Using Symbolism in Your Writing

Symbolism is one of the most popular literary devices, and one you'll encounter constantly, but it can still be one of the hardest to spot! Symbolism works by tying imagery to theme and idea, and can add layers of meaning to a story, as well as be very rewarding for readers, whether they pick it up consciously or subconsciously.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - What is symbolism?
1:41 - Symbolism and theme
2:39 - Creating emotional resonance
3:18 - Creating relatability
4:02 - Patterning symbolism
4:40 - Subverting symbols
5:38 - Don't explain a symbol
6:16 - Develop a symbol throughout

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[TrueGritProductions]

Foreshadowing = using 4 shadows instead of only 1

[u_t_d_s_h-_a]

Symbolism is awesome. It garnishes literally work and adds enjoyability to a work of fiction, ---it is what usually gives an author some credible or lasting status as a writer.

[berryXjerry]

The symbolism in literature is stronger than the symbolism in the movies, as you can imagine it. It's not visible, and thus the mind is practiced by imagination. Thank you for the video!

[Rosemont]

I'd warn any writer to decide on a symbol meaning one thing or one type of relationship, because if you try to mix in some more, the message gets muddled or could have unfortunate implications. When I watched Turning Red, for example, the red panda symbolized puberty, but then it symbolized generational trauma. Like, pick one?

[johnhaggerty]

An online search revealed symbols in Capote's In Cold Blood: A golden parrot, apples, silver dollars, two grey cats.
Perry Smith often dreamt of a parrot and Richard Hickock's head was like a misaligned apple because of a car accident.
Sam Shepard's *Kicking A Dead Horse* had an authentic-looking dead horse on stage when I saw the play in London.

If you use a worn one-eyed teddy bear make it precise by researching teddy bears: Trollope knew his jewellery in *The Eustace Diamonds*.
In an interview with P.J. Kavanagh I quoted a list of symbols in his novel *A Song and Dance* and he said in all truth he was not aware of them.
We will all be searching online for symbols in *Madame Bovary* . Patrick White said it always left him with an icy cold feeling.

[FireflyOnyx]

Nice video! Not many people cover this topic. I was in need of a little guidance on how symbolisms works after I found an accidental bit of symbol in my current project relating to the idea of an unstoppable force and immovable object with the protags love-interest and childhood friend being the former and the protag the later. Now I know how to weave the idea into the text!

[ianwebling]

I can't believe Shaelin said "very unique".

[marscaleb]

Hmmm... On second thought, my problem isn't a lack of symbolism, it's that I don't have a real character arc for my protagonist.

[VideoGameRoom]

Symbolism can be good in a story but I think you might have to be careful when you using it. Some people who don't have knowledge in something might not catch it the first time when watching a movie. They might not catch it until the end of the movie or catch it when watching the movie for the second time.

[rachelthompson]

my book Dragon Fire flips the idea of the Garden of Eden whereby the serpents are the good guys and that's just one of the unstated symbolic elements that carry themes.

[philip-at-tube]

Shaelin, do your frequently changing hairstyles symbolise your character arc?

[billyalarie]

Subverting symbols is a thing I am too cowardly to try to do because I’m afraid of not making sense.

[tharo]

Anyone wishing to see water subverted as a symbol should really watch Festen - after having checked triggers if applicable.

[CinemaKingTheaters]

Do you help new novel writers? I am a new novel writer and I am trying to improve my craft.

[fleur]

There are no universal symbols. They mean something unique and different to each individual and you cannot just assume that a reader will see your version of what it means. To use your example of teddy bears... I do not see a "teddy bear" as representing "childhood". There has to be more context for people to understand what you are attempting to symbolize or the majority of people will not understand why it matters, and they will not even know it's a symbol