Symbol

Symbol

Symbol is a literary device where an object, action, or event represents a larger concept, idea or emotion. A symbol can be a concrete object, like a rose, or an abstract concept, like freedom, and it carries a deeper meaning beyond its literal interpretation. Symbols are used in literature to create layers of meaning and to convey themes, ideas, or messages to the reader in a more subtle way. Through the use of symbols, writers can give their greater emotional impact and engage readers on a deeper level, allowing for a more immersive and memorable reading experience.

A symbol is something present in a text that carries meaning beyond what it literally is or does. Context and development connect the object, action, or event to the larger idea; the connection should be supported by the work, not guessed in isolation.

See it in language

Examples of Symbol

Mara kept the cracked compass on her desk, a reminder of the choices that had led her astray.
Instructional example
The locked gate stood between the village and the school long after the old law was repealed.
Instructional example
The gate functions literally as a barrier and symbolically as the lingering force of exclusion.
A green shoot rose from the burned field on the morning the families returned.
Instructional example
The new growth represents renewal and hope after destruction.

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The white whale in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" represents obsession and the destructive nature of revenge.
Instructional example
The mockingbird in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" symbolizes innocence and the unjust persecution of those who are different.
Instructional example
The scarlet letter "A" in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" represents sin, guilt, and the hypocrisy of the Puritan society.
Instructional example
The green light in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" symbolizes hope, dreams, and the unattainable ideal.
Instructional example
The apple in John Milton's "Paradise Lost" symbolizes temptation and the fall of man.
Instructional example
The conch shell in William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" represents order and democracy, but it also becomes a symbol of the boys' descent into savagery.
Instructional example
The rose in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" symbolizes both beauty and decay, reflecting the themes of the story.
Instructional example

Read like an editor

How to recognize it

Identify an object, action, or event that receives unusual emphasis or returns at meaningful moments.
Separate its literal role from the larger idea it may represent.
Support the symbolic meaning with patterns in context rather than a universal symbol list.

Meaning and effect

Why writers use Symbol

Create interpretive depth: A symbol lets a literal element participate in more than one level of meaning.
Develop theme: Changes in a symbol can track the development of a larger thematic concern.
Reinforce meaning: A concrete symbol can embody an abstract idea across a scene or work.

Common confusion

Symbol vs. Motif

A symbol is an element with additional meaning; a motif is a recurring element or pattern that develops meaning across a work.

Defined by meaning beyond a particular element's literal role and need not recur.

“The locked door represents the truth the character refuses to face.”

Motif

Defined by meaningful recurrence and may include images, phrases, situations, or symbols.

“A locked door appears whenever the character avoids the truth.”

Questions readers ask

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a symbol and symbolism?

A symbol is the particular element that carries additional meaning; symbolism is the broader use or system of symbols in a work.

Can a symbol appear only once?

Yes, if the context strongly establishes its additional meaning, although repetition often strengthens that meaning.