Jan's Master Class--SYMBOLISM
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:53 pm
In literature, symbolism is the use of something real and tangible to represent a feeling or an abstract concept.
There can be many degrees and various uses of symbolism. In an allegory, for example, the characters and even the settings may all represent concepts. The most well-known example of this is John Bunyan’s book Pilgrim’s Progess, in which the symbolism is hardly subtle; there are characters named Christian and Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and such locations as the Hill of Difficulty, the Slough of Despond, and the House Beautiful. It’s not difficult to determine what these symbolize. In other allegories, the characters and settings may not be so obviously named, but they also represent abstractions.
In short stories and poetry, a writer may choose to use a familiar symbol with a meaning well-known to her audience. If the Stars and Stripes are flying in a poem—if there’s a dove descending—if there’s a rainbow shining or a dark cloud on the horizon—a writer can be fairly sure that the readers will get it: she’s writing about patriotism, peace, hope, foreboding.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to using readily-recognized symbols. The advantage is as I’ve just stated: readers grasp them instantly, and it therefore adds to their understanding of the meaning and mood of your piece. However, the reason they’re readily-recognized is that they have been used countless thousands of times, and therefore have become clichés.
Another way to use symbolism, then, is to come up with your own symbols and to insert them into your poem or story. Why would you want to do this?
1. symbols can provide imagery
2. they can contribute greatly to the mood or atmosphere of your writing
3. they can provide a bit of foreshadowing
4. when a reader “gets” the symbol, there’s a great aha! moment
5. they can help you to “show, not tell”
What other reasons can you come up with for adding symbolism to your stories or poems?
Here are a few examples of symbolism from literature. See if you can determine a) what the symbol is, and b) what concept it represents. Keep in mind that since writing is an art, not a science, there may be more than one valid interpretation.
1. From Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
2. From The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
When the young woman -- the mother of this child -- stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom; not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token, which was wrought or fastened into her dress…On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A.
3. From Psalm 23
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
4. From Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
I’ll give you two examples from the Writing Challenge. Both are from my entries—not because they’re in any way superior, but because I knew where to find them.
5. From Stolen
The man pulled my wrist, and I bit him, so he jerked me away, away from my mother who was on her knees, crying. Her lip was bleeding. A wagoora cackled—caw! caw!--and as the men yanked me outside, I saw it flapping overhead.
6. From Megan’s Hands
In the yard, the sunlight streaming,
Megan’s digging in the dirt.
My daughter—fair and freckled—only three:
Now she looks—is Papa watching?
Does he know I’m being good?
I ache with love, blow kisses playfully.
She is blithely humming, wandering
Toward the borders of the lawn
Where lurks a poison oak, enticing, red.
It calls her name, this temptress:
See how shiny—pretty—bright?
Put down your spoon, and grasp my leaves instead!
How I hasten to her side, and
Cry, “Oh sweetie, let it go!”
Her fists behind her back, a stubborn chin--
“Papa, no,” she whispers, pouting
As I open up each hand:
Six crumpled leaves—and tender, blistered skin.
Though I bathe her hands with water,
Still the damage has been done;
Her toddler’s hands by toxins are defiled.
Oh, I wish she would have listened
To her papa’s warning words!
Forgive me, Lord, forgive—I am my child.
Note: though there is some overlap, symbolism differs from metaphor. In a metaphor, the reader is told what the object stands for, and what two objects are being compared. Consider the common Christian phrase Jesus is the rock of my salvation. While the rock might be considered a symbol for Jesus, from a literary standpoint the term metaphor is more accurate. But if a writer’s piece featured a person taking shelter in a rock—and the connection to Jesus is not explicitly stated, but formed in the reader’s mind—then it’s a symbol.
Homework: Answer the bolded question that follows my list of reasons for using symbolism. OR find the symbols and what they represent in at least 3 of the examples I chose.
IF you do one of the above choices, you may give us an excerpt from one of your challenge entries that includes symbolism. Please tell us why you chose to use it there. No need to give a link—just a cut-and-paste segment that contains symbolism would be fine.
If you have any questions about symbolism, now is the time to raise your hand!
This is a good time to mention how much I appreciate everyone’s input into these “classes.” I’m not an expert on any of these topics by any means--just a literature lover sharing what I've observed--and it’s wonderful to have so many talented writers adding their own insights every week.
Next week: Tense
There can be many degrees and various uses of symbolism. In an allegory, for example, the characters and even the settings may all represent concepts. The most well-known example of this is John Bunyan’s book Pilgrim’s Progess, in which the symbolism is hardly subtle; there are characters named Christian and Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and such locations as the Hill of Difficulty, the Slough of Despond, and the House Beautiful. It’s not difficult to determine what these symbolize. In other allegories, the characters and settings may not be so obviously named, but they also represent abstractions.
In short stories and poetry, a writer may choose to use a familiar symbol with a meaning well-known to her audience. If the Stars and Stripes are flying in a poem—if there’s a dove descending—if there’s a rainbow shining or a dark cloud on the horizon—a writer can be fairly sure that the readers will get it: she’s writing about patriotism, peace, hope, foreboding.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to using readily-recognized symbols. The advantage is as I’ve just stated: readers grasp them instantly, and it therefore adds to their understanding of the meaning and mood of your piece. However, the reason they’re readily-recognized is that they have been used countless thousands of times, and therefore have become clichés.
Another way to use symbolism, then, is to come up with your own symbols and to insert them into your poem or story. Why would you want to do this?
1. symbols can provide imagery
2. they can contribute greatly to the mood or atmosphere of your writing
3. they can provide a bit of foreshadowing
4. when a reader “gets” the symbol, there’s a great aha! moment
5. they can help you to “show, not tell”
What other reasons can you come up with for adding symbolism to your stories or poems?
Here are a few examples of symbolism from literature. See if you can determine a) what the symbol is, and b) what concept it represents. Keep in mind that since writing is an art, not a science, there may be more than one valid interpretation.
1. From Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
2. From The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
When the young woman -- the mother of this child -- stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom; not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token, which was wrought or fastened into her dress…On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A.
3. From Psalm 23
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
4. From Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
I’ll give you two examples from the Writing Challenge. Both are from my entries—not because they’re in any way superior, but because I knew where to find them.
5. From Stolen
The man pulled my wrist, and I bit him, so he jerked me away, away from my mother who was on her knees, crying. Her lip was bleeding. A wagoora cackled—caw! caw!--and as the men yanked me outside, I saw it flapping overhead.
6. From Megan’s Hands
In the yard, the sunlight streaming,
Megan’s digging in the dirt.
My daughter—fair and freckled—only three:
Now she looks—is Papa watching?
Does he know I’m being good?
I ache with love, blow kisses playfully.
She is blithely humming, wandering
Toward the borders of the lawn
Where lurks a poison oak, enticing, red.
It calls her name, this temptress:
See how shiny—pretty—bright?
Put down your spoon, and grasp my leaves instead!
How I hasten to her side, and
Cry, “Oh sweetie, let it go!”
Her fists behind her back, a stubborn chin--
“Papa, no,” she whispers, pouting
As I open up each hand:
Six crumpled leaves—and tender, blistered skin.
Though I bathe her hands with water,
Still the damage has been done;
Her toddler’s hands by toxins are defiled.
Oh, I wish she would have listened
To her papa’s warning words!
Forgive me, Lord, forgive—I am my child.
Note: though there is some overlap, symbolism differs from metaphor. In a metaphor, the reader is told what the object stands for, and what two objects are being compared. Consider the common Christian phrase Jesus is the rock of my salvation. While the rock might be considered a symbol for Jesus, from a literary standpoint the term metaphor is more accurate. But if a writer’s piece featured a person taking shelter in a rock—and the connection to Jesus is not explicitly stated, but formed in the reader’s mind—then it’s a symbol.
Homework: Answer the bolded question that follows my list of reasons for using symbolism. OR find the symbols and what they represent in at least 3 of the examples I chose.
IF you do one of the above choices, you may give us an excerpt from one of your challenge entries that includes symbolism. Please tell us why you chose to use it there. No need to give a link—just a cut-and-paste segment that contains symbolism would be fine.
If you have any questions about symbolism, now is the time to raise your hand!
This is a good time to mention how much I appreciate everyone’s input into these “classes.” I’m not an expert on any of these topics by any means--just a literature lover sharing what I've observed--and it’s wonderful to have so many talented writers adding their own insights every week.
Next week: Tense