1. Symbolism in Literature English 12 Fall 2009 Ms. Ross

2. Images from: wikipedia.org/ www.jorymon.com www.stepheniemeyer.com/

3. What is a symbol? A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, something else. They are learned associations, arising mainly out of cultural traditions.

4. Symbols in literature… Are shaped by our own associations as well as the author’sAre shaped by our own associations as 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 by society Conventional symbols: those widely recognized by society Contextual symbols: those whose meaning are determined mainly by the authorContextual symbols: those whose meaning are determined mainly by the author

5. Are related to the culture they come from. The ones here come mainly from a western/Eurocentric traditionAre related to the culture they come from. The ones here come mainly from a western/Eurocentric tradition Can be recognized by the frequency an object or character is mentioned in a piece of literature--if it is mentioned often, it is probably important. Or, look at how much detail is used in describing an object. (“How to Understand Symbolism in Literature”, www.ehow.com)Can be recognized by the frequency an object or character is mentioned in a piece of literature--if it is mentioned often, it is probably important. Or, look at how much detail is used in describing an object. (“How to Understand Symbolism in Literature”, www.ehow.com) Symbols in literature…

6. Can stand for more than one thingCan stand for more than one thing 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)

7. Motifs & Allegories Motif: recurring thematic symbols, images, ideas or items. These point in the direction of the overall themeMotif: recurring thematic symbols, images, ideas or items. These point in the direction of the overall theme Allegory: a story whose characters, setting, events, etc. are meant to represent general truths about human existence. The entire story is a collection of symbolsAllegory: a story whose characters, setting, events, etc. are meant to represent general truths about human existence. The entire story is a collection of symbols

8. Common Conventional Symbols in Literature

9. Sun & Light Father principle (i.e. male)Father principle (i.e. male) Consciousness: thinking,Consciousness: thinking, enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision, awareness Passage of time and lifePassage of time and life Rising sun: birth, creation,Rising sun: birth, creation,enlightenment Setting sun: endings, deathSetting sun: endings, death Creative energyCreative energy Sun: Law in natureSun: Law in nature

10. Moon Mother principleMother principle (i.e. female) CyclesCycles ResurrectionResurrection MadnessMadness

11. Night & Dark The mysteriousThe mysterious The unknown (e.g. to be “in the dark”)The unknown (e.g. to be “in the dark”) DeathDeath Evil, shadiness of quality (i.e. the darker the night, the purer the evil)Evil, shadiness of quality (i.e. the darker the night, the purer the evil) Darkness can also be calming,Darkness can also be calming, restful, serene—much like stillrestful, serene—much like still being in the wombbeing in the womb Image from: www.stepheniemeyer.com

12. Water The mystery of creationThe mystery of creation Purification and cleansingPurification and cleansing Redemption and rebirth (e.g. baptism)Redemption and rebirth (e.g. baptism) The unconsciousThe unconscious Rivers: the flow of time, journeysRivers: the flow of time, journeys Lakes: the unconscious (“what lies beneath”)Lakes: the unconscious (“what lies beneath”) Sea/Ocean: the mother of all life, spiritual mystery and infinity, timelessness and eternity, cycles (the tides)Sea/Ocean: the mother of all life, spiritual mystery and infinity, timelessness and eternity, cycles (the tides)

13. Fire & Lightning Fire: associated with the sunFire: associated with the sun and light PurificationPurification DestructionDestruction PowerPower Passionate emotions: love, hate, rage, angerPassionate emotions: love, hate, rage, anger SexualitySexuality Lightning: dramatic, instantaneous divine retribution and destructionLightning: dramatic, instantaneous divine retribution and destruction

14. Flowers: The Rose Traditionally (since the Victorian era, anyway), the colour of the rose determines the kind of love: Red = romance, beautyRed = romance, beauty Yellow = friendshipYellow = friendship Deep pink = gratitude and appreciationDeep pink = gratitude and appreciation Light pink = sympathy and admirationLight pink = sympathy and admiration White = reverence, purity, innocence, remembrance (and, therefore, also death)White = reverence, purity, innocence, remembrance (and, therefore, also death) Orange = passion, excitementOrange = passion, excitement Lavender = enchantment, love at first sightLavender = enchantment, love at first sight

15. Flowers: A Few More Calla lily = beautyCalla lily = beauty Daffodil = regardDaffodil = regard Daisy = innocenceDaisy = innocence Narcissus = egotismNarcissus = egotism Red poppy = consolation, deathRed poppy = consolation, death

16. Noteworthy Plants Bamboo = longevity, strength, graceBamboo = longevity, strength, grace Laurel = gloryLaurel = glory Oak = wisdom, strengthOak = wisdom, strength Acorn = potential, strengthAcorn = potential, strength Tree = fertility, life, growth, immortality or long lifeTree = fertility, life, growth, immortality or long life Garden = paradise and unspoiled beauty, innocence, fertilityGarden = paradise and unspoiled beauty, innocence, fertility

17. Circle / Sphere Wholeness, completenessWholeness, completeness UnityUnity Having no weak pointHaving no weak point The feminine spiritThe feminine spirit

18. Triangle The masculine spirit (positive or negative)The masculine spirit (positive or negative) The sky, the earth and the living creaturesThe sky, the earth and the living creatures The union of two that creates the third (such as parents and child)The union of two that creates the third (such as parents and child) The perfect union when two become oneThe perfect union when two become one In Christianity:In Christianity: The father, the mother and the sonThe father, the mother and the son The Father, the Son and the Holy SpiritThe Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit The power of the One to become AllThe power of the One to become All (www.wiki.answers.com)(www.wiki.answers.com)www.wiki.answers.com NB: Nazis used triangle markings in concentration camps to categorize prisonersNB: Nazis used triangle markings in concentration camps to categorize prisoners

19. Numbers: One & Two One: the original, the creatorOne: the original, the creator Two: dualityTwo: duality Male and femaleMale and female Good and evilGood and evil Night and day; hot and cold; etc.Night and day; hot and cold; etc. Two-facedness (e.g. Janus:Two-facedness (e.g. Janus: Roman god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings) Yin and yang: female and maleYin and yang: female and maleopposites

20. Numbers: Three Spiritual awarenessSpiritual awareness Completeness and unityCompleteness and unity Phases of life: past, present and future; maiden, mother, and crone; etc.Phases of life: past, present and future; maiden, mother, and crone; etc. TriadsTriads Christianity: The Holy TrinityChristianity: The Holy Trinity Buddhism: Buddha, Dhamma, and SanghaBuddhism: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha Family: mother, father, childFamily: mother, father, child The three Fates; three Sirens; three Witches; three Furies; three GracesThe three Fates; three Sirens; three Witches; three Furies; three Graces

21. Numbers: Four The earth (associated also with the square)The earth (associated also with the square) Cycles, because of the seasonsCycles, because of the seasons Four elements: air, water, fire, earthFour elements: air, water, fire, earth Four directions: north, south, east, westFour directions: north, south, east, west Ovid’s Four Ages of the World: Gold, Silver, Bronze, IronOvid’s Four Ages of the World: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron Four rivers of HadesFour rivers of Hades

22. Numbers: Seven The union of three (spirituality) and four (earth)The union of three (spirituality) and four (earth) Eternal life: human life linked with divine lifeEternal life: human life linked with divine life Completion of a cycle; perfect order (week, music scale, rainbow, etc.)Completion of a cycle; perfect order (week, music scale, rainbow, etc.) WisdomWisdom Christianity: creation in seven daysChristianity: creation in seven days Judaism: Passover and the menorah branchesJudaism: Passover and the menorah branches

23. Numbers: Twelve & Forty Twelve: completion (of a cycle)Twelve: completion (of a cycle) Year, zodiacYear, zodiac Twelve gods of Mount Olympus,Twelve gods of Mount Olympus, twelve labors of Hercules Forty: negative associations, usually religiousForty: negative associations, usually religious “Quarantine” was originally 40 days of isolation in the Roman port“Quarantine” was originally 40 days of isolation in the Roman port Examples of 40s in the Old Testament: 40 days Hebrews wandered in the desert, 40 days and nights of the great floodExamples of 40s in the Old Testament: 40 days Hebrews wandered in the desert, 40 days and nights of the great flood

24. Cross Associated with the number four, for the quadrants it createsAssociated with the number four, for the quadrants it creates Christianity: suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus, the faith itself and its followersChristianity: suffering, death and resurrection, Jesus, the faith itself and its followers Red cross: medical care and assistanceRed cross: medical care and assistance Ankh: Egyptian symbol of life and fertilityAnkh: Egyptian symbol of life and fertility Saltire (diagonally crossed lines): skull and crossbones represent danger, poison, piratesSaltire (diagonally crossed lines): skull and crossbones represent danger, poison, pirates

25. Sphinx & Crown Sphinx: part human (usually female) or ram, part lion, part birdSphinx: part human (usually female) or ram, part lion, part bird Knowledge and wisdomKnowledge and wisdom The sun (and its associated meanings)The sun (and its associated meanings) Power and mightPower and might CrownCrown Monarchy, royalty or head of stateMonarchy, royalty or head of state Power and wealthPower and wealth Often associated with the number two (double crown) or three (triple crown) and their meaningsOften associated with the number two (double crown) or three (triple crown) and their meanings

26. Animals: Serpent / Snake Energy and pure forceEnergy and pure force Evil and corruptionEvil and corruption SensualitySensuality DestructionDestruction MysteryMystery WisdomWisdom The unconsciousThe unconscious Primitiveness and originsPrimitiveness and origins Includes worms, because of their resemblanceIncludes worms, because of their resemblance

27. Animals: Eagle, Dove, Phoenix EagleEagle Bravery, leadershipBravery, leadership United States of AmericaUnited States of America DoveDove Peace, hope for peacePeace, hope for peace PhoenixPhoenix ResurrectionResurrection

28. Animals: Cat & Dog CatCat IndependenceIndependence Meditation, mystery, and watchfulnessMeditation, mystery, and watchfulness Cleverness and wisdomCleverness and wisdom Black cats = bad luck (superstition)Black cats = bad luck (superstition) DogDog LoyaltyLoyalty Guardianship (e.g.Guardianship (e.g.Cerberus)

29. Desert Spiritual ariditySpiritual aridity HopelessnessHopelessness NihilismNihilism DeathDeath

30. Colours Possibly the most pervasive of literary symbolsPossibly the most pervasive of literary symbols Shade is important—can show the potency of the symbolic meaningShade is important—can show the potency of the symbolic meaning Consider combinations of colours (separate or blended)Consider combinations of colours (separate or blended) As many colours can be seen positively or negatively, their effects and contexts must be taken into accountAs many colours can be seen positively or negatively, their effects and contexts must be taken into account

31. Red Blood; life and deathBlood; life and death EnergyEnergy Violence, disorder, sacrifice, rage, dangerViolence, disorder, sacrifice, rage, danger Warmth and heatWarmth and heat PassionPassion LustLust

32. Green Fertility, growth, and the abundance of natureFertility, growth, and the abundance of nature HopeHope RenewalRenewal EnvyEnvy NaïvetéNaïveté Rottenness, decay, and deathRottenness, decay, and death

33. Blue Closely associated with waterClosely associated with water Also associated with the skyAlso associated with the sky Spirituality and religious beliefsSpirituality and religious beliefs Peace, calm, stability and orderPeace, calm, stability and order IntelligenceIntelligence Sadness and depressionSadness and depression

34. Black Closely associated with darkness and nightClosely associated with darkness and night Darkness, chaos, and emptinessDarkness, chaos, and emptiness Mystery and the unknownMystery and the unknown Primal wisdomPrimal wisdom The unconsciousThe unconscious EvilEvil MelancholyMelancholy

35. White Associated with lightAssociated with light Purity, innocence, and virginityPurity, innocence, and virginity TimelessnessTimelessness Blinding truthBlinding truth Death and the supernaturalDeath and the supernatural Mirrors = reflectionMirrors = reflection

36. Yellow Cheerfulness, happiness, warmth, and joyCheerfulness, 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 wealthGold = sovereignty and wealth Cowardice and deceitCowardice and deceit

37. Orange Red’s intensity and aggressiveness, tempered by yellow’s cheerRed’s intensity and aggressiveness, tempered by yellow’s cheer Vibrancy, warmth and joyVibrancy, warmth and joy Courage and strengthCourage and strength The sun (and its meanings)The sun (and its meanings) Light orange = summerLight orange = summer Dark orange = autumnDark orange = autumn

38. Purple Royalty, nobility, and authorityRoyalty, nobility, and authority MysteryMystery SpiritualitySpirituality

39. Brown Wholesomeness and earthinessWholesomeness and earthiness Dependability, simplicity, and friendlinessDependability, simplicity, and friendliness HealthHealth PermanencePermanence DullnessDullness