Definition of Symbol
A symbol works two ways: It is something itself, and it also suggests something deeper. It is crucial to distinguish a symbol from a metaphor: Metaphors are comparisons between two seemingly dissimilar things; symbols associate two things, but their meaning is both literal and figurative. A metaphor might read, "His life was an oak tree that had just lost its leaves"; a symbol might be the oak tree itself, which would evoke the cycle of death and rebirth through the loss and growth of leaves. Some symbols have widespread, commonly accepted values that most readers should recognize: Apple pie suggests innocence or homespun values; ravens signify death; fruit is associated with sensuality. Yet none of these associations is absolute, and all of them are really determined by individual cultures and time (would a Chinese reader recognize that apple pie suggests innocence?). No symbols have absolute meanings, and, by their nature, we cannot read them at face value. Rather than beginning an inquiry into symbols by asking what they mean, it is better to begin by asking what they could mean, or what they have meant.
Symbol Exercise
It is important to consider the qualities and associations of a symbol within a poem. If you are looking into the symbolic value of an apple, for instance, you may begin by saying, “Sweet, crisp fruit, juicy, tastes good in the fall, red and white in sharp contrast.” Those are a few of an apple’s qualities. You should be able to go beyond those associations into some others you have with apples, like “Adam and Eve: loss of innocence or gaining of knowledge.” Or “Sir Isaac Newton and gravity.” Or “Snow White: temptation and danger.” One apple probably cannot signify all of these things, but along with the context surrounding it, you may get closer to an understanding of its symbolic value:
I took the apple from her hand
And ate it, feeling almost guilty
As the juice dripped down my chin.
It’s probably safe to eliminate Isaac Newton here: We seem to be pretty firmly in Eden. The next step is to examine that symbol for some of its other qualities and use them to begin to formulate an interpretation.
INSTRUCTIONS
What are the symbolic possibilities of the following things?
A blind man, A dove, A river, The stars, A play, A computer screen, Lightning, A mountain
Consider both their inherent qualities and their cultural associations. Once you have brainstormed about their possibilities, consider how each item might be used as a symbol within a poem. Select one of the items and compose a few lines that would give the symbol context and eliminate or complicate some of its symbolic possibilities.