meaning of symbolic representation in english

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symbolic representation

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A form of knowledge representation in which arbitrary symbols or structures are used to stand for the things that are represented, and the representations therefore do not resemble the things that they represent. Natural language (apart from onomatopoeic expressions) is the most familiar example of symbolic representation. Also called propositional representation . Compare analogue (2). [From Greek symbolon a token + -ikos of, relating to, or resembling]

From:   symbolic representation   in  A Dictionary of Psychology »

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Symbolic Representation in Art – Definition, Examples, History & More – Art Education and Methodologies Glossary

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What is Symbolic Representation in Art?

Symbolic representation in art refers to the use of symbols, images, or objects to convey deeper meanings or ideas within a work of art. These symbols can be cultural, religious, political, or personal in nature, and are often open to interpretation by the viewer.

Symbolic representation allows artists to communicate complex concepts or emotions in a visual language that transcends words. It adds layers of meaning to a piece of art, inviting viewers to engage with the work on a deeper level and uncover hidden messages or themes.

History of Symbolic Representation in Art

The use of symbolic representation in art dates back to ancient civilizations, where symbols were used to communicate ideas, beliefs, and stories. In Egyptian art, for example, the Ankh symbolized life, while the Eye of Horus represented protection and healing.

During the Renaissance, artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo incorporated symbolic elements into their works to convey religious or philosophical ideas. The use of symbols continued to evolve in the Baroque and Romantic periods, with artists like Caravaggio and William Blake using symbolism to express emotion and spirituality.

Techniques of Symbolic Representation in Art

There are various techniques artists use to incorporate symbolic representation into their work. One common technique is the use of allegory, where objects or figures represent abstract concepts or moral qualities. For example, a dove may symbolize peace, while a snake could represent evil.

Another technique is the use of color symbolism, where certain colors are used to evoke specific emotions or ideas. In Western art, for example, red is often associated with passion or danger, while blue is linked to tranquility or spirituality.

Examples of Symbolic Representation in Art

One famous example of symbolic representation in art is Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” where the placement of figures and objects conveys the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. The use of light and shadow in Caravaggio’s paintings also adds symbolic depth to his work, highlighting themes of redemption and salvation.

In more contemporary art, artists like Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali used symbolism to explore personal struggles and political issues. Kahlo’s self-portraits, for example, often feature symbolic elements like monkeys or thorns to convey her emotions and experiences.

Importance of Symbolic Representation in Art

Symbolic representation plays a crucial role in art by adding layers of meaning and depth to a work. It allows artists to communicate complex ideas or emotions in a visual language that is accessible to a wide audience. Symbolism also invites viewers to engage with a piece of art on a deeper level, encouraging them to think critically and interpret the work in their own unique way.

By using symbols, artists can create universal connections with viewers, transcending language and cultural barriers. Symbolic representation in art helps to bridge the gap between the artist’s intentions and the viewer’s understanding, fostering a deeper appreciation and connection to the work.

Contemporary Use of Symbolic Representation in Art

In contemporary art, symbolic representation continues to be a powerful tool for artists to explore complex themes and ideas. Artists like Ai Weiwei and Kara Walker use symbolism to address social and political issues, sparking conversations and raising awareness about important topics.

Symbolic representation is also used in multimedia art forms, such as video installations and performance art, where artists combine visual, auditory, and tactile symbols to create immersive experiences for viewers. This multidimensional approach to symbolism allows artists to engage with audiences in new and innovative ways, pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms.

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Definition of Symbolism

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Common Examples of Symbolism in Everyday Life

Everyday words, objects, and even concepts often have more than a single meaning. Across time, certain aspects of everyday life and experience evolve in meaning and associated significance, making them symbols of something besides what they actually are. Here are some common examples of symbolism in everyday life:

Examples of Types of Symbolism and Their Effects

Here are some examples of types of symbolism and their effects:

Famous Examples of Symbolism in Movies

Difference between symbolism and motif, examples of symbolism in literature, example 1:  the glass menagerie  (tennessee williams).

Yes, movies! Look at them — All of those glamorous people — having adventures — hogging it all, gobbling the whole thing up! You know what happens? People go to the movies instead of moving! Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America , while everybody in America sits in a dark room and watches them have them! Yes, until there’s a war. That’s when adventure becomes available to the masses! Everyone’s dish, not only Gable’s! Then the people in the dark room come out of the dark room to have some adventures themselves — Goody, goody! — It’s our turn now, to go to the south Sea Island — to make a safari — to be exotic, far-off!

In Williams’s play , Tom’s character frequently goes to the movies to escape the monotony and pressure of his life at home with his mother and sister. Therefore, movies offer Tom both a literal and figurative escape from his home, though it is a passive escape in darkness with no true experience of adventure. The movies symbolize Tom’s dreams and fantasies as well as their unattainability and manufactured reality. In this passage, Williams also makes artistic and ironic use of the word “movies” in that the act of going to the movies actually makes Tom feel more stagnant, stuck, and unmoving.

Example 2:  The Lesson  (Toni Cade Bambara)

Miss Moore lines us up in front of the mailbox where we started from, seem like years ago, and I got a headache for thinkin so hard. And we lean all over each other so we can hold up under the draggy ass lecture she always finishes us off with at the end before we thank her for borin us to tears. But she just looks at us like she readin tea leaves. Finally she say, “Well, what did you think of F.A.0. Schwarz?” Rosie Giraffe mumbles, “White folks crazy.”

In Bambara’s short story , the famous New York City toy store F.A.O. Schwarz is a symbol for economic wealth and frivolous spending. Miss Moore’s character, by bringing a group of underprivileged black kids to the toy store, also wants F.A.O. Schwarz to be viewed as a symbol of systemic racial and social division in America as well as monetary separation. By exposing this group of kids to such an outrageously expensive toy store, Miss Moore intends to teach them a lesson and instill a deeper concept of failed American opportunity and equality through the symbolism of F.A.O. Schwarz.

Example 3:  The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

And as I sat there, brooding on the old unknown world, I thought of Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night . Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning—— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

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Symbolism Definition

What is symbolism? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Symbolism is a literary device in which a writer uses one thing—usually a physical object or phenomenon—to represent something more abstract. A strong symbol usually shares a set of key characteristics with whatever it is meant to symbolize, or is related to it in some other way. Characters and events can also be symbolic. A famous example of a symbol in literature occurs in To Kill a Mockingbird , when Atticus tells his children Jem and Scout that it's a sin to kill a mockingbird because mockingbirds cause no harm to anyone; they just sing. Because of these traits, mockingbirds in the novel symbolize innocence and beauty, while killing a mockingbird symbolizes an act of senseless cruelty.

Some additional key details about symbolism:

• Symbolism can be very subtle, so it isn't always easy to identify or understand.
• It can sometimes be difficult to say whether an author intended for something to be symbolic or not.
• Symbolism allows writers to convey things to their readers poetically or indirectly rather than having to say them outright, which can make texts seem more nuanced and complex.

Symbolism Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce symbolism: sim -buh-liz-uhm

Types of Symbolism

A symbol can be a physical object, a character, or an event. Here's a brief overview of how each type of symbolism works:

• Symbolism through physical objects: Most often, physical objects are used to symbolize an idea or concept, as a way of pointing the reader towards some of the basic themes that a work is dealing with. For example, a poet might write a poem about a flower dancing in the wind in order to convey a sense of innocence, harmony with nature, or sheer happiness.
• Symbolism through characters: Sometimes, characters themselves can serve as symbols—of a particular virtue or vice, or of a political ideology. For example, in Edmund Spenser's famous allegorical poem, The Faeirie Queene , the female knight Britomart is a symbol of the values of chastity and restraint, traits which many 16th-century readers held in high esteem.
• Symbolism through events: Events can also be symbolic. For example, while a character's long, wild hair might symbolize a period of youth or innocence, a scene in which the character chops off his or her long hair might symbolize a loss of innocence—or the sacrifices people have to make in the process of becoming a mature adult with responsibilities. While the act of cutting off the hair is neither an object nor a character, but it would still be an example of symbolism.

Identifying Symbolism

Writers employ a wide variety of symbols to deepen the meaning of their work. Some symbols, though, are much easier to identify than others. It's worth recognizing the ways that some symbols can be obvious, while others might be less so. For example, sea glass might be used as a fairly obvious symbol in one text, and a more subtle symbol in another:

• Sea glass as an obvious symbol: If a character in a story gives her son a piece of sea glass just before she dies, and the son then puts the sea glass on a necklace and wears it every day, that's a pretty clear example of something being symbolic: the sea glass represents the son's relationship with his mother, his grief at her passing, or perhaps even the more general concept of loss. In this example, the author might choose to describe how the son plays with his necklace obsessively in order to convey his ever present grief at the loss of his mother—instead of having to state it outright.
• Sea glass as a less-obvious symbol: If a character in a story delivers a monologue about sea glass in which they explain how something sharp and broken (a shard of glass) becomes smooth and beautiful only through years of being tossed about on the ocean's currents, it might over the course of the story come to be symbolic for the process of growing up or recovering from trauma—but not every reader will necessarily pick up on the symbolism. In this case, sea glass would be an example of a symbol that might be harder to identify as a symbol within the context of the story.

Is a Symbol Purposeful or Not?

In some cases, particularly when a symbol is subtle, it's not always even clear whether the author's use of symbolism is intentional, or whether the reader is supplying their own meaning of the text by "reading into" something as a symbol. That isn't a problem, though. In fact, it's one of the beautiful things about symbolism: whether symbolism can be said to be present in a text has as much to do with the reader's interpretation as the writer's intentions.

Symbol vs. Metaphor

At first glance, symbolism and metaphor can be difficult to distinguish from one another—both devices imbue a text with meaning beyond its literal sense, and both use one thing to represent something else. However, there are a few key differences between metaphor and symbolism:

• Metaphors compare two different things by stating that one thing is the other (e.g., your eyes are heaven). This doesn't happen in symbolism, where the relationship between a symbol and what it represents is not stated explicitly and one thing is not said to be the other thing. Instead, a symbol stands for or represents something else.
• Whereas a metaphor is used to compare one thing to another based on shared characteristics, symbols can but don't need to have any characteristics in common with what they represent. For instance, Annie Proulx's story Brokeback Mountain ends with one character taking in the smell of a shirt that was once worn by his lost love. The shirt doesn't have any characteristics in common with the lover—it symbolizes him only insofar as it once belonged to him.

Symbolism and Allegory

An allegory is a work that conveys a moral through the use of symbolic characters and events. Not every work that incorporates symbols is an allegory; rather, an allegory is a story in which the majority of characters and plot developments serve as symbols for something else, or in which the entire storyline is symbolic of a broader phenomenon in society.

For example, the characters in Edmund Spenser's allegorical poem The Faerie Queene are not very complex or deep characters: they're meant to embody virtues or ideas more than they are meant to resemble real people. By contrast, Hester Prynne (the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's highly symbolic novel, The Scarlet Letter ) exhibits a great deal of complexity and individuality as a character beyond whatever she may symbolize, so it doesn't really make sense to say that The Scarlet Letter is an allegory about adultery; rather, it's a novel that is literally about adultery that has symbolic aspects. In short, all allegories are highly symbolic, but not all symbolic writing is allegorical.

Symbolism Examples

Symbolism is very common is all sorts of narrative literature, poetry, film, and even speeches.

Examples of Symbolism in Literature

Authors frequently incorporate symbolism into their work, because symbols engage readers on an emotional level and succinctly convey large and complex ideas.

Symbolism in Annie Proulx's "Brokeback Mountain"

The following passage from Annie Proulx's short story "Brokeback Mountain" describes a character named Ennis's visit to the childhood home of a lost lover named Jack. There, Ennis finds an old shirt of his nestled inside of one of Jack's shirts.

At the north end of the closet a tiny jog in the wall made a slight hiding place and here, stiff with long suspension from a nail, hung a shirt. He lifted it off the nail. Jack’s old shirt from Brokeback days. The dried blood on the sleeve was his own blood, a gushing nosebleed on the last afternoon on the mountain when Jack, in their contortionistic grappling and wrestling, had slammed Ennis’s nose hard with his knee. He had stanched the blood, which was everywhere, all over both of them, with his shirtsleeve, but the stanching hadn’t held, because Ennis had suddenly swung from the deck and laid the ministering angel out in the wild columbine, wings folded. The shirt seemed heavy until he saw there was another shirt inside it, the sleeves carefully worked down inside Jack’s sleeves. It was his own plaid shirt, lost, he’d thought, long ago in some damn laundry, his dirty shirt, the pocket ripped, buttons missing, stolen by Jack and hidden here inside Jack’s own shirt, the pair like two skins, one inside the other, two in one. He pressed his face into the fabric and breathed in slowly through his mouth and nose, hoping for the faintest smoke and mountain sage and salty sweet stink of Jack, but there was no real scent, only the memory of it, the imagined power of Brokeback Mountain of which nothing was left but what he held in his hands.

Proulx's description of the shirts sounds like it could be a description of the feeling of intimacy shared between lovers: she writes that they are "like two skins, one inside the other, two in one." The shirts symbolize the love the two men shared, but Proulx avoids having to explain Ennis's feelings directly by using symbolism in her description of the shirts, instead.

Symbolism in Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ozymandias "

In the sonnet "Ozymandias," Shelley uses the story of an encounter with a decaying monument to illustrate the destructive power of nature, the fleetingness of man's political accomplishments, and the longevity of art.

I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.

The symbolism in Shelley's poem transforms the half-sunken monument into a powerful representation of the passage of time. The poem reminds readers that natural forces will put an end to the reign of all empires and the lives of every person, whether king or commoner. In the final lines, the poem juxtaposes two very different symbols: the fallen statue, greatly reduced from its former size, and the huge, barren, and unchanging desert. The statue of Ozymandias is therefore symbolic of man's mortality and smallness in the face time and nature.

Symbolism in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

In Chapter Ten of I nvisible Man , the book's protagonist goes to work at the Liberty Paints Factory—the maker of a paint "so white you can paint a chunk of coal and you'd have to crack it open with a sledge hammer to prove it wasn't white clear through"—where he is surprised to learn that the recipe for the brilliant white paint actually calls for the addition of a few drops of black paint. The symbolism of the black paint disappearing into the white is a direct reference to the "invisibility" of black people in America—one of the major themes of Ellison's book.

"The idea is to open each bucket and put in ten drops of this stuff," he said. "Then you stir it 'til it disappears. After it's mixed you take this brush and paint out a sample on one of these." He produced a number of small rectangular boards and a small brush from his jacket pocket. "You understand?" "Yes, sir." But when I looked into the white graduate I hesitated; the liquid inside was dead black. Was he trying to kid me?

Symbolism in Film

Filmmakers often endow particular objects with emotional significance. These visual symbols may shed light on a character's motivations or play an important role later on in the film.

Symbolism in Orson Welles's Citizen Kane

In the closing scene of Orson Welles' Citizen Kane , the camera pans to a sled with the word "Rosebud" printed on it—the same word that is uttered by the newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane on his deathbed. The movie itself portrays Kane's ruthless efforts to consolidate power in his industry. Yet in his final moments, he recalls the sled associated with the happier days of his youth. The "Rosebud" sled can be described as a symbol of Kane's youthful innocence and idealism, of which he lost sight in his pursuit of power. The sled is one of the most famous symbols in all of film.

Symbolism In Speeches

Orators often turn to symbolism for the same reasons writers do—symbols can add emotional weight to a speech and can stand-in for broad themes and central parts of their argument.

Symbolism in John F. Kennedy's 1961 Inaugural Address

In the opening lines of his 1961 inaugural address , President Kennedy claims that his inauguration is the symbol of a new era in American history, defined by both reverence for the past and innovation in the years to come:

We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning—signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

Here, President Kennedy argues on behalf of the symbolic significance of his election, suggesting that his Inauguration Day stands for the progress in America that is soon to come. Though it's not an especially subtle use of symbolism, Kennedy's assertion that his first day in office represents the first of many steps forward for America likely had a considerable emotional impact on his audience.

Symbolism in Barack Obama's Speech on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches

In his speech on the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches , President Obama casts the Edmund Pettus Bridge (in Selma, Alabama) as a symbol of American progress and resilience.

The American instinct that led these young men and women to pick up the torch and cross this bridge is the same instinct that moved patriots to choose revolution over tyranny. It’s the same instinct that drew immigrants from across oceans and the Rio Grande; the same instinct that led women to reach for the ballot and workers to organize against an unjust status quo; the same instinct that led us to plant a flag at Iwo Jima and on the surface of the Moon.

In this example, President Obama paid tribute to the activists who were beaten brutally by state troopers after crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge during a 1965 demonstration in Selma, Alabama. Likening their perseverance in the face of police brutality to other prominent examples of American resistance, such as the American Revolution, Obama claims that the demonstrators symbolize a quintessential American trait: a commitment to securing and protecting personal freedom. Thus, in Obama's speech, crossing the bridge can be said to function as a symbol of the long struggle for civil rights.

Why Do Writers Use Symbolism?

It's hard to find a work of literature that lacks any kind of symbolism. Symbolism is an important literary device for creating complex narratives because it enables writers to convey important information without having to state things directly. In addition, the use of symbolism is widespread because it can:

• Help readers visualize complex concepts and central themes, and track their development.
• Afford writers the opportunity to communicate big ideas efficiently and artfully.
• Invite readers to interpret a text independently, rather than be directly told what the author means.
• Add emotional weight to a text.
• Conceal themes that are too controversial to state openly.
• Imply change or growth in characters or themes through shifts in the way that characters interact with particular symbols, or ways in which the symbols themselves change over time.

Other Helpful Symbolism Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Symbols : A rather theoretical account of symbolism, which delves into competing definitions of the term that might be more complicated or detailed than is necessary for many readers. Still, the page demonstrates just how pervasive symbolism is in language and thought.
• Cracked's List of 7 Films With Symbolism You Didn't Notice : Though the author's speculations verge on conspiracy theories at times, at its best, the list demonstrates how artists might use symbols to bury risqué themes in works for popular consumption.
• The HyperTexts Page on The Best Symbols in Poetry and Literature : The explanations here aren't especially in-depth—certainly not as sophisticated as the symbols they discuss. Still, this is useful as a survey of poems by major writers with examples of concrete, object-based symbolism.

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Symbolic representation.

Other forms: symbolic representations

• noun something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible synonyms: symbol , symbolisation , symbolization see more see less types: show 23 types... hide 23 types... crossbones two crossed bones (or a representation of two crossed bones) used as a symbol danger or death cornucopia , horn of plenty a goat's horn filled with grain and flowers and fruit symbolizing prosperity death's head a human skull (or a representation of a human skull) used as a symbol of death oriflamme an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle white feather a symbol of cowardice allegory , emblem a visible symbol representing an abstract idea scarlet letter the letter A in red; Puritans required adulterers to wear it cupid a symbol for love in the form of a cherubic naked boy with wings and a bow and arrow donkey the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874 dove an emblem of peace eagle an emblem representing power elephant the symbol of the Republican Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874 fasces bundle of rods containing an axe with the blade protruding; in ancient Rome it was a symbol of a magistrate's power; in modern Italy it is a symbol of fascism ensign , national flag an emblem flown as a symbol of nationality hammer and sickle the emblem on the flag of the Soviet Union red flag the emblem of socialist revolution Magen David , Mogen David , Shield of David , Solomon's seal , Star of David a six-pointed star formed from two equilateral triangles; an emblem symbolizing Judaism badge an emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.) Agnus Dei , Paschal Lamb figure of a lamb; emblematic of Christ maple-leaf the emblem of Canada medallion an emblem indicating that a taxicab is registered spread eagle an emblem (an eagle with wings and legs spread) on the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States Hakenkreuz , swastika the official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich; a cross with the arms bent at right angles in a clockwise direction type of: representational process any basic cognitive process in which some entity comes to stand for or represent something else

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What is symbolism? A Comprehensive Exploration

Symbolism is a profound and intricate literary device, a method of representing abstract or higher ideas or concepts with concrete objects, characters, or actions. It is a mechanism by which writers, poets, and artists convey complex, multifaceted ideas, emotions, and concepts through more tangible or visible means. This exploration of symbolism will draw upon various reputable sources such as Merriam-Webster, Masterclass, and Oregon State University to provide a comprehensive understanding of this literary device, its applications, and its significance in literature and art.

So what is symbolism?

According to Merriam-Webster , symbolism is defined as the art or practice of using symbols to convey specific meanings or represent abstract thoughts. It is especially significant when investing things with a symbolic meaning or expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations. Symbolism can manifest through artistic imitation or invention and can also involve the use of conventional or traditional signs in the representation of divine beings and spirits. It is a way to imbue objects, characters, or colors with meanings that are different from their literal sense, allowing for richer, more profound expressions in literature and art.

The Multifaceted Nature of Symbols

Oregon State University elucidates the multifaceted nature of symbols, explaining that symbolism is the idea that things, such as objects or colors, can represent other things. A single symbol can have multiple interpretations and meanings, depending on the context it is placed in. For instance, the color red can symbolize a spectrum of concepts ranging from passion, love, and devotion to entirely opposite ideas such as infidelity. It can also symbolize blood, a command to stop, as seen in traffic lights, or even political ideologies like communism. This implies that symbols are not confined to single, fixed meanings; they can represent a plethora of ideas, emotions, and concepts, allowing for diverse interpretations and understandings.

Contextual Symbolism

Symbols derive their meanings from the contexts they are situated in, and sometimes, they may not symbolize anything at all. It is crucial to approach symbolism with a nuanced perspective, understanding that not every element in literature necessarily serves as a symbol. For instance, a rose in a literary work can sometimes just be a rose, without symbolizing love, passion, desire, or any other abstract concept. Similarly, a storm in a story might simply represent a change in weather, without necessarily symbolizing impending conflict or emotional turmoil. Recognizing the importance of context in interpreting symbols is crucial for a more accurate and nuanced understanding of literary works.

What is Symbolism in Literature

In literature, symbolism is a pivotal device that enables writers to convey intricate and abstract ideas without explicitly stating them. It allows for the exploration of complex themes and emotions, adding depth and layers to literary works. For example, in Gilbert Sorrentino’s novel “Under the Shadow,” the moon is not just a celestial body but a symbol representing hidden layers in a character’s psychological makeup. It serves as a gateway to exploring repressed memories and personal histories of the characters, allowing readers to delve deeper into their psyches and understand their complexities. This use of symbolism enriches the narrative, providing readers with a more immersive and profound reading experience.

Examples of What is Symbolism

• Red: Often symbolizes passion, love, anger, or danger.
• White: Typically represents purity, innocence, and peace.
• Black: Commonly symbolizes death, evil, or mystery.
• Dove : Represents peace and purity.
• Lion : Symbolizes courage, strength, and royalty.
• Snake : Often represents temptation, sin, and transformation.
• Chain : Can symbolize restriction, bondage, or connection.
• Mirror : Represents reflection, truth, and self-perception.
• Ladder : Symbolizes ascent, descent, or progress.
• Water : Represents life, purification, and renewal.
• Fire : Symbolizes destruction, passion, and transformation.
• Tree : Represents growth, stability, and life.
• Three : Often symbolizes balance, unity, and spirituality.
• Seven : Represents perfection, completion, and abundance.
• Thirteen : Commonly symbolizes bad luck and misfortune.
• Circle: Represents eternity, unity, and completeness.
• Triangle: Symbolizes change, tension, and conflict.
• Square: Represents stability, equality, and solidity.
• Sun: Symbolizes life, energy, and enlightenment.
• Moon: Represents femininity, cycles, and transformation.
• Rain: Can symbolize renewal, sadness, or cleansing.
• Stop Sign: Represents a command to halt movement or action.
• Green Light: Symbolizes permission to proceed or go ahead.
• Curved Road Sign: Represents an upcoming change or deviation in direction.
• Heart: Represents love, affection, and life.
• Flag: Represents a country, its values, and its people.
• Scales: Symbolizes justice, balance, and fairness.
• Cross: Represents faith, sacrifice, and redemption in Christianity.
• Star of David: Symbolizes divine protection and Judaism.
• Lotus Flower: Represents purity, enlightenment, and rebirth in various Eastern religions.

Symbolism is a profound literary and artistic device, allowing for the representation of intangible or abstract ideas through tangible means. It is multifaceted, context-dependent, and versatile, enabling the exploration of a myriad of concepts and emotions in literature. Understanding symbolism involves recognizing its nuanced nature, where symbols can have multiple, varied meanings, and not every element in a piece of literature necessarily serves as a symbol. By exploring and understanding what is symbolism in this comprehensive manner, readers and viewers can gain deeper insights into the works they engage with, appreciating the complex ideas and emotions conveyed through symbolic representation.

What is the symbolism in literature?

In literature, symbolism is used to convey abstract ideas and concepts without having to explicitly state them. It allows writers to express complex and multifaceted ideas through more tangible or visible means, adding depth and richness to their works.

What is symbolism English dictionary?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary , symbolism is the art or practice of using symbols, especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations.

What is symbolism in one word?

Symbolism can be succinctly described as “representation,” where various elements represent or stand for something else, usually abstract ideas or concepts.

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Symbolopedia

Encyclopedia of Symbols

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Symbolopedia is a comprehensive guide to the meanings of symbols. Our content is crafted by professionals in psychology and symbolism, striving to maintain a balance between scientifically proven data and insights derived from myths, legends, and folklore. While our approach leans towards scientific interpretations of symbols, we acknowledge the significant role of the subconscious in their understanding, allowing for a blend of rationality and creativity.

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Definition of allegory

Frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between an allegory and a metaphor ?

Allegory is the expression of truths or generalizations about human existence by means of symbolic fictional figures and their actions. It encompasses such forms as fable and parable . A metaphor , broadly, is figurative language; specifically, it is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. Aesop’s Fables are an example of allegory ; "the ship plows the seas" is an example of metaphor .

What are different types of allegory ?

Personification allegory is a type of allegory in which a fictional character represents a concept or a type. The character Everyman in the medieval play of that name and the Lover in The Romance of the Rose are figures of personification allegory. Symbolic allegory is one in which a character or material thing is not merely a transparent vehicle for an idea, but also has a recognizable identity or a narrative autonomy apart from the message it conveys. The poet Virgil in Dante's Inferno, a historical figure representing human reason within the poem, is an example of a symbolic allegorical figure.

What is the difference between allegory and simile ?

A simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared, often introduced by like or as ("he had eyes like agates"). Allegory is a more or less symbolic fictional narrative that conveys a secondary meaning (or meanings) not explicitly set forth in the literal narrative. Parables, myths, and fables are all considered types of allegories.

Examples of allegory in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allegory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English allegorie , from Latin allegoria , from Greek allēgoria , from allēgorein to speak figuratively, from allos other + -ēgorein to speak publicly, from agora assembly — more at else , agora

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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“Allegory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allegory. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.

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Symbolic Representation

• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 04 April 2017
• Cite this living reference work entry

• Hans Hinterberger 3  

31 Accesses

Symbol graph ; Symbolic graphic ; Symbol plot

A written character or mark used to represent something; a letter, figure, or sign conventionally standing for some object, process, etc. (Oxford English Dictionary). Examples are the figures denoting the planets, signs of the zodiac, etc. in astronomy; the letters and other characters denoting elements, and so on. in chemistry, quantities, operations, etc. in mathematics, the faces of a crystal in crystallography.

In data visualization, the use of symbols allows the representation of multivariate data items, where each variate contributes to the symbol. The set of symbols may be displayed in an array and superimposed on coordinates to put extra information on a point plot or, if appropriate, on a geographical map.

When symbolic representations of information is used as a tool for thought or a form of communication, one distinguishes between abstract symbols where the graphical units are shapes formed by lines and areas...

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Recommeded Reading

Bertin J. Semiology of graphics (trans: Berg WJ.). Madison: University of Wisconsin Press; 1983.

Google Scholar  

Easterby R, Zwaga H, editors. Information design, the design and evaluation of signs and printed material. London: Wiley; 1984.

Harris RL. Information graphics: a comprehensive illustrated reference. New York: Oxford University Press; 1999.

Tufte ER. The visual display of quantitative information. Cheshire: Graphics Press; 1983.

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Author information

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Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

Hans Hinterberger

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Correspondence to Hans Hinterberger .

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Georgia Institute of Technology College of Computing, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

University of Waterloo School of Computer Science, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

M. Tamer Özsu

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Inst. of Scientific Computing, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

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Hinterberger, H. (2017). Symbolic Representation. In: Liu, L., Özsu, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_1382-3

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_1382-3

Received : 15 June 2014

Accepted : 15 March 2017

Published : 04 April 2017

Publisher Name : Springer, New York, NY

Print ISBN : 978-1-4899-7993-3

Online ISBN : 978-1-4899-7993-3

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Meaning of representation in English

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representation noun ( ACTING FOR )

• Defendants have a right to legal representation and must be informed of that right when they are arrested .
• The farmers demanded greater representation in parliament .
• The main opposing parties have nearly equal representation in the legislature .
• The scheme is intended to increase representation of minority groups .
• The members are chosen by a system of proportional representation.
• admissibility
• extinguishment
• extrajudicial
• extrajudicially
• fatal accident inquiry
• federal case
• pettifoggery
• pettifogging
• plea bargain
• plea bargaining
• the Webster ruling
• walk free idiom
• witness to something

representation noun ( DESCRIPTION )

• anti-realism
• anti-realist
• complementary
• confederate
• naturalistically
• non-figurative
• non-representational
• representational
• symbolization
• ultrarealism

representation noun ( INCLUDING ALL )

• all manner of something idiom
• alphabet soup
• it takes all sorts (to make a world) idiom
• non-segregated
• odds and ends
• of every stripe/of all stripes idiom
• this and that idiom
• variety is the spice of life idiom
• wide choice

representation | Business English

Examples of representation, collocations with representation.

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• representation (ACTING FOR)
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• make representations to sb
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