Common Symbols in Literature

If you see these in prose or a poem, it’s no coincidence.

Open windows implies a sort of release, freedom. Not closed or restrained in any way.

Open Window

Rain and WaterRain and water symbolize renewal, baptism to a new life, change, cleansing.Especially when characters get submerged somehow.

Blue Sky and sunrises

Blue skies symbolize the promise of good times, better times to come. Positivity and happiness and hope.

StormsConflict!Storm outside = storm inside

between charactersinternally within a character

Rain – characters getting rained on could also mean change, renewal (baptism)

Gates, Fences, and BridgesEntrance into another world, huge change. “crossing over” to some other side.

RoseLove and beauty

Seasons

Spring : growth, birth, renewal

Summer: good times, happy, positive, life

Autumn: before death, adult years, coming to an end,

harvest

Winter: death, end

Closed/locked doors

• Restraint• Repression• Suppression• Rejection• Secrecy

BirdsFreedomLiberationthe human desire to escape gravity, to reach the level of the angel. The bird is often the disembodied human soul, free of its physical constrictions

BUZZARDS, VULTURES, FLIES, AND WORMS

Harbingers of Death, Decay

Colors

Red = passion, love, blood, war, anger(masculine)

Colors

White = PureCleanBlankWealth, sophistication

Colors

Green = nature, growth, jealousy

Colors

Blue = peaceful, cool(feminine)

ColorsBlack = evil, deathvoid, empty, depression

ColorsGray = Vague

Nothing

ColorsPurple

unites red's fiery masculinity with blue's cool femininity. Purple is often used to represent royalty, imperial power, justice, and/or truth

Mysteriousness Ambiguity Vagueness Suspense

Mist and Fog

Dogs = loyalty

The moon is a feminine symbol, universally representing the rhythm of time as it embodies the cycle. The phases of the moon symbolize immortality and eternity

Moon

Tree = life, knowledgeOften a Biblical allusion

Apple = original sin, temptation, wisdom

Biblical: deceit, temptation, wisdom, “Satan in disguise”Cultural/Historical: serpents and snakes represent fertility or a

creative life force. As snakes shed their skin

Snakes and serpents

through sloughing, they are symbols of rebirth, trans-formation, immor-tality, and healing.   Poison and

medicine

Problems with vision = problems seeing the truth, skewed perception

Oftentimes, a character will lose the ability of sight and will only then see the truth

Sight and truth

light in the darkness of life, especially individual life, illumination; holy illumination of the spirit of truth.

Candle

A sexualized representation of male potency, power, or domination--particularly through some object vaguely reminiscent of the penis

Arrow Cane/walking stick Staff Sword, club Tower Missile, rocket Key

Phallic symbol

Definition: A sexualized representation of femininity and reproductive power--particularly through some object vaguely reminiscent of the vagina

Girls parts: Gates Open doors Holes (i.e., keyhole) Cups

Yonic symbol