Very often, students in grades 5-7 ask themselves: “A symbol in literature - what is it?” Do not panic. In our article you will learn the definition of the term “symbol” and consider examples that make it easy to understand this definition.
Many definitions
Today in science there is not one, but several definitions of a symbol in literature. If the student needs to reveal the concept, then it is worth stopping at one that he will understand best of all. Indeed, in essence, they are no different.
In any kind of art, whether it be literature, painting or music, a symbol is very important. Each time the image is symbolic, its purpose is to use the figurative meanings to describe the real picture of the world. Literary scholars note that in literary texts symbolism lies in comparison, metaphors and even epithets.
So, a symbol in literature is a sign, an object or a sign that replaces another object and expresses its essence hidden from prying eyes. In addition, the symbol is a guide to the artistic world of the author who applied this symbol.
Similarity with the trails
Many literary scholars believe that a symbol in literature is a trope. However, there are several opinions on this subject. For example, one of them is this: the symbols are similar to the paths, especially metaphor and comparison, but the semantic content of the symbol is deeper and fuller. The difference between a symbol and a metaphor is that a metaphor is created in front of the reader. A symbol has the property of entering into a metaphor. But this is optional. Unlike allegory, a symbol can contain a multiplicity of images and meanings, which are explained by context. We pass from theory to concrete examples.
Vivid examples
It's no secret that the heart is a symbol of love. What other characters are there, we will tell you now.
In any art, there are understandable and well-established symbols for everyone. One of them is black. It signifies sadness, loss, and even death.
There are symbols in works of art. In each era, they were different. A symbol in literature is a method of imparting depth and expressiveness to an image; thanks to it, a variety of plans are connected: plot, mythological, historical, and so on.
A symbol in the literature is (examples):
- the dog is devotion;
- donkey - stubbornness;
- scepter - power;
- rose - femininity;
- lily - purity, innocence;
- the lion is power;
- mirror - the other world;
- the sun (according to Dostoevsky) is a symbol of life;
- candle - faith in God, divine power.
Symbols of light
Light in folk traditions correlate with the luminary itself, the month, summer, warmth, flowers. It symbolizes the beauty of life, embodies the truth, righteousness, holiness and world order.
It symbolizes God's grace and averts evil spirits from man. Solar (solar) symbols carry divine images and its powers. This is not surprising, because the sun was revered by our ancestors as a source of heat and life. The light in folklore was called clear, red, kind, etc. In various Slavic rites, oaths were made to the glory of the sun, and promises were made. The Slavs believed that the Sun is a symbol of the face or the eye of God. They believed that it is through the sun that the deity observes man.
The moon is another celestial body, which is associated in popular beliefs exclusively with the world of the dead. The moon is opposed to the sun - the deity of life, heat and light. All Slavs believed that moonlight was dangerous. This was especially true for newborn children and pregnant women who were forbidden to enter the moonlight.
The prevalence of moon cults is explained by the fact that this luminary was important during the night hunt. It is also known that ancient people established the influence of the moon on the ebbs and flows, therefore, for a very long time, people believed that the moon even controls its fate.
The moon symbolized chastity, indifference, volatility and inconstancy. However, the full moon is associated with a circle, that is, with a symbol of perfection and wholeness.
A candle is a spiritual image. A candle is most often portrayed in a world of darkness and ignorance. It is one of the most important symbols of the Orthodox tradition. Symbolizes Christ, the church, Grace, faith, memory and so on. In a private sense, a candle is associated with the loneliness and trepidation of the human soul, as well as the brevity of its earthly existence. No wonder it is a candle that is lit when a person dies. Relatives of this rite want to illuminate his path into the world of death.
Conclusion
Russian philologist Sergei Averintsev believes that a symbol in literature is a category of aesthetics that is best disclosed.
Soviet philosopher Alexei Losev suggested that a symbol is the principle of establishing patterns. Each symbol carries a special meaning. In literature and poetry, a symbol helps the reader understand the secrets of the world, both in art and in reality.
In other words, a symbol in literature is an image that expresses the meaning of an object or phenomenon in a specific form.