What is the difference between a symbol and a metaphor?

1

• What is the difference between a symbol and a
  metaphor?
• How do you know if something is symbolic?

2

• A symbol is a person, place, thing or experience
  that has meaning beyond its objective reality.

3

• In literature a symbol is usually a concrete
  image that evokes or suggests another level of
  meaning, often an abstract idea. It usually
  relies on a figurative rather than a literal
  connection.

4
Contextual and Universal

• Contextual symbol derives its meaning from the
  context of the work in which it appears. Author
  creates the symbol through the work.

5
Contextual and Universal

• Universal symbols that are based on culture and
  are easily recognized by people without
  explanation.

6
Beware of this

• The pillory is symbolic of the brutal way the
  Puritans treated those who did not conform to
  their narrow view of the world.

7
Source book entry Young Goodman Brown

• Actively read the short story with an eye out for
  possible symbols.
• When you find a symbolic element record it in
  your source book and explain the symbolic
  connections include a supporting quote (include
  page and paragraph)
• If the symbol reappears in the story make note of
  it and include quote.

8
allegory

• A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor.
  Allegories are written in the form of fables,
  parables, poems, stories, and almost any other
  style or genre. The main purpose of an allegory
  is to tell a story that has characters, a
  setting, as well as other types of symbols, that
  have both literal and figurative meanings. Often
  allegories are used to deliver a moral message.

9
Source book entry Young Goodman Brown(continued)

• Reexamine the symbols you identified and discuss
  with your partners how the story functions as an
  allegor and what its moral message is.
• Record your observations in your sourcebook.