What comes into your head when you see a rose? Is it romance? Love? Well, I have no doubt that either of those was your first guess. Why not think about the rose as a mere plant? Why not even think about a garden instead? Why not? It’s because we associate the rose with romance and love. This kind of association is called symbolism. It is almost like a basic instinct for both writers and readers to see some specific things as symbolic representations than merely as they are presented. This is especially because these things have been constantly used symbolically in speech or narrative form over the years and now we are so used to using or seeing them symbolically.

What is symbolism?

Symbolism is a literary device in which an object or word is used to represent an abstract idea. The objects may include symbols, characters, actions, or places.

There are various examples of objects that have a well-defined symbolic meaning. We will categorize them for easy understanding.

Types of objects and their symbolic meanings

Types of animals and their symbolic meanings:

A bear symbolizes resurrection and the coming of new life, strength, and power.

A buffalo represents bravery, freedom, kindness, strength, and respect.

A butterfly symbolizes transformation.

A deer symbolizes profound change.

A dog symbolizes faithfulness, vigilance, and loyalty.

A dove symbolizes peace and purity.

A horse symbolizes strength, wisdom, intellect, and loyalty.

A phoenix symbolizes rebirth, hope, renewal, and progress.

An owl symbolizes wisdom, patience, and solitude.

A unicorn (although non-existent) symbolizes purity and grace.

A wolf symbolizes stability, perseverance, loyalty, and success.

Types of colors and their symbolic meanings:

Red symbolizes excitement, desire, passion, power, aggression, love, danger, war, violence, and blood.

Pink symbolizes love and romance, tenderness, acceptance, and calm.

Dark blue symbolizes integrity, knowledge, and power.

Blue symbolizes peace, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, and loyalty.

Purple symbolizes royalty, nobility, honor, arrogance, mourning, and wisdom.

Black symbolizes power, sexuality, elegance, wealth, unhappiness, remorse, anger, fear, evil, and mystery.

White symbolizes reverence, humility, peace, innocence, cleanliness, and simplicity.

Yellow symbolizes joy, happiness, hope, betrayal, and deceit.

Brown signifies earth, stability, reliability, comfort, endurance, and home.

Green symbolizes nature, renewal, good luck, good health, generosity, envy, and misfortune.

Gray symbolizes security, intelligence, modesty, dignity, maturity, and reliability.

Orange symbolizes energy and enthusiasm.

Lavender signifies femininity and grace.

Types of flowers and their symbolic meanings:

Roses signify romance.

Lilies represent beauty and temptation.

Gardenias represent purity and grace.

Violets signify shyness.

Chrysanthemums represent beauty and truth.

Types of symbolism

There are three main types of symbolism, they are:

Religious symbolism

Romantic symbolism

Emotional symbolism

The uses of symbolism

To evoke emotions

The use of symbolism in a story evokes emotions in the reader. This is because symbolism adds sentiment to a story. For instance in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, after killing King Duncan, a guilty Lady Macbeth is tortured by a spot of blood on her hands that won’t wash away. The spot of blood symbolizes Lady Macbeth's guilt. The stubbornness of the spot helps the reader feel the weight of her guilt.

To add imagery

Symbols help to make descriptions visual in a story. Symbolism can also help a reader understand complex concepts through the enhancement of imagery.

To describe character traits

Writers can use symbolism to describe the traits of their characters. For example in the Harry Potter series, the lightning bolt-shaped scar on Harry Potter’s forehead symbolizes how loved and special he is. It is the same love that saved his life when Lord Voldermort tried to kill him.

To conceal a darker or inner meaning

The writer can use symbolism to indirectly address a sensitive subject.

Sources

literarydevices.net/symbolism/

https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/symbolism
https://essaypro.com/blog/symbolism-in-literature