In works of art, literature, and narrative, a symbol is a concrete element like an object, character, image, situation, or action that suggests or hints at abstract, deeper, or non-literal meanings or ideas.[1][2] The use of symbols artistically is symbolism. In literature, such as novels, plays, and poems, symbolism goes beyond just the literal written words on a page, since writing itself is also inherently a system of symbols.
Artistic symbols may be intentionally built into a work by its creator, which in the case of narratives can make symbolism a deliberate narrative device. However, it also may be decided upon by the audience or by a consensus of scholars through their interpretation of the work. Various synonyms exist for this type of symbol, based on specific genre, artistic medium, or domain: visual symbol, literary symbol, poetic symbol, etc.
- ^ Johnson, Greg; Arp, Thomas R. (2018). Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense, Third Edition. Cengage Learning. pp. 286-7: "A literary symbol is something that means more than what it suggests on the surface. It may be an object, a person, a situation, an action, or some other element that has a literal meaning in the story but that suggests or represents other meanings as well."
- ^ Kennedy, X. J.; Gioia, Dana (2007). Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing, Tenth Edition. Pearson Longman. p. 292: " a symbol: in literature, a thing that suggests more than its literal meaning. Symbols generally do not 'stand for' any one meaning, nor for anything absolutely definite; they point, they hint, or, as Henry James put it, they cast long shadows".