How does symbolism develop a theme

Here are some examples of symbolism:. Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in.

Career Development. What is symbolism? Types of symbolism. Why is symbolism important? It acts as a visual aid for readers to better understand complex ideas of concepts. It helps readers follow a book's central theme more easily.

It allows writers to write their ideas more creatively and artfully. It allows readers to think about and interpret the author's words independently. It adds emotional weight to a work of literature. It helps address a potentially controversial theme discreetly rather than approaching it openly. Examples of symbolism.

Life is a rollercoaster. While life and a rollercoaster have many differences, this metaphor uses symbolism to indicate the highs and lows or ups and downs that life brings, similar to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. You're as brave as a lion. The subject of a story could be highly topical or anchored to a very specific time, place or zeitgeist, but by effectively using these literary tools, a writer can widen the appeal of their work beyond the boundaries of class, culture, creed or generation.

Theme, allegory and symbolism elevate a story, making it about more than just the specific events that take place, and maybe even altering our perception of the world around us. Or tell me about your favorite literary symbols and treasured allegories in the comments.

Hannah is a contributor to the Standoutbooks blog. Since graduating from Lancaster University in England with a joint degree in Fine Art and Creative Writing, she currently splits her time between writing, drawing, designing, podcasting, and working across the libraries of South Wales, where she and her ever-growing comic book collection also live.

Your email address will not be published. Don't subscribe All Replies to my comments Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. Theme What is it? The most critical reason I use symbols for me is inspiration. I may have to do upfront research, often spending a few hours collecting a list of symbols for each story, but, like an investment, I get a continual creative flare from it.

Common symbols everyone understands. Red stands for anger, blood, and violence. The cross stands for martyrdom and sacrifice. Skulls and scythes stand for death. Common symbols are usually implied. Uncommon symbols that the average person would not understand. What does a lily stand for? Okay… I was supposed to know that? Older pieces of literature use more uncommon symbols than modern works. Uncommon symbols can be difficult to catch, so hinting may be necessary.

Story symbols give you the option to create your own symbols. Where does the red fern grow? Whether that one was a symbol beforehand, it is hard to tell. Uncommon and story symbols can be hard to distinguish.

Story symbols are often the most powerful types of symbols. Related Audiobooks Free with a 30 day trial from Scribd. Terri Sheppard.

Robert Pannell. Show More. Views Total views. Actions Shares. No notes for slide. Theme and symbolism 1. The theme of a literary work is its underlying central idea or the generalization it communicates about life. The theme expresses the author's opinion or raises a question about human nature or the meaning of human experience. At times the author's theme may not confirm or agree with your own beliefs. The author's task is to communicate on a common ground with the reader. Be aware that the theme never completely explains the story.

A symbol with a meaning known to the majority of a society. Total views 30,