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Symbolism: What it is and Blog

Apr 6, 2022

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What's the Meaning of Symbolism?

If you're looking for the meaning of symbolism, the clue's in the title"Symbolism" means something which suggests or represents something other than the literal meaning. When writing, it usually takes the form of things or words that have another meaning, which play an essential part in the narrative.

Examples of Symbolism

We see examples of symbolism throughout literature and in our daily life, and there are many universally recognized meanings for different phrases or images that transcend the obvious definitions. These are just a few:

White: Pure and Innocent

The color white is commonly used as a symbol for innocence or purity--think white wedding dresses that are traditional or raising an uncolored flag to surrender. It's not a particular aspect of white to suggest that these are meanings However, with the passage of time and individuals bringing meanings to white, these more profound significance have become part of the collective consciousness.

A Four-Leaf Clover: Good Luck, or good Fortune

The "luck of the Irish" is often ascribed to the clover with four leaves. While the three-leaf clover is widespread, one with four leaves is more difficult to come across. For this reason, if you're able to find one, it's considered as incredibly fortunate.

Ravens: Prophecy, or Death

Being a bird that talks, ravens have often been considered to be a symbol of prophecy or wisdom; a connection between the human and spiritual realms. But their dark feathers as well as their ominous appearance and typical diet of decaying flesh also have been linked to death loss or luck. Edgar Allan Poe's infamous poem "The Raven" is a good illustration of this kind of symbolic meaning in literature.

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Types of Symbolism

Religious symbols

Over the centuries, religion has been a dominant force in communities across the globe. It's hardly a surprise, then, that symbols around religious beliefs have been so common in the world of literature and poetry.

Shakespeare loved the use of religious symbols, frequently using phrases like "pilgrim," "saint," and "shrine" to talk about the romantic love story of Romeo as well as Juliet. Not only did these phrases appeal to a religious audience during his time but they also allow modern readers to empathize with the suffering of these couple and experience the deep and pure nature of their love.

Romantic Symbolism

The other universally accepted concepts are love and romance , are represented through a variety of ways in literature and poetry. The red and white roses of a swan, for example, have come to be synonymous with love and devotion.

While some writers are more explicit in their romantic images (a candle-lit dinner or objects with hearts are obviously in reference to romantic love) Others prefer to keep their literary symbolism somewhat obscure for the viewer. In John Keats' poem "Ode to Nightingale," the song of birds hints at the joy of communication between man and animals. What's more, it also represents love and a romantic relationship, drawing inspiration from traditional symbols of birds and romance that comes from Greek mythology.

Emotional Symbolism

Over the years, authors use physical objects to express feelings. For instance, Lady Macbeth's blood-stained hands that wouldn't wash to symbolize her guilt, or Rose's butterfly hair comb in Titanic to represent her feeling of liberation around Jack.

It is also used to represent emotions. A calm rainstorm might suggest sadness, while rough waters typically signify trouble is brewing. On the other hand fire is frequently utilized to symbolize the pain of anger or destruction. In the dystopian story Fahrenheit 451, the burning of books represents symbolically and literally destroyed. destruction of freedom and knowledge.

Different Types of Symbolism

Mythology

Myths are one of the genres of story heavily grounded in symbols. They typically tell tales of gods or creatures that are not human interacting with the human world or having some impact on our lives.

Historical mythologies have a strong relationship with various spiritual and religious groups all over the globe, particularly when it comes to creation stories as well as the reasons behind the cultural customs and norms. The types of symbolic meaning can be seen in Greek, Chinese, Egyptian and Norse mythology. All you have to do is imagine any god in the pantheon. And they represent more than just their names.

Personification

Buildings and weather are two of the most frequently personified examples of symbolism in literature. Consider the quote, "the thunder roared through the valley" for example. With regards to poetic symbolic meaning, Emily Dickinson was known for her use of personification. She once wrote "The Heart wants what it wants, or else does not care."

Literary Devices that aren't Symbolism

Metaphor

The well-known Elf quote, "you sit on a the throne of lies" could be interpreted as symbolic at first (the chair is a symbol of an chair) however, it's really an analogy. The chair is metaphoric for an unending pile of lies that is, of course, something which is intangible. And a direct comparison is made with this imaginary pile of lies and a throne.

Simile

Allegory

The next most similar literary technique to symbolism employing actions, events or even characters, to convey specific ideas. Allegorical stories function as standalone events or beings that do not have any symbolism thought of, yet they are tightly tied to the overall concept or theme of the narrative. In an allegory the majority of details have an element of symbolism. But an allegorical story is not have to be an allegorical story.

One common (though controversial) example is the character Aslan from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Aslan is believed to represent Jesus--sacrificing his own life in order to save Edmund's life , and the resurrection in the last chapters just strengthens the case.

Symbolism in poetry

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth

Wordsworth's writings are rich in poetic imagery The poem in this instance is no exception. The daffodils he mentions, in connection with his description of loneliness represent a new starting and blossoming into the new year:

  I Wandered Lonely as the Cloud  
   It floats over high o'er vales and hills,
  At once I saw a mass of people,  
  A host, of golden daffodils;  
  Beside the lake, in the shade of the trees  
  Dancing and fluttering with the wind.  

Since I was unable to stop for the death of Emily Dickinson

The best instances of poetry's symbolism are composed by Emily Dickinson. In her poem, she employs the theme of the carriage to suggest the speaker's movement toward the end of life (which can also be seen later in her use of the sunset) as well as the transition between death, life, and the eternal afterlife.

  Because I could not end my journey to Death  
  He stopped kindly for me -  
  The Carrier was not held it was just Ourselves -  
  and Immortality.  

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