What does symbolism mean in a story

When used as a figure of speech, you're not meant to take a hyperbole literally. Like the opposite of an understatement, hyperboles are often extravagant and often ridiculous overstatements. Not only can a hyperbole catch your attention, but it can also show a contrast between two things.

While many authors use hyperboles in works of fiction, many people also use hyperboles in everyday speech. A metonymy substitutes a word with a close association to an entity for the name of the entity itself. In other words, you refer to a thing by the name of something closely associated with it.

Writers use metonymy to address something more poetically or uniquely. Metonymy also helps them give a more complex meaning to an otherwise general or ordinary word. Irony refers to a figure of speech wherein the intended meaning opposes the literal meaning of the words expressed.

There are various types of irony including dramatic and verbal irony. Irony helps engage readers and adds another layer to a fictional tale. Many works of literature include the use of some form of symbolism to create an impact. Typically, it's done by adding another meaning to something like an action, name or object. Authors like to use symbolism for many reasons.

Here are some reasons that illustrate symbolism's importance in literature:. Related: How To Become an Author. To better understand symbolism, it helps to consider various examples. Whether it's a metaphor or a simile, knowing these types of symbolism can help you better understand them and better apply them in works of fiction or everyday use. Here are some examples of symbolism:.

Find jobs. Symbolism is, arguably, one of the strongest literary devices writers have. Much can be said behind while hiding behind the symbols that stream from nature and everyday life. Why not venture into a deeper dive on symbolism in poetry?

Enjoy these Examples of Symbolism in Poetry. All rights reserved. The works of women are symbolical. We sew, sew, prick our fingers, dull our sight, Producing what?

A pair of slippers, sir, To put on when you're weary. Harry Potter series by J. Rowling J. After all, he survives major battle after major battle. Dumbledore means bumblebee in Old English and he liked to hum. Albus means "white" which may symbolize a white wizard or good wizard. Any time someone shares a story that has a moral or meaning that the listener is expected to infer from the symbolism used, then that is an example of allegory.

When artists want to say something with their work, symbols are a great way for them to communicate. In this medium, symbols are often tangible items, like an animal, object or plant. Certain types of symbolism are representative of art produced during a specific time in history. Symbolism can give a literary work more richness and color and make the meaning of the work deeper.

In literature, symbolism can be a figure of speech or the actions of a character, word, action, or event that has a deeper meaning. There are many examples of symbolism in literature. It is common in books, though there are also many examples of symbolism in poetry. Whether you're enjoying art on a canvas or a novel on an e-reader, look beyond what you notice at first glance. Go forward with a keener eye for the layers of symbolism that surround you, both in the physical and artistic worlds.

Get started by learning more about figurative language. All rights reserved. What Is Symbolism? Symbolism Examples in Everyday Life Every language contains an immense number of symbols whose intended meaning or significance is generally well-known or understood fairly easily in context. Symbolic Colors Different colors are associated with different ideas or feelings. Black is often 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; it can symbolize grandeur, pride or extravagance. Yellow can stand for violence or decay. Blue can represent peacefulness and calm. Yet in his final moments, he recalls the sled associated with the happier days of his youth. The "Rosebud" sled can be described as a symbol of Kane's youthful innocence and idealism, of which he lost sight in his pursuit of power. The sled is one of the most famous symbols in all of film.

Orators often turn to symbolism for the same reasons writers do—symbols can add emotional weight to a speech and can stand-in for broad themes and central parts of their argument.

In the opening lines of his inaugural address , President Kennedy claims that his inauguration is the symbol of a new era in American history, defined by both reverence for the past and innovation in the years to come:. We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning—signifying renewal as well as change.

For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago. Here, President Kennedy argues on behalf of the symbolic significance of his election, suggesting that his Inauguration Day stands for the progress in America that is soon to come. Though it's not an especially subtle use of symbolism, Kennedy's assertion that his first day in office represents the first of many steps forward for America likely had a considerable emotional impact on his audience.

In his speech on the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches , President Obama casts the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama as a symbol of American progress and resilience.

The American instinct that led these young men and women to pick up the torch and cross this bridge is the same instinct that moved patriots to choose revolution over tyranny.

In this example, President Obama paid tribute to the activists who were beaten brutally by state troopers after crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge during a demonstration in Selma, Alabama.

Likening their perseverance in the face of police brutality to other prominent examples of American resistance, such as the American Revolution, Obama claims that the demonstrators symbolize a quintessential American trait: a commitment to securing and protecting personal freedom.

Thus, in Obama's speech, crossing the bridge can be said to function as a symbol of the long struggle for civil rights. It's hard to find a work of literature that lacks any kind of symbolism. Symbolism is an important literary device for creating complex narratives because it enables writers to convey important information without having to state things directly. In addition, the use of symbolism is widespread because it can:.

Symbolism Definition. Symbolism Examples. Symbolism Function. Symbolism Resources. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts.

The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play. Sign Up. Already have an account? Sign in. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare.

Download this entire guide PDF. Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Our Teacher Editions can help. Symbolism Definition What is symbolism?