"What is Symbolism?": A Literary Guide for English Teachers and Students

What is symbolism in literature? Are symbols in literature universal? Senior Lecturer Gilad Elbom answers these questions using examples from everyday life and Gilbert Sorrentino's novel Under the Shadow. The short video is designed to help high school and college English students to not only identify symbolism in stories and poems but also to avoid symbolic over-reach as they analyze its structure and purpose.
Spanish as well as English subtitles are now available for this video. To switch between languages, click on the "settings" button in the video.
The video is sponsored by the School of Writing, Literature, and Film at Oregon State University. For more discussions of literary topics and essay writing tips, please subscribe to the free SWLF KZbin Channel or visit liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/w...
#LiteraryTerms​ #remotelearning​ #literature​
Timestamps
0:00 Symbolism Basic Definition
0:54 Are Some Symbols Universal?
1:27 Symbolism Advanced Definition
2:50 Symbolism Extended Example
Below are a few more videos in the series. Please drop us a comment letting us know what literary terms you would like us to explore in future videos!
"What is a prologue?": • "What is a Prologue?":...
"What is a stanza?": • "What is a Stanza?": A...
"What is stream of consciousness?": • "What is Stream of Con...
"What is figurative language?": • "What is Figurative La...
"What is irony?': • "What is Irony?": A Li...
"What is a metaphor?": • "What is a Metaphor?":...
"What is a simile?": • "What is a Simile?": A...
"What is hyperbole?": • "What is Hyperbole?": ...
"What is a imagery?": • "What is Imagery?": A ...
"What is a sonnet?": • "What is a Sonnet?": A...
"What is metonymy?": • "What is Metonymy?": A...
"What is synecdoche?": • "What is a Synecdoche?...
"What is enjambment?": • "What is Enjambment?":...
"What is satire?": • "What is Satire?": A L...
"What is juxtaposition?": • "What is Juxtaposition...
"What is foreshadowing?": • "What is Foreshadowing...
"What is understatement?": • "What is Understatemen...
"What is rhyme?": • "What is Rhyme in Poet...
"What is an unreliable narrator?": • "What is an Unreliable...
"What is a genre?": • "What is a Genre?": A ...
"What is a narrative arc?": • "What is a Narrative A...
"What is a flashback?": • "What is a Flashback?"...
"What is personification?": • "What is Personificati...
"What is a narrator?": • "What is a Narrator?":...
"What is a flat character vs a round character?": • "What is a Flat Charac...
"What is symbolism?": • "What is Symbolism?": ...
"What is a graphic narrative? (Part I)": • "What is a Graphic Nov...
"What is a graphic narrative? (Part II)": • "What is a Graphic Nov...
"What is epistrophe?": • "What is Epistrophe?":...
"What is poetic meter?": • "What is Meter in Poet...
"What is a portmanteau?": • "What is a Portmanteau...
"What is anaphora?": • "What is Anaphora?": A...
"What is an oxymoron?": • "What is an Oxymoron?"...
"What is a zeugma?": • "What is a Zeugma?": A...
"What is free indirect discourse?": • "What is Free Indirect...
"What is a vehicle and a tenor?": • "What are Vehicles and...
"What is the uncanny?": • "What is the Uncanny?"...
"What is a point of view?": • "What is Point of View...
"What is deus ex machina?": • "What is Deus Ex Machi...
"What is a frame story?": • "What is a Frame Story...
"What is ekphrasis?": • "What is Ekphrasis?": ...
"What is blank verse?": • "What is Blank Verse?"...
"What is an epistolary novel?": • "What is an Epistolary...
"What is allegory?": • "What is an Allegory?"...
"What is tragedy?": • "What is a Tragedy?": ...
"What are euphony and cacophony?": • "What are Euphony and ...
"What are assonance and consonance?": • "What are Assonance an... ​​
"What is a setting in literature?": • "What is a Setting?": ... ​​
"What is onomatopoeia?": • "What is Onomatopoeia?... ​​
"What is theme in literature?": www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5KZc...
"What is a conflict in literature?": • "What is Conflict in L... ​
"What is persona?": • "What is a Persona?": ...
"What is a dramatic monologue?": • "What is a Dramatic Mo...
"What is an allusion?": • "What is an Allusion?"...
"What is alliteration?": • "What is Alliteration?...
"What is an epic?": • "What is an Epic?": A ...
"What is an ars poetica?": • "What is an Ars Poetic...
"What is a motif?": • "What is a Motif?": A ...
"What is a protagonist?": • "What is a Protagonist...
"What is literature?": • "What is Literature?":...
"What is a foil?": • "What is a Foil?": A L...

[@SWLF]

This video now includes Spanish as well as English subtitles. For a full list of dual-language videos in our series, please see the following site: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/oregon-state-guide-english-literary-terms

[@teojocatherrien3204]

i want this guy as my teacher, he is so amazing

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Téo! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the video and we hope you enjoy the others in our series as well!

[@tk006]

Greetings General Kenobi

[@_sweetdessert]

That was actually very descriptive and easy to interpret, thank you!

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, SweetDessert! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@muneerasabry2204]

The best explanation. I loved it. Even my daughter loves watching your detailed video. Thank you so much.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Muneera! We hope you and your daughter enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@thewanderer37]

Informative video, thank you! I'm currently writing a novel and exploring lots of different literature in the process, this helped me to progress my writing, and introduced me to a new author in Sorrentino.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Anthony! We hope you find the other videos in our series useful to you as well. Good luck with that novel!

[@calebrenji]

Very Helpful, I used this to understand symbolism for my Literature task. Thank you.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your kind words, Caleb. We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@josuebenvindo]

This video is a bless. Thank you from Brazil! Could you please indicate some books about this subject?

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for the comment, josuebenvindo! We're delighted to see our series making its way to Brazil, and we hope all is well with you during the ongoing public health crisis in our two countries. If you are interested in learning more, you can visit our dedicated pages to each literary term on our website (in this case, here): liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-symbolism These pages offer a full transcript of each video and include suggestions for further readings and applications for literature teachers and students.

[@RickhunterSDF1]

He’s responding to all the comments, what a mad lad

[@SWLF]

@@RickhunterSDF1 Ha! When COVID-19 and wildfire smoke keep you indoors, you have to do something to keep sane.

[@Kitbats]

Incredible video. It helped me understand more on symbolism for my output and even in other parts of it indirectly.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Denzel! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@asmaaelsokkary1196]

I can't find a word to describe this beneficial leacture, thank you

[@SWLF]

Wow, thanks so much for your kind words, asmaaelsokkary1196! We hope you enjoy the other lessons in our series as well!

[@muneerasabry2204]

You are an amazing teacher.

[@nersha8472]

Nicely explained, I'd love to see videos on novel reviews too.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for the suggestion, Nersha! We'll give it some thought as we plan out the future directions for the site.

[@chessematics]

Eye opening explanation. Thank you sir!

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Chessematics! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@MuhammadSajjad_1992]

Such a beautiful explanation

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Muhammad! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@amrutha4814]

Thankyou ❤️ This gave me some ideas for my upcoming presentation

[@SWLF]

Awesome! Good luck with that presentation, Amrutha!

[@SWLF]

Please drop us a comment to let us know what you thought of our video! Doing so will help us to build a rich digital learning environment around the topic of literary characters.

[@SWLF]

@Dan Thompson Thanks so much for your kind words, Dan. We'll be sure to add the suggestions to the growing list of terms we'd like to cover. And yeah, an entire series on theme--a concept that can be quite challenging for students to wrap their heads around--is a great idea.

[@lorenzohamar2778]

Very well made video it really helped me out!

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Lorenzo! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@hemalakshmi4250]

Nicely explained sir 👏 In The Portrait of the Artist as a Young man by James Joyce the protagonist is Stephen Dedalus Stephen symbolizes 1st Christian Martyr and Dedalus is a character from Greek Mythology, who escapes from Crete an island with handmade wings with wax and feathers... Like Dedalus, the protagonist of the novel finally escapes from Ireland which he feels limiting his talents and life!

[@SWLF]

Great work here, Hema! Joyce is quite a good choice for practicing your identification and interpretation of symbols. He certainly builds quite a few into Portrait...

[@hemalakshmi4250]

@@SWLF 😄👍

[@lnews810]

Thanks so much 🙂

[@SWLF]

Happy to hear you enjoyed the video, Leesa! We hope you enjoy the others in our series as well!

[@siah0GG]

Thank you and god bless you all

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Siah! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@universalgrandpa]

In two separate paragraphs answer the following based on reading by Nathaniel Hawthorne: What do you think the black veil symbolizes? What do you think the minister has been trying to tell the people through his symbolic gesture of the veil.

[@giz2622]

That's so good informations, thanks a lott

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your kind words. We hope you enjoy the other videos in the series as well!

[@isleastron8251]

Solid explanation! Can you also do some literary theory videos? Thanks in advance

[@SWLF]

Thanks for the suggestion, Isle! We've had a few suggestions for literary theory, and we tried out a bit of Freud in our "What is the Uncanny?" video. We may put more together later this year.

[@krishnasainilawan4644]

Your way of explanation amezing 👌👌👌👍👍☺️ So much useful video , love from India ❣️

[@SWLF]

Wow, thanks so much, Krishna! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@tamarsilverman2009]

It was a bit confusing, but zi think J got thd gist, and a few examples of how to find symbols, and if they are simpler or more deep in their usage.

[@SWLF]

Thanks, Tamar! If you'd like to see a full transcript of the lesson, check it out here: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-symbolism

[@imendridi410]

Thank you

[@SWLF]

You're very welcome, imen! We're delighted to hear that you found the lesson useful.

[@Ziaullah-bk5ut]

Short lecture but to the point 😍keep going

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Zia! We're trying to get a few more recorded before the start of the summer!

[@trulyhelpless1907]

This is what I needed

[@SWLF]

Excellent! We're so happy you found the lesson useful and we hope you enjoy the other videos in the series as well!

[@raziabanoo5164]

Thanks sir , it was really helpful ❤️☺️

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Razia! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@tetzlaffjo]

I appreciate the broader context of the idea of symbolism here, ie that it is unique to the text, and not drawn from some universal meaning. But sometimes it's so hard to find the symbols in texts and parse out their meanings/significations. A few more examples here would have been really useful. Also, what's the difference between a symbol and a motif? You probably have a video about motif, and I'll go look it up now.

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for this comment, Jodi! We agree that symbols can be complicated--particularly given the fact that they are not subject to universal categorization. Here's a really simple one taken from Star Wars (to keep with that theme). Whenever Darth Vader appears in that movie, hes usually accompanied by that stirring John Williams track "DonDonDon, Don DA Don, Don DA Don." This music doesn't, of course, HAVE to be associated with Darth Vader, but within the terms of the movie, it is. Incidentally, this is also an example of a motif (or, more specifically, a leitmotif) in which a certain musical phrase is associated (somewhat arbitrarily) with a given character. As this idea suggests, leitmotifs and motifs in general are recurring symbolic patterns, but symbols can also be one offs. Another example of a motif (and a symbol) is the mangled pink teddy bear that keeps showing up in AMC's terrific tv series Breaking Bad. That little teddy bear floating in the pool opens so many episodes of the show, and its strange recurrence forces us as readers to ask why it does--what the little bear is associated with either via metaphor (it is disfigured like Gus Fring is disfigured), synecdoche (a plane crash caused, indirectly, by Walter White's drug business causes the bear to fall into the pool), or metonymy (the character Jane Margolis). OK, one final big one. In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, students often learn that a billboard advertising an eye doctor (TJ Eckleburg) stands in for God, because one character--the traumatized George Wilson--sees the billboard and says "God sees everything." In this dramatic moment, the billboard isn't a stand in for God. Wilson just imbues that billboard with that meaning after the death of his wife. This passage certainly speak to some complicated themes in the novel (e.g. we could talk for a LONG time about the significance of characters confusing capitalism/advertising with religion), but those discussions only make sense if we view symbols as less a marker of how to read the world "correctly" and more a marker of understanding a character's worldview, which is subject to debate. For more on this difference, see our "What is Free Indirect Discourse?" video. We hope that helped!

[@Moodboard39]

In text??

[@rochellelaniog172]

Hi just wanna ask. what's the importance of symbolism in literature?

[@SWLF]

Great question, Rochelle! Authors will often build elaborate symbolic structures into their poems, plays, and stories, and understanding these structures can help us to better understand their themes, characters, and events.

[@lohithreddy2121]

Thanks u sir

[@SWLF]

You're very welcome, @lohithreddy2121 ! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@abhikmodak3170]

Thank you alot! It has really helped me, best regards from India

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, Abhik! We're so happy to see our videos getting some international views!

[@abhikmodak3170]

@@SWLF You guys deserve more

[@SWLF]

@@abhikmodak3170 We're trying! Thanks for getting the word out!

[@issraklearningworld1032]

Very informative and helpful

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much, ILW! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well.

[@nisrinarrai593]

please, can anyone tell me wht is the symblosim of numbers in literature?

[@SWLF]

Hi, Nisrin. As with other symbols, there are no universal symbolic values for numbers in literature. The number 13, for example, is considered unlucky in American culture, but that number has nothing inherently ominous about it. A better approach to symbols is to determine how the text and its accompanying context encourages us to read a given number with symbolic value.

[@lionhogwarts3642]

Can you make a video on epithet and allusion please

[@SWLF]

Thanks for the suggestion, lionhogwarts3642! We do have a "What is an allusion?" up on our page, and we'll add epithet to the list!

[@legolas-spock-skywalker]

Hold up... we're 𝘢𝘭𝘭 going to die sooner than we think? ...what do you know that I don't???

[@SWLF]

Ha! That's just a bit of dark humor, we'd say.

[@timeandattention3945]

How are symbols different from signs ?

[@SWLF]

Great question, Lebohang! Symbols can change fairly dramatically from poem to poem or story to story. Signs, however, are agreed upon symbols within a given community. In other words, symbols are more variable than signs.

[@R2GamerM]

Me link kro ya unlink

[@Moodboard39]

Symbolism is very interesting. It was known in Russian literature.

[@SWLF]

Interesting! Could you give us an example or two, Alchemist?

[@ZozoZozo-ym1yy]

Hi professor ..Can you help. me to learn speaking English language ? I'm Arabic woman and like to learn English

[@SWLF]

Thanks so much for your suggestion, Zoza! We are rolling out a new video series on Standard English Grammar that we hope will be useful to you as you learn English. The first video in that series is available here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIvNf62kq9aae9U

[@ZozoZozo-ym1yy]

@@SWLF Think you sir very much🌷

[@ZozoZozo-ym1yy]

Thank you

[@ZozoZozo-ym1yy]

@@SWLF thank you

[@nibuminuvlog4317]

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious❤❤

[@SWLF]

Ha! Thanks so much, @nibuminuvlog4317 ! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@5464654135756]

I don’t get it

[@GhostFart_360]

What are the levels of symbolism y'all? This question confuses me, and our lecturer needs the answer in the next class...

[@SWLF]

Hmm, we're a bit confused by the question, TMTnl. There are no "universal" symbols--they operate in different ways as we move from one literary text to another. As such, there are no "universal" levels of symbolism in literature. Perhaps your lecturer is thinking about critics of the mid-20th century such as Northrup Frye, whose "Anatomy of Criticism" proposed a set of different kinds of symbols based upon medieval ways of reading texts?

[@GhostFart_360]

@@SWLF I will check those, Thank you for pinting this out.

[@atomicflea4360]

2:46 we're 𝘢𝘭𝘭 going to die sooner than we think, hmm what about imoratals

[@SWLF]

Ha! Yes, except for us immortals.

[@wormly57]

Thanos

[@SWLF]

We're gonna go ahead and assume that you meant thanks rather than the supervillain Thanos from the Avengers movie series here. Thank you for supporting the series!

[@denisebastick9825]

it could mean allot of things 😐😐😐😐

[@archaicnymph2977]

Are you paid specifically to respond to all comments? Who runs the channel directly?

[@SWLF]

No one is getting paid for this project, ArchaicNymph. We're all just taking a bit of time out of our regular schedules to do a bit of public outreach.

[@nayajouri9824]

what's the difference between allegory and Symbolism

[@Moodboard39]

@@nayajouri9824 Allegory and symbolism are often confused, but they are not the same thing. Symbolism is the use of symbols, usually physical objects, to represent abstract ideas or qualities. ... Allegory is a work that makes extensive use of symbolism in order to communicate a broader moral or meaning.

[@lucienlin7954]

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[@ivysamino]

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[@johnyoutube6746]

Bible is full of symbolism

[@SWLF]

It is indeed! What did you have in mind? And thanks for the comment, john! We hope you enjoy the other videos in our series as well!

[@johnyoutube6746]

@@SWLF I been reading bible since I was a kid Now I know that there are many hidden messages in the bible through symbolism

[@Moodboard39]

Yea, revelation is full of symbolic

[@Moodboard39]

@@johnyoutube6746 indeed. And full of parables, symbolic, allegory , metaphor , figure of speech

[@johnyoutube6746]

@@Moodboard39 Do you know what/who is the God in the bible

[@morescodesup2087]

Is this memes for academics?

[@SWLF]

Ha! Interesting metaphor, @morescodesup2087 ! But what is the nature of the vehicle / tenor relationship here? Check out our "What are vehicles and tenors?" video and then let us know your thoughts...

[@ILLUMINONY]

Makes you think about what the eye on the pyramid behind the dollar bill means huh? 👁 #followthewhiterabbit🕳🐇

[@intellectually_lazy]

seriously? that's all? really not much, is it? barely a snack. gtfooh! come back when you got something

[@SWLF]

Hmm, well we certainly disagree, @intellectually_lazy . We try to keep these videos incredibly short to encourage viewers to pursue the topic for themselves in greater depth. They are meant to be a starting point, not a complete picture.

[@muneerasabry2204]

Sir, can I have your email

[@SWLF]

We can't guarantee a response, but you are welcome to reach out to our main office to share any questions you might have for our professors. The contact info is available here: liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf

[@johaniskandar894]

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[@hemiclips5596]

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