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Example of symbolism essay
Essays on symbolism in literature
Significance of symbolism in literature
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One short story that is filled with symbolism is The Scarlet Ibis. The underlying meaning in the text is the literary element known as symbolism. Symbolism can be shown through metaphors, colors, and even allegory. In the citation below the factor used to convey symbolism was color. Throughout the story the color red denotes emotions to the reader. A quote reads “’Doodle! Doodle!’ I cried, shaking him, but there was no answer but the ropy rain… I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar” (Online version). In the reader’s eyes the color references, help them to visualize. Bringing in the element of color also draws importance to these specific events. Another example of symbolism being used in the story
is when Doodle is compared to the Scarlet Ibis. The plot of the story revolves around the ibis, its actions act as the foreshadowing to Doodle’s death. The text reads “’It lives in the tropics – South America to Florida. A storm must have brought it here.’” (Online version). Just like the Ibis, Doodle had been pushed to his limits. Their small fragile bodies were not made for being over exerted and so eventually they were just pushed too far.
Why do authors use symbolism in their literature? Many authors use symbolism in their literature to create or to add deeper meaning in the context of the whole story. They often use objects, people, actions and words to symbolize a deeper understanding of their story and to develop their themes. They also use symbols to give clue/hints for the story in which they also develop their main characters. In the story, “It Had to be Murder” by Cornell Woolrich, the author uses symbolism to develop his story and to send a message with a deeper understanding of the story to his readers.
Author James Hurst once quoted, “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.” Why does life end out the way it does when pride infects it with its poison? In “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, pride proves to be more wonderful than terrible for the characters.
“Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt”-Benjamin Franklin. When pride, a gained sense of importance, within a person reaches a point where one deludes oneself with a sense of infallibility, then any sense of consideration for others will be scorned. Similarly, in the book, The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, the narrator drags Doodle into the depths of his pride, ignoring any pleas for help, and left him to drown. Though the narrator showed some forms of love, he is undoubtedly and ultimately responsible for Doodle’s death because of the unrealistic expectations he sets upon his little brother.
James Hurst's short story, "The Scarlet Ibis" reveals that the brotherly bond between the narrator and Doodle is an essential component in the story. If Doodle was a girl, the brotherly connection and bond would be lost, resulting in many variations throughout the story. If Doodle was a girl the narrator probably wouldn't spend as much time with Doodle. A brother-brother relationship is very different than a brother-sister relationship. Doodle would likely be closer to another female such as her mother.
I have never had a brother, but if I did, would I look up to him or would he look up to me? This question comes to mind when I read James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis," Hurst's short story is realistic fiction, but it seems as if it's non-fiction. "The Scarlet Ibis" is about a boy and his crippled younger brother. Brother wants a younger brother, but when Doodle turns out to be crippled, he tries to teach him how to walk, swim, run, and fight out of his own selfishness. Along the way, both Brother and Doodle feel may conflicting emotions. In the end, these conflicting emotions lead to the unfortunate death of Doodle. Hurst uses symbolism to reveal the conflicting emotions of both Brother and Doodle.
The Scarlet Ibis is the symbol that best represents Doodle from the story “The Scarlet Ibis”. I will use quotes from the story to explain this. Firstly, “Its long neck jerked twice into an S, then straightened out, and the bird was still. A white veil came over the eyes and the long white beak unhinged. Its legs were crossed and it claw like feet were delicately curved at rest. Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers, and we stood around it, awed by its exotic beauty” (Hurst 137). Secondly, “He lay very awkwardly with his head thrown far back, making his vermilion neck appear unusually long and slim. His little legs, bent sharply at the knees, had never before seemed so fragile and thin” (Hurst
In “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the realistic fiction and short story, the author uses the a minor character scarlet ibis as a symbol throughout the story. A scarlet ibis, if you don't know, is a bird from the tropics that is a scarlet red and has long legs. Anyway the bird is compared to a main character Doodle a tantalized, disabled kid. The only reason why the scarlet ibis is the symbol is because of how it is like Doodle in many aspects.
Symbolism is commonly used by authors that make short stories. Guin is a prime example of how much symbolism is used in short stories such as “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” and “Sur.” In both of these stories Guin uses symbolism to show hidden meanings and ideas. In “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” there is a perfect Utopian city, yet in this perfect city there is a child locked in a broom closet and it is never let out. A few people leave the city when they find out about the child, but most people stay. Furthermore, in “Sur” there is a group of girls that travel to the South Pole and reach it before anyone else, yet they leave no sign or marker at the South Pole. Guin’s stories are very farfetched and use many symbols. Both “Sur” and “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” have many symbols such as colors, characters, objects, and weather. The four types of symbols that Guin uses help the readers understand the themes in her short stories. Although her stories are farfetched, they need symbolism in them or the reader would not understand the theme; therefore the symbols make Guin’s stories much more enjoyable.
Symbolism is an important aspect in stories, whether big or small. Symbolism makes the reader think. It is used to represent something but does not reveal itself right away. Symbolism adds creativity to an already creative piece. Throughout a novel a reader may spend his/her time trying to conclude what each object in a story represents. Though not all stories have symbolism, those that do possess more excitement than those that do not. In the novella Aura by Carlos Fuentes, there is an extensive use of symbolism. James Hall wrote the article “Why You Should Use Symbolism in Your Writing” on symbolism that helps to describe why Fuentes’ use of symbolism is important in Aura. Fuentes uses symbolism to hide the climax of the story and also to
In almost every story, one can find symbolism throughout the text to help the reader better understand what the writer wants the reader to takeout from his/her story. Symbolism is something that must be analyzed and explored to experience a deeper meaning to the story. Sometimes, symbolism throughout a story may not be noticeable when first read, but going back to analyze the text can add a deeper meaning to words and can also help to enhance the meaning behind the story line. In some instances, symbolism can leave a reader to ponder what the writer is trying to express with the symbolism used in the story; for symbolism can be interpreted differently and can have many layers of meaning to it. Some good examples of short stories that use symbolism
Many authors and poets uses symbolism to express emotion and sections throughout the text. Symbols is a great literary device that can help give messages to the reader without the author being too direct. In the story, “Barns Burning” by William Faulkner, Symbolism helps analysis different emotions and meaning throughout the story.
Michael Jordan once said, “My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn the perceived weakness into a strength.” In the “Scarlet Ibis,” author James Hurst uses indirect characterization and an interesting theme of turning a weakness into a strength to create a successful and well written piece of literature. Doodle is the main character of Scarlet Ibis and was born with a disability and was predicted to live for a short amount of time. Doodle overcame his weakness with perseverance and with the help of his big brother. James Hurst did very well creating an entertaining story with indirect characterization and with an amusing theme.
In his classic short story, "Flight," John Steinbeck uses many examples of symbolism to foreshadow the conclusion. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place or thing, used to portray something beyond itself. It is used to represent or foreshadow the ending of the story. Steinbeck uses colors, direction, and nature symbolism to help presage Pepé's tragic death. Let us now more closely examine the ways that Steinbeck uses colors to foreshadow the ending of his short story.
James Hurst, author of the short story "The Scarlet Ibis", writes how the Scarlet Ibis symbolizes Doodle's life with the complications of his toxic relationship with Brother. Birds are creatures that can fly, yet they do not intrigue that many people, but the beautiful hue of scarlet from the Scarlet Ibis caught the eyes of Doodle's family. It was one in a million to see a bird as angelic as the Scarlet Ibis in their own front yard. Brother's pride would have never allowed himself to help the fallen bird, or in this case, Doodle. Doodle carried the "red dead bird" to its grave as the "fallen Scarlet Ibis fell from the heresy of rain" all on his own. Doodle became like the Scarlet Ibis and its death before a rain storm when Brother lacked
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, symbolsim is constantly present in the actual scarlet letter “A” as it is viewed as a symbol of sin and the gradally changes its meanign, guilt is also a mejore symbol, and Pearl’s role in this novel is symbolic as well. The Scarlet Letter includes many profound and crucial symbols. these devices of symbolism are best portayed in the novel, most noticably through the letter “A” best exemplifies the changes in the symbolic meaning throughout the novel.