Symbol

1
Symbol

• Deeper Meanings

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What Is a Symbol?

• A symbol is a person, a place, a thing, or an
  event that has meaning in itself and also stands
  for something beyond itself.

• The use of symbols in literature is called
  symbolism.

3
Why Writers Use Symbols

• Writers may use symbols to
• emphasize a theme
• add multiple meanings to their work
• lead readers beyond a surface understanding of
  the text
• allow readers to form their own interpretations

4
How to Identify Symbols

• To identify symbols in a selection
• Watch for details that seem unusual or out of
  place, especially if they are repeated during
  important events
• Think about other meanings such details might
  have and how those other meanings might apply to
  the situation in the reading

5
Searching Too Hard

• Avoid going overboard when looking for symbols.
  Not all literary works contain symbols. Be
  careful not to turn every object or event into a
  symbol.
• While overinterpretation can seem to add new
  meaning to works, it may stray from the writers
  intent.

6
What Have You Learned?
Are the following statements true or false?
_________ A symbol stands for something other
than itself. _________ Poets rarely use symbols
in their poems. _________ Symbols can give
multiple meanings to a literary work.
True
False
True
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The End