Literary Symbols Symbol n An object that stands

Literary Symbols

Symbol n An object that stands for or represents something else n We see certain symbols without having to think about what they mean

Symbols in Literature: A person place, or thing within a piece of literature n Stands for something other than itself n Associated with an idea not closely related to the object itself n Not always obvious n

How to spot a symbol in a story Not everything in literature can be a symbol. That would get really confusing. An object that reappears or is referenced more than once in a story is often a symbol It is referenced in the title It seems out of place

Interpreting what they mean Sometimes a symbol represents something that looks similar to it n The Grim Reaper (Skull—looks like death, symbolizes death) More often, a symbol represents something that acts like it: n n n Justice represented as… Freedom represented as… The heart often represents…

On-the-spot symbol analysis: • Look at the following images. • Explain: • 1) What idea they represent • 2) How they work as a symbol

The counterpoint—What do you think? “There isn't any symbolism. The sea is the sea. The old man is an old man. The boy is a boy and the fish is a fish. ” -Ernest Hemingway, speaking about his classic novel The Old Man and the Sea.