Symbol- A Literary TermSymbol- A Literary Term

By Luke WaltermireBy Luke Waltermire

What is symbol?What is symbol?

Symbol is something concrete Symbol is something concrete (something that you can touch, taste, (something that you can touch, taste, hear, or smell) that stands for hear, or smell) that stands for something abstract. (something that something abstract. (something that you can’t touch, taste, hear, or smell) you can’t touch, taste, hear, or smell) An example might be the peace sign. An example might be the peace sign. The peace sign is the concrete thing, The peace sign is the concrete thing, and it stands for peace.and it stands for peace.

Novel Example #1- The Lion, The Novel Example #1- The Lion, The Witch and the WardrobeWitch and the Wardrobe

My first example from a novel is Aslan, the My first example from a novel is Aslan, the lion from The Lion, The Witch and the lion from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Aslan represents Jesus, because Wardrobe. Aslan represents Jesus, because he dies and rises again.he dies and rises again.

Lewis, C.S.. Lewis, C.S.. The Lion, The Witch and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobethe Wardrobe. Great Britain: Harper . Great Britain: Harper Collins Publishers, 1950. Collins Publishers, 1950.

Novel Example #2- The Magician’s Novel Example #2- The Magician’s NephewNephew

My second example of symbol from a My second example of symbol from a novel is the creation of Narnia (the world novel is the creation of Narnia (the world that The Chronicles of Narnia series takes that The Chronicles of Narnia series takes place in) representing the creation of Earth place in) representing the creation of Earth because they were both created the same because they were both created the same way, by an omnipotent being.way, by an omnipotent being.

Lewis, C.S.. Lewis, C.S.. The Magician's NephewThe Magician's Nephew. . Great Britain: Harper Collins Great Britain: Harper Collins Publishers, 1955. Publishers, 1955.

Novel Example #3- The BibleNovel Example #3- The Bible

My third example of symbol in a novel My third example of symbol in a novel comes from comes from The BibleThe Bible. This example is in . This example is in Matthew 26:26 when he says to his Matthew 26:26 when he says to his disciples, “Take and eat; this is my body,” disciples, “Take and eat; this is my body,” when giving them bread. The eating of the when giving them bread. The eating of the bread stands for Jesus.bread stands for Jesus.

The Holy BibleThe Holy Bible. NIV. Grand Rapids . NIV. Grand Rapids Michigan: The Zondervan Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 2001. Corporation, 2001.

Novel Example #4- The BibleNovel Example #4- The Bible

My fourth example of symbol in a novel is My fourth example of symbol in a novel is also from also from The BibleThe Bible. This example is in . This example is in Matthew 26:27 when Jesus gives his Matthew 26:27 when Jesus gives his disciples wine and says, “Drink from it, all disciples wine and says, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant.” of you. This is my blood of the covenant.” This wine stands for God’s blood.This wine stands for God’s blood.

The Holy BibleThe Holy Bible. NIV. Grand Rapids . NIV. Grand Rapids Michigan: The Zondervan Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 2001. Corporation, 2001.

Novel Example #5- Novel Example #5- Harry Potter Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsand the Deathly Hallows

My 5th and final example of symbolism in My 5th and final example of symbolism in a novel is the mark of the Deathly Hallows a novel is the mark of the Deathly Hallows in the 7in the 7thth Harry Potter book. My example is Harry Potter book. My example is that the mark of the Deathly Hallows that the mark of the Deathly Hallows represents the 3 Hallows, the Elder Wand, represents the 3 Hallows, the Elder Wand, the Invisibility Cloak and the Resurrection the Invisibility Cloak and the Resurrection Stone.Stone.

Rowling, J.K.. Rowling, J.K.. Harry Potter and the Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsDeathly Hallows. New York City: . New York City: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007 Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007

Drama Example- Warriors- After Drama Example- Warriors- After Sunset: We Need To TalkSunset: We Need To Talk

My example of symbol from a drama is the Clan My example of symbol from a drama is the Clan borders in the play borders in the play Warriors- After Sunset: We Warriors- After Sunset: We Need To TalkNeed To Talk. The borders between the Clans . The borders between the Clans are scent borders that symbolize where the are scent borders that symbolize where the Clan cats can and can’t go.Clan cats can and can’t go.

Hunter, Erin. "Warriors- After Sunset: We Need Hunter, Erin. "Warriors- After Sunset: We Need to talk." to talk." www.warriorcats.comwww.warriorcats.com. unavailable. 6 . unavailable. 6 Dec 2008 Dec 2008 <http://www.warriorcats.com/data/downloads/w<http://www.warriorcats.com/data/downloads/we_need_to_talk.pdf>. e_need_to_talk.pdf>.

Short Story Example #1- The Frog Short Story Example #1- The Frog PrincePrince

My first example of symbol from a short My first example of symbol from a short story is story is The Frog PrinceThe Frog Prince. The frog . The frog represents that it is not always what is on represents that it is not always what is on the outside that counts, but that what is the outside that counts, but that what is on the inside is what matters.on the inside is what matters.

The Frog PrinceThe Frog Prince. Lincolnwood, Illinois: . Lincolnwood, Illinois: Publications International Ltd., 1995. Publications International Ltd., 1995.

Short Story Example #2-The Oval Short Story Example #2-The Oval PortraitPortrait

My second example of symbolism in a short story My second example of symbolism in a short story is from the Edgar Allen Poe short story/ poem is from the Edgar Allen Poe short story/ poem hybrid, hybrid, The Oval PortraitThe Oval Portrait. The example is that the . The example is that the picture of a woman symbolizes our obsessions in picture of a woman symbolizes our obsessions in life. These obsessions sometimes make us forget life. These obsessions sometimes make us forget what is important.what is important.

Poe, Edgar Allen. Poe, Edgar Allen. Edgar Allen Poe- Stories for Edgar Allen Poe- Stories for Young PeopleYoung People. New York City: Sterling Publishing . New York City: Sterling Publishing

Co. Inc., 2006Co. Inc., 2006

Poem Example #1-The Road Not Poem Example #1-The Road Not TakenTaken

My 1My 1stst example of symbolism example of symbolism in a poem is from in a poem is from The Road The Road Not TakenNot Taken by Robert Frost. by Robert Frost. The symbolism is how the The symbolism is how the choice of two paths in the choice of two paths in the forest represents choices in forest represents choices in life and how sometimes life and how sometimes taking the uncommon choice taking the uncommon choice can make all the difference.can make all the difference.

““The Road Not TakenThe Road Not Taken” is ” is reprinted fromreprinted from Mountain Mountain IntervalInterval. Robert Frost. . Robert Frost. New York: Henry Holt, New York: Henry Holt, 1921.1921.

Poem Example #2-The Oval Poem Example #2-The Oval PortraitPortrait

My second example of symbolism in a poem is My second example of symbolism in a poem is from the Edgar Allen Poe short story/ poem from the Edgar Allen Poe short story/ poem hybrid, The Oval Portrait. The example is that the hybrid, The Oval Portrait. The example is that the picture of a woman symbolizes our obsessions in picture of a woman symbolizes our obsessions in life. These obsessions sometimes make us forget life. These obsessions sometimes make us forget what is important.what is important.

Poe, Edgar Allen. Poe, Edgar Allen. Edgar Allen Poe- Stories for Edgar Allen Poe- Stories for Young PeopleYoung People. New York City: Sterling Publishing . New York City: Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., 2006 Co. Inc., 2006