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A symbol is a person, place or object that stands for something beyond itself. Page 2. Symbolism. National, religious and cultural symbols have standard.
Typology: Study notes
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National, religious and cultural symbols have standard interpretations as well as personal significance for each individual. For example, the American flag symbolizes the USA. The personal significance, however, varies. A US Army veteran cherishes its meaning. A terrorist, on the other hand, finds it despicable. A green piece of paper with George Washington's picture on it symbolizes one dollar. A billionaire considers it chump change. A beggar considers it a treasure.
How to Identify Symbols in Literature *Pay special attention to objects or places that have a lengthy description, repetition, or special placement. *Notice objects that appear in the writing more than once and/or at important moments. *Does the title mention an object/place? It could be symbolic. *Is a place, object or character essential to the theme? If so, it may be symbolism.
Sometimes symbolism takes the form of an allegory. Allegory is an extended use of symbolism and metaphors. A story, a poem, or even a whole book can be an allegory and the symbolism will appear throughout. One example of an allegory is the monologue from Shakespeare in As You Like It: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.” This is symbolic of the fact that people are putting on a show and play many roles over the course of their lives.
