Imagery and Symbolism

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Imagery and Symbolism

• Using Images to Convey Meaning

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Imagery

• The language that evokes one or all of the five
  senses seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling,
  touching.
• Using imagery words help readers feel like they
  are part of the story.

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Symbolism

• Symbol is using an object or action that means
  something more than its literal meaning.
• The practice of representing things by means of
  symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or
  significance to objects, events, or relationships.

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Denotation

• The literal meaning of a word, the dictionary
  meaning.
• Example Good night, sweet prince, and flights of
  angels sing thee to thy rest (sleep).

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Connotation

• The implied meaning of a word.
• ExampleGood night, sweet prince, and flights of
  angels sing thee to thy rest (burial)

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Using Imagery and Symbolism

• Often writers use images in ways that the image
  stands for something else.
• Rose love
• Bridge connection
• Fire anger
• Black cat bad luck

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Symbolism

• The Cross Christianity
• Star of David Judaism
• Storm Chaos, confusion, fear, wildness,
  destruction and change
• Night Darkness, of things secret and hidden. It
  is also a symbol of evil. Satan is referred to as
  the Prince of Darkness.

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Using Symbolism

• The image takes on a greater meaning because of
  the repeated references to it in the story.
• Along with the real meaning, the image suggests
  meaning that is related to the character, plot
  and theme.

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Thieves

• Images of the pillow and hands occur repeatedly
• Normally, the pillow would mean rest, comfort and
  security
• Here it stands for violation and invasion because
  of the repeated references with hands.
• Touching her possessions
• Touching her pillow
• Her husbands hands also touch her pillow the
  two people (thief and husband) are now
  intertwined.

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Thieves

• Normally, submerging a pillow in the lake would
  not mean much
• Here it is an expression of emotional truth The
  pillow contains her fears about the break-in, her
  feelings of invasion and abandonment. It also
  contains the idea her husband is not the person
  she thought he was.

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Thieves

• How did all of that get into the pillow symbol?
• Hands are repeatedly talked about. Laura thinks
  the hands were on her pillow. His arm was flung
  across her side of the bed (where the pillow
  would be). Thieves putting their loot in the
  pillowcase.

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Using Imagery and Symbolism

• Look for an object or image that can have meaning
  invested in it.
• The main part of the disturbance
• Something the character grabs on to
• Something the character focuses on while trying
  to ignore the problem

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Using Imagery and Symbolism

• Mention this object at least three or four times
• Look for related images
• Example You character is obsessed with his
  brothers sunglasses. Look for images related to
  sight
• Example You character is obsessed with the
  traffic accident. Look for images of chaos and
  tragedy.

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Using Imagery and Symbolism

• Keep the correct point of view throughout the
  entire piece especially important in thought,
  commentary and external detail.
• The character will never think I need to go to
  the store. Instead She needs to go to the store.

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Using Imagery and Symbolism

• Work to a conclusion that involves a definite
  ending. Use your repeated symbol in the ending.
• Do not try to tell readers the meaning behind the
  symbol. Instead, the repeated references will do
  the job.
• Example Laura took her pillow. The item that
  stood for security, stood for comfort, stood for
  rest. THIS IS BAAAADDDDD

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WP 11.4

• 1 Look for a concrete image in your story that
  can be repeated at least three times.
• Fire
• Mangled cars
• Doll
• Phone
• Airplane

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WP 11.4

• 2 Brainstorm about the meaning the image can
  express.
• Fire Danger, anger
• Mangled cars chaos, loss of control
• Doll childhood, control
• Phone outside world, connections
• Airplane fear, adventure

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WP 11.4

• 3 Based on those questions, list at least
  three more images that are related in form and
  meaning to the image you identified. Indicate
  how you can insert each image into your story and
  at what point in time.

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WP 11.4
Example Image Black Cat (Bad Luck)
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Write in Your Journal

• Revise your story with these images in mind. Be
  sure to include this image (that goes along with
  the meaning of the story) at least three times.
• At the end of your draft put the images used
  and what they stand for.

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Story Draft

• Draft is NOT DUE until the end of class Friday.