Symbolism
Literary term · say it SIM-buh-liz-um
Symbolism is the use of an object, place, action, or other concrete detail to suggest a meaning beyond itself. A locked door, for example, might suggest lost freedom, though its meaning depends on the story around it.
Ways symbolism appears
Objects
An object can carry an idea or feeling as well as serving its everyday purpose in the story.
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester wears a scarlet A as public punishment for adultery. The letter symbolizes shame, but its meaning changes as people come to respect her.
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Places
A place can suggest a larger condition, such as hope, decay, safety, or confinement.
In The Great Gatsby, Tom and Nick pass through the valley of ashes between Long Island and New York. Its heaps of industrial waste suggest the poverty and damage behind the nearby wealth.
In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Actions
An action can express an idea beyond its practical purpose, especially when the story draws attention to it.
In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth rubs her hands while sleepwalking, trying to remove imagined blood. Her attempted washing symbolizes the wish to escape guilt that cannot simply be cleaned away.
In Macbeth by William Shakespeare
How to spot symbolism
- Notice details that recur or receive unusual attention.
- Connect those details to the characters’ feelings and choices.
- Test the possible meaning against other moments in the story.
What is the difference between a symbol and symbolism?
A symbol is a particular thing that suggests a meaning beyond itself; symbolism is the use of such things in a text. A bird might be a symbol of freedom, while its appearances and connections throughout a story form part of that story’s symbolism.
How can you tell whether something is symbolic?
A detail is more likely to be symbolic when the text repeatedly connects it with a larger idea or feeling. Look for emphasis, repetition, and links to important events. Not every detail is a symbol, and a convincing reading needs support from the text.
Related terms
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