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Literature vocabulary · Literary Devices and Figures of Speech

Symbol

Meaning in literature, with examples

/ˈsɪmbl/nounCore term

In literature, symbol means: An object, person, place or event in a text that stands for a larger idea beyond its literal meaning, such as a journey that represents life.

In Turkish: simge, sembol

How it is used

Common in essays and seminars: something is a symbol of, symbolizes or stands for an idea. The use of symbols in a work is called symbolism. A good essay explains why the symbol fits, rather than just naming it.

Example sentences

  1. The green light across the bay in The Great Gatsby is often read as a symbol of hope.

  2. In this story the locked door is a symbol of the family's secrets.

Common collocations

  • a symbol of
  • powerful symbol
  • central symbol
  • religious symbol
  • use of symbols
  • motifAn image, object, idea or phrase that appears again and again in a work and helps develop its themes.
  • metaphorA figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were something else, without using 'like' or 'as', to show a hidden similarity.
  • allegoryA story, poem or picture in which characters and events stand for abstract ideas or real situations, so that it has a second, hidden meaning, often moral or political.
  • imageryDescriptive language that appeals to the senses, such as sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, so that readers can picture or feel what is described.
  • themeA central idea or message about life that a literary work explores, such as love, loss, freedom or identity, and what the work suggests about it.

More terms: Literary Devices and Figures of Speech

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