Blue
-- Closely associated with water Closely associated with water
-- Also associated with the sky Also associated with the sky
-- Spirituality and religious beliefs Spirituality and religious beliefs
-- Peace, calm, stability and order Peace, calm, stability and order
-- !ntelligence !ntelligence
-- Sadness and depression Sadness and depression
Black Black
-- Closely associated with darkness and night Closely associated with darkness and night
-- Darkness, chaos, and emptiness Darkness, chaos, and emptiness
-- Nystery and the unknown Nystery and the unknown
-- Primal wisdom Primal wisdom
-- The unconscious The unconscious
-- Evil Evil
-- Nelancholy Nelancholy
White White
-- Associated with light Associated with light
-- Purity, innocence, and virginity Purity, innocence, and virginity
-- Timelessness Timelessness
-- Blinding truth Blinding truth
-- Death and the supernatural Death and the supernatural
-- Nirrors = reflection Nirrors = reflection
Yellow Yellow
-- Cheerfulness, happiness, warmth, and joy Cheerfulness, happiness, warmth, and joy
-- Hope (e.g. yellow ribbons) Hope (e.g. yellow ribbons)
-- Hazard and danger (e.g. road signs) Hazard and danger (e.g. road signs)
-- The sun (and its meanings) The sun (and its meanings)
-- Gold = sovereignty and wealth Gold = sovereignty and wealth
-- Cowardice and deceit Cowardice and deceit
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Orange Orange
-- Red's intensity and aggressiveness, Red's intensity and aggressiveness,
tempered by yellow's cheer tempered by yellow's cheer
-- vibrancy, warmth and joy vibrancy, warmth and joy
-- Courage and strength Courage and strength
-- The sun (and its meanings) The sun (and its meanings)
-- Light orange = summer Light orange = summer
-- Dark orange = autumn Dark orange = autumn
Purple Purple
-- Royalty, nobility, and authority Royalty, nobility, and authority
-- Nystery Nystery
-- Spirituality Spirituality
Brown Brown
-- Wholesomeness and earthiness Wholesomeness and earthiness
-- Dependability, simplicity, and Dependability, simplicity, and
friendliness friendliness
-- Health Health
-- Permanence Permanence
-- Dullness Dullness