Symbolism. - Writers Forum

suzakugaiden · 09-23-2007, 02:22 AM

When and where is it essential -- like with what genres or plottypes, and in what part of the book -- and in these instances, why should it be used?

Mike C · 09-23-2007, 04:27 AM

Always and never.

You can write a story without any form of symbolism; somebody will find some anyway.

It's not something I'd sweat over too much. If you work hard on inserting symbols into your work, it'll show.

RomanticRose · 09-23-2007, 10:48 AM

A lot of symbolism is unplanned by the author. Tolkien swore that Sauron and Mordor were not Hitler and the Third Reich, but that hasn't stopped everyone from finding the connection.

Write the story, let the reader find the symbolism. After there has to be some purpose for theses, research papers and the like.

lin · 09-23-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

You can write a story without any form of symbolism; somebody will find some anyway.

LOL and vice versa of course.

Mike C · 09-23-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WordWeaver

A simple color or object can serve just as well as a character or theme.

But of course before you make pronouncements like that, learn the difference between symbol and theme.

streetkid · 09-23-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanticRose

Write the story, let the reader find the symbolism.

So true. As fun as it is to consciously create symbolic structures within a story, nothing beats the thrill of other people deriving meaning from passages you gave little thought to when writing. It's like viewing your story through previously unseen dimensions.

Shawn · 09-23-2007, 05:23 PM

Fiction Daze: Short Story of the Day: Through the Tunnel

I found Doris Lessing to be a surprising source for inspiration in the use of symbolism. She definitely placed it there on purpose... she's said so herself.

I'd hate to revert to cliches. But when you hear "it was a dark and stormy night" what do you think is going to happen? Symbolism. In "Story of an Hour," when she looks through the window... what does she see? Symbolism.

Symbolism is a literary device, and it should be used like all others.

All of it should be unified in theme, however. That's something I uphold fervently. Either it serves a purpose, or it doesn't. If it doesn't serve a purpose, I don't think it should be there.

If a character named Joanne has brown hair because it reveals her mousy nature that is not important to the lesson she is about to learn, the hair color shouldn't be mentioned.

Truth-Teller · 09-23-2007, 05:37 PM

Doris Lessing is alive?

Shawn · 09-23-2007, 05:38 PM

Yes... she's nearly 100, though.

Truth-Teller · 09-23-2007, 05:42 PM

HOLY ****!

lol

Shawn · 09-23-2007, 11:12 PM

Allegory is how the theme is displayed, not the theme itself.

Even though Moby Dick was an allegory, the theme was still conveyed in conventional terms.

Shawn · 09-23-2007, 11:26 PM

Theme is message.

Truth-Teller · 09-24-2007, 04:37 AM

I think we have a patient on the loose, doctor!

Mike C · 09-24-2007, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truth-Teller

I think we have a patient on the loose, doctor!

...and, for once, we agree.

Rather than cutting and pasting what you found on google, WW, it would be a little more impressive and illuminating if you'd put it into your own words. To summarise:

Theme is the 'unifying or dominant idea', it's what your story is about (but not necessarily what it's about - your story may be a boy meets girl romance, but the theme may be that true love never lasts, for example. The theme is the thread that runs below the surface thoughout the story and gives it greater meaning.

Symbolism is 'the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character' - in other words, using one thing to represent another. Your lovers in the boy meets girl story, for example, could represent capitalism and communism, in which case your theme might be how different ideologies have to find common ground or be doomed to failure.

They are not one and the same thing. You might use symbolism to reinforce your theme, but they are different tools to achieve different effects. Again, you could use allegory to tell your story, but that does not mean that allegory, symbolism and theme are the same thing.