Symbolism

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Symbolism
Signs, words, phrases, images, or other objects
that stand for or represent something else.
(Timeless Themes, pg. 1225)

• DENOTATION is the literal definition of a word
• Ex. dove any of various birds of the family
  Columbidae, including pigeons

CONNOTATION are the associations that a word
calls to mind Ex. dove means innocence, peace,
love
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Authors for centuries have been using these
symbols to generally represent these ideas.

• Universal symbol

• Usually Represents

• Cleansing, life, baptism, purity
• Bad omen, storm inside character
• Reflects the characters mental side
• Death, sacrifice, family
• Male power, honor, positive
• Male power, deceit, negative
• Womanhood, beauty, adventure

• Water, rain
• Storms
• Weather (in general)
• Blood
• Swords
• Knives
• Flowers, cups
• caves

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• Universal symbol

• Usually Represents

• Wilderness /forests
• Mountains /Valleys
• Animals (various)
• Voyages
• Colors (various)
• Fire
• Ailments (mental or physical)

• Barbarism, primitive human nature
• God, supernatural, majesty, knowledge
• Death, descending, human failings
• Different animals can symbolism different ideas,
  ex. Eagle, chicken, fox
• Journey of discovery, quests
• Colors hold meaning, ex. Green is life, blue is
  coolness, black varies
• Destruction, hell, torment, but also life
• Outward physical appearance from injury or
  mentally unbalanced behavior represents the
  character within.

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Check out this great website.

• If you need a resource for looking up common
  universal symbols, check out this website from
  the University of Michigans Science Fiction
  Club
• http//www.umich.edu/umfandsf/symbolismproject/sy
  mbolism.html/