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Friday, 31 August 2018

Symbolism

What is Symbolism?

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities. Symbolism gives an object a symbolic meaning that is different from its literal sense. In symbolism, an object or character is imbued with a particular meaning that it does not have by definition.

For example,

Red rose is symbolic of love

Dove is symbolic of peace

White color is symbolic of purity

Black color is symbolic of evil or death

In literature, symbolism is used as a literary device to represent great qualities, or abstract qualities using characters, objects or setting. For example, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the scarlet letter (the letter A) stands as a symbol of adultery. In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the darkness symbolizes the evil.

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