Symbols are something that represent or stand for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract. In “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, Hosseini demonstrates symbolic meanings throughout the entire novel by involving them into an epic tale of betrayal and eventual redemption. Every symbol contributed a large part of the reader’s understanding of the story. Three very important symbols in the novel were; the pomegranate tree, Amir’s scar above his lip, and the title itself.
For instance, the pomegranate tree was a very important symbol throughout the novel due to it representing Amir, and Hassan’s relationship. While Amir and Hassan are young and carefree and as close as a servant and master can be, they carve their names in the tree as "Amir and Hassan, the sultans
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of Kabul” (pg.27). A couple of days after the attack on Hassan, Amir wants him to hit him with the pomegranate fruit to inflict a physical punishment and lessen his guilt but instead, Hassan breaks the fruit over his own head. Amir is frustrated that Hassan didn't fight back and, in a larger sense, that Hassan won't hold Amir accountable for the rape. Amir wants Hassan to accuse him of betrayal and to rough him up. At least things would be out in the open then. As it is, Hassan remains “ a loyal Hazara. Loyal as a dog” (pg.66 )bearing the burden of the rape on his own. Years later, after Hassan is dead and Amir is filled with guilt the tree just like Amir’s memories still exists. The site which was once a place of intense, brotherly love was now filled with Amir’s bitterness, guilt and anger. The tree not only symbolizes a unifying force between Amir and Hassan but also serves as a source of division. Secondly, Amir spends most of his life trying to forget Hassan, yet only when he gets a physical reminder of his only childhood friend is Amir able to be at peace.
Amir’s scar resembles the scar Hassan had, also on his lip. This is both ironic and symbolic. Amir’s new scar makes him a lot more like Hassan because just like how he rescues Shoran from Assef, Hassan had in a way rescued Amir from Assef many years ago. Something that "he (Assef) fished out of [his] pocket didn't surprise [Amir] one bit" (Hosseini 287) because it was Assef’s brace chain that he also had pulled out on Hassan years ago. Amir’s scar represents his loyalty toward Hassan and Shoran due to his courageous act of fighting Assef in which Amir was almost beat to death but “[Amir’s] body [may have been] broken—but [he] felt healed. Healed at last. [he said as he] laughed” (p. 289). The scar not only shows bravery but shows how Amir has transformed from a selfish child to a selfless adult. He changed his personality to what Hassan’s which is what the hare-lip represents. Amir’s scar became a badge of honour and he is no longer burdened with the shame he carried ever since him and Hassan were
children. A further not so surprising symbol is the tittle of the novel, “The Kite Runner”. This is significant in more ways than one because kites traditionally symbolize both prophecy and fate, and both of these ideas can be applied to characters and events in the novel. While sitting in the fuel truck Baba says "Think of something good, something happy” (pg.57), and Amir automatically thinks of “Hassan's calloused hands, our eyes turned up to the kite in the sky” (pg.57) where he and Hassan were flying kites without a worrying in mind. Also, “In Kabul, fighting kites was a little like going to war,” (pg.53) as Amir and Hassan were told. Building the kite together symbolizes the friendship of the two boys, the sort of brotherhood that is also symbolized by the fact that they both nursed from the same woman. The main two kite fights in the novel was were Amir won in Kabul were the crowd had cheered “like Romans chanting for the gladiators to kill, kill!” (pg.73) and the other at the end of the book in California. This not only representing the reversed roles because of Hassan being the kite runner in the first kite fight and Amir switching roles being a kite runner for Sohrab. Thus, kites also symbolize the thematic topics and interrelationship between betrayal and redemption. To sum it everything up “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini consisted of many symbols through out the story, but three symbols that stood out were; the pomegranate tree, Amir’s receiving the scar above his lip, and the tittle “The Kite Runner”. The pomegranate tree symbolizing Amir and Hassan’s relationship, Amir’s scar lip making him resemble Hassan, and the tittle reversing roles of Amair, and Hassan. Due to these symbols Amir realized he was “peeking into that deserves alley for the last twenty-six years” (pg.1). Symbols in this novel played a huge role in adding twists and turns to the plot.
One example of symbolism is the main antagonist Kaine. Kaine possibly could symbolize suffering, sacrifices, loss, and most important, determination. While trying to find Kaine, Michael suffers along the way while overcoming the obstacles set in his path. In the end of the book, Michael actually is left on his own after both of his companions die. He then uses determination and drive to find Kaine and fight him. This proves that Kaine could symbolize sacrifice, suffering, loss, and determination because of the loss of Michael’s friends, the suffering at the hands of Kaine, and the determination Michael uses to find him. Another way James Dashner uses Kaine as a symbol is by his name. In fact, Kaine actually means ‘Tribute’. James Dashner could have taken advantage of this name to hint at the sacrifices the main character Michael would have to make and the determination he would have to show in order to defeat Kaine. To elaborate on the idea of symbolism, another symbol could be the Path. The Path is what Michael, Bryson, and Sarah were told to find to help them find Kaine. Michael and his friends faced a series of many arduous obstacles and challenges they had to pass in order to get through the Path. Even when Michael looses his two loyal best friends, he kept on going in order to reach Kaine. This means that the Path could symbolize assiduousness and
According to Google, symbolism in literature is defined as the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can be seen throughout media and in many pieces of literature including To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In the book, the symbol of the mockingbird represents the character Boo Radley, and how his story teaches people to not always believe what others have to say about someone without being able to prove it true for themselves.
A symbol is a person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols can be very useful in shedding light on a story, clarifying meaning that can’t be expressed with words. It may be hard to notice symbols at first, but while reflecting on the story or reading it a second time, the symbol is like a key that fits perfectly into a lock. The reason that symbols work so well is that we can associate something with a particular object. For example, a red rose symbolizes love and passion, and if there were red roses in a story we may associate that part of the story with love. Although many symbols can have simple meanings, such as a red rose, many have more complex meanings and require a careful reading to figure out its meaning. The first symbol that I noticed in Ethan Frome is the setting. It plays an important role in this story. The author spends much of the first few chapters describing the scene in a New England town Starkfield. When I think of a town called Starkfield, a gloomy, barren place with nothing that can grow comes to mind. As the author continues to describe this town, it just reinforces what I had originally thought.
Symbolism is a major literary device that helps people see a book through symbols that often have a deeper meaning. A symbol is used to explain something in a different way, using images, objects, etc. instead of just saying it in words. As you search for a deeper meaning in a work of art or literature, it can help you understand the authors intentions and the deeper significance of a work. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, symbols help reinforce the major themes of the book. Fire and flames have been used as symbols by many authors.
The symbols in The Things They Carried range from a pair of stockings from a soldier's girlfriend to tranquilizers. Some of the soldiers carried many items while other soldiers only carried a few items. The soldiers carried items such as letters, photographs, pebbles, stockings, tranquilizers, and drugs.
A symbol is a unique term because it can represent almost anything such as people, beliefs, and values. Symbols are like masks that people put on to describe their true self. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the author uses Tom Robinson and Arthur Radley to represent a mockingbird which illustrates the theme of innocence by presenting these characters as two harmless citizens that do not pose a threat to Maycomb.
...e of the meanings to be determined by the reader, but clearly conveys the meaning behind others. Such variety provides something or someone for any reader to relate to. Symbolism, hidden or obvious, serves to connect the reader with the characters of “The Things They Carried” and follow their development with interest and ease. In many cases, symbols answer the question which the entire story is based upon, why the men carry the things they do.
“Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used by the author to represent abstract ideas or concepts.” Symbolism in literature is the depth and hidden meaning in any piece of work. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a powerful and evocative novel laced with symbolism. The most obvious is the symbol of the scarlet letter itself, representing Hester’s sin of adultery. Hawthorne’s other symbols are less obvious and are very often obscured in the novel.
A symbol is an object used to stand for something else. Symbolism has a hidden meaning lying within it; these meanings unite to form a more detailed theme. Symbolism is widely used in The Scarlet Letter to help the reader better understand the deep meanings Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays throughout his novel. He shows that sin, known or unknown to the community, isolates a person from their community and from God. Hawthorne also shows this by symbols in nature around the town, natural symbols in the heavens, and nature in the forest.
Ken Kesey’s novel “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is a story about a band of patients in a mental ward who struggle to find their identity and get away from the wretched Nurse. As audiences read about the tale, many common events and items seen throughout the story actually represent symbols for the bigger themes of the story. Symbols like the fishing trip, Nurse, and electroshock therapy all emphasize the bigger themes of the story.
Symbolism in literature is using an object to portray a different, deeper meaning in a story. Symbols represent ideas or qualities that the author has maneuvered into his or her story that has meaning. There can be multiple symbols in a story or just one. It is up to the reader to interpret the meaning of the symbols and their significance to the story. While reading a story, symbols may not become clear until the very end, once the climax is over, and the falling action is covered. In William Faulkner’s, “A Rose for Emily,” there are multiple examples of symbolism that occur throughout the story.
In the Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses a variety of symbols to represent ideas, or abstract notions or conceptions about people, places, and things. A symbol, according to the Webster's Dictionary, is an object that stands for something in addition to its literal meaning. In the book, there is a continual breakdown of society and civilization on the island. During this breakdown, Golding uses symbolism to further explain the process. Some of the things he symbolizes in the novel are the island itself, the conch, the boys clothing, and the violence.
As implied by the title, kites play a major role in the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. They appear numerous times within the text and prove to be surprisingly versatile in their literary function. They provide common ground for characters whose interests do not normally intersect. They are also present as a very powerful symbol, which adds an extra dimension to this already literary rich novel. Reversing the roles transcending generations, it shows itself to be a multifaceted medium.
A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. (2009 Open-Ended Question for AP English Literature and Composition).
People hold different things to be symbolic. Dove and peace, a rose and love; they are simple things yet widely symbolic. Symbolism is commonly used in literature to change or deepen meanings or instill a different meaning to the mind of the readers. The reader is forced to think, make connections, and succeed in adding a new meaning to the novel. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses symbolism in the form of his characters and to develop the theme, the corruption of the American Dream.