Metaphor A metaphor is an implicit comparison of one thing to another without the use of a commonly known sign or equation. For example, a metaphor does not compare something using the word "equals. A subcategory of metaphors is "personification," attributing a human characteristic—or emotion—to an animal, object, or concept. An example can be found in T. Eliot's work "Prelude," where he says, "The winter evening settles down.
Simile A simile differs from a metaphor in that a simile is not implied—it explicitly denotes a comparison. A simile very often uses either the word like or as. Two examples of similes are, "My love is like a red, red rose," and, "As strong as an ox. Allegory An allegory is very similar to a metaphor in the sense that something—usually something abstract or religious—is implicitly articulated in terms of something else that is concrete.
The difference between an allegory and a metaphor is that when an allegory is employed, the comparison reflects the entire work—or a large part of the work. The best example is "The Pilgrim's Progress. Archetype The plot of a piece of fiction—or the central element in a piece of fiction—that recurs in cross-cultural myths is called an archetype.
Perhaps the best example of an archetype is the literary description of the devil in various works as a cloven-hoofed, horned humanoid. Myth A myth is a close cousin of allegory in the sense that it is almost always symbolic and extensive. Myths can include an entire work. While the creation of myths has evolved over time—in the sense that they're no longer specific to one culture—they are still considered communal or cultural in nature.
One of the most famous myths is that of Icarus. Chrysanthemums represent beauty and truth. Gardenias symbolize purity and peace. Four-leaf clovers are symbols of good luck.
Animals as Symbols When you read a book, enjoy a poem or tell a story, the inclusion of animal characters can convey a message as part of the theme. Bears might represent courage and strength.
Butterflies can symbolize great transformation. D ogs often stand for loyalty or devotion. Owls can symbolize wisdom and the importance of education.
Serpents might symbolize corruption or darkness. Tortoises can symbolize perseverance. Weather Conditions as Symbols When used as a symbol, weather can set the mood of a scene or provide foreshadowing in works of literature. Fog might represent a bad omen or something terrible on the horizon.
Clouds typically symbolize trouble brewing or a coming storm. Storms usually symbolize hostility or turmoil. Snow often comes with a message of calmness or purity.
Wind might be used to symbolize power or strength. Rainbows can symbolize the promise of things to come or hope for tomorrow. Metaphors as Symbolism A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses symbolism. This metaphor is a reminder that things aren't always going to go smoothly. It is used to symbolize someone who will always be there for you and help keep you grounded, even when you are facing difficulties.
Allegories as Symbolism Allegories are stories told through the extended use of symbolism. Symbolism in Art When artists want to say something with their work, symbols are a great way for them to communicate. Renaissance - During the Renaissance period , a lot of art was Biblical in nature. This was done so people who couldn't read or write could still understand the messages from the Bible.
As such, the art produced during that time included a lot of serpents representing the devil , lambs representing peace , gardens representing paradise , and crosses representing Jesus' sacrifice. Roaring Twenties - Experimentation and freedom were common themes of the Roaring Twenties.
Paul Klee, a Swiss painter known for his extensive use of symbolism, liked to use stick figures, moon faces, fish, and arrows. He wanted to express a simpler reality than the complex material world around him. What it means is that the concept of identifying symbols in literature is not necessarily based on the idea of decoding — or replacing a familiar symbol with a designated meaning. The point is to examine textual elements in new contexts and attribute to them symbolic meanings that may have never existed before.
Students often interpret F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby symbolically, but they should also ask why the narrator and, more importantly, Gatsby wish to imbue their world with symbolic value. Gatsby's goal in the narrative is to bring the world into a symbolic order of his liking. In this respect, he is like some eager "symbol hunter" readers mentioned in this video.
But the symbolic worldviews of the novel's characters often conflict both with each other and the material world, most notably and ironically when the minor character Wilson confuses an advertisement for Doctor T. Eckleburg's business with God. Along similar lines, understanding the symbolic worldviews of narrators--how they ascribe certain particular and idiosyncratic rather than "universal" values to certain objects and people--can also help us to understand them as unreliable narrators.
For a simple example of this idea, consider H. Writing Prompt: Who is the speaker of H. What does Oread mean? How might the Oread's worldview lead her to symbolically represent sea waves as "pines"?
Writing Prompt: How might we understand the narrator's dreams and fantasies of having x-ray vision and the ability to fly symbolically?
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