Using Symbolism in Your Writing
Vložit
- čas přidán 10. 06. 2024
- 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.
LEARN MORE: blog.reedsy.com/symbolism/?ut...
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
FIND REEDSY HERE:
Website: blog.reedsy.com?
Facebook: / wearereedsy
Twitter: / reedsyhq
Instagram: / reedsy_hq
RESOURCES:
Book Editor: reedsy.com/write-a-book
Reedsy Discovery [indie book reviews]: reedsy.com/discovery
Webinars: blog.reedsy.com/live/
Bestseller Podcast: blog.reedsy.com/podcast/
Prompts & Writing Contest: blog.reedsy.com/creative-writ...
Plot Generator: blog.reedsy.com/plot-generator/
Character Name Generator: blog.reedsy.com/character-nam...
Pen Name Generator: blog.reedsy.com/pen-name-gene...
Book Title Generator: blog.reedsy.com/book-title-ge...
Writing Exercises: blog.reedsy.com/writing-exerc...
Writing Contest Directory: blog.reedsy.com/writing-conte...
Literary Magazine Directory: blog.reedsy.com/literary-maga...
ePub to MOBI Converter: blog.reedsy.com/epub-to-mobi-...
Reedsy Learning [free courses]: blog.reedsy.com/learning/ - Zábava
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.
@Steve Peter thank you very much Mr. Peter, but I'd pass on ghost writting, it isn't a good or rewarding or satisfying venture for all involved. Shakespeare stories, James Bond novels, Harry Potter Novels, Agatha Christie novels, Chsrles Dickens novels, are all works created along that line, till this day, no one knows who the writers---who might yet be alive, ---are. Moreover, what happens if someone gives you a work to ghost write, you both agree on a one time fee whixhnrhat persons pays, but the book ends up sellimg fifty million copies making the someone very rich, wouldn't you stir up unwarranted issues of; 1. Being the one responsible for the work? ---it's happened several times you know? ---in the process severely embarrassing the supposed author whose name appear on the book once he or she refuses to fork over more more money? You'd be fool hardy not to, but, is it right to ask for more when the fee is already paid in full?
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!
Foreshadowing = using 4 shadows instead of only 1
symbolism is like an Easter egg 🥚
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?
Sometimes the reader sees a symbol when no symbol is there ?
Hemingway said that a reviewer thought the laughing hyenas in *The Snows of Kilimanjaro* represented literary critics.
Hem's story was about a dying writer Harry who feels he has squandered his talent and sold out to Hollywood and commercialism.
Kilimanjaro, highest mountain in Africa, has a summit which the Masai call the house of God.
The text begins with the legend of a leopard whose frozen body was found near the summit : what was it seeking?
Peter Matthiessen's *The Snow Leopard* is a search for this exquisite creature after the death of the writer's wife and his LSD trip.
Bride of Frankenstein???
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.
I can't believe Shaelin said "very unique".
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.
And that is our problem because...?
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.
Great, thanks
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!
Interesting. Thanks
Shaelin, do your frequently changing hairstyles symbolise your character arc?
Anyone wishing to see water subverted as a symbol should really watch Festen - after having checked triggers if applicable.
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.
Subverting symbols is a thing I am too cowardly to try to do because I’m afraid of not making sense.
Do you help new novel writers? I am a new novel writer and I am trying to improve my craft.
What does the nose ring symbolize?
lol
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