Like what does symbol mean in poetry? Give me a definition of it.
2006-11-02 08:07:54 · 5 answers · asked by bluelee121 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Something that represents something else.
Like in a poem, a ship might represent or symbolize a nation.
It could flounder, sink, hold to a steady course. Its captain might be killed or go crazy.
Get the idea?
2006-11-02 08:14:18 · answer #1 · answered by Jay 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poetry often employs heavy use of imagery, word association, and musical qualities. This makes poetry extremely and notoriously difficult to translate from one language into another. Similarly, the use of symbols and symbolism often makes a poem difficult to interpret or open to many different interpretations from many different readers. When we read a poem, we can often miss some of the symbolism in the poem as poetry often has several layers of meaning and interpreting it is like peeling the layers off an onion.
Robert Frost's poetry is a good example of this as he often used symbolic or figurative language. When Frost says, "Two roads diverged in the woods and I, I took the one less traveled by", the road is a symbol for one's path through life. However, to complicate finding the symbolism in any poem is the fact that not all of the symbolism may have even been intended by the poet and may be the result of the unconscious mind at work or as they say "the work of the muse." Imagination plays a big role in the use of symbols by the poet as well as the understanding of what the poet may be saying in his/her poem through the use of symbols. The imagination fosters poetic creativity.
2006-11-02 16:34:23 · answer #2 · answered by Rico Toasterman JPA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a symbol in a poem, as with any piece of literature, is the use of colors, seasons, words, characters, actions, or other things to represent another, deeper meaning.. for example.. if a poem is written using a repetition of the color red, passion or love is what the red could be symbolizing. the season spring represents or symbolizes rebirth, as where fall and winter are "dying/death"
2016-05-23 19:28:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A metaphor.
What does the dove represent?
What does the louse mean?
What does a broken pedistal stand for?
2006-11-02 08:09:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what kind of symbol--need more info...
2006-11-02 08:09:53 · answer #5 · answered by phyllis_neel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋