In poetry and other forms of writing, symbolism is often used to convey a specific meaning to the audience. That is, if it’s a tough subject, the words will take on a negative or morose tone, while the symbols evoke images of cold or dark objects.

: the art or practice of using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations.

A symbol is a person, object, place, event, or action that suggests more than its literal meaning. Whereas conventional symbols are used in poetry to convey tone and meaning, contextual or literary symbols reflect the internal state of mind of the speaker as revealed through the images.

Other Literary Examples of Symbolism In Elie Wiesel’s novel Night, night is used throughout the book to symbolize death, darkness, and loss of faith. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the letter “A” symbolizes adultery.

Here’s how to use symbolism to enrich your own writing:

1. Begin with story and characters.
2. Balance small-scale and large-scale symbolism.
3. Don’t just use common symbols.
4. Use symbolism to add emotional resonance.

How to Tell When Something Is Really a Symbol

1. Look at descriptions. If a character is always dressed in purple clothing and wearing a crown, these items probably symbolize the character’s power, wealth, and royal status.
2. Look for repetition.
3. Pay attention to the turning points in a story.

There are three types of symbols: Graphics, Buttons, and Movieclips. A copy of a symbol used in the movie is called an Instance, which can have its own independent properties (like color, size, function, etc.) different from the original symbol.

Symbol. They’re related, but generally a metaphor is used to draw a comparison between two distinct objects, whereas a symbol is used as a stand-in for a much more complex, and generally more abstract, idea.

How to Analyze Symbolism in 8 Easy Steps

1. Take notes. Keep track of objects, characters, and ideas.
2. Learn what a symbol is.
3. Look for detailed descriptions.
4. Look for “big idea” names.
5. Look for repetition.
6. Do research.

It starts off with the words, “An idea, concept, or lesson….” If themes are ideas or concepts, then symbolism is a vessel for delivering those ideas and concepts. In other words, symbols should accurately reflect a story’s themes, and therefore must be chosen carefully.

Symbols—such as gestures, signs, objects, signals, and words—help people understand that world. They provide clues to understanding experiences by conveying recognizable meanings that are shared by societies. The world is filled with symbols.

Stars are often used to symbolize heavenly bodies, purity and good luck. In dreams, a shooting star is a sign of self-fulfillment and advancement in life. Stars may also symbolize a big change or turning point in a person’s life, but they are also seen as a sign of sorrow.

Just as light shines in the darkness, so the Star is often considered a symbol of truth, spirit and hope. The star symbol embodies the notion of spiritual revelation in each of us. Their “nightly creation” represents the conflict upon the energies of dark and the unexplained.

hexagram

A Five Pointed Star Five Pointed Star Five Pointed Star represents the five wounds of Jesus on the Cross. The Heart is a symbol of love and reminds Christians that God is Love. The Cross symbolizes that Christians believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that everyone’s sins would be forgiven.

Many people who practice Modern Paganism and Pagan faiths wear jewelry incorporating the symbol. Christians once commonly used the pentagram to represent the five wounds of Jesus….Pentagram.

Crescent and Star: The faith of Islam is symbolized by the Crescent and Star. The Crescent is the early phase of the moon and represents progress. The star signifies illumination with the light of knowledge.

In the Orthodox Church, the Star of Bethlehem is interpreted as a miraculous event of symbolic and pedagogical significance, regardless of whether it coincides with a natural phenomenon; a sign sent by God to lead the Magi to the Christ Child. Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth.

The World English Bible translates the passage as: They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

Thus the latest date for the Magi to have seen the `star’ at Bethlehem was April 6 plus 70 days, i.e. June I 5, and the latest date for the birth of Jesus is this date minus 6 weeks, i.e. May 4.