The symbol in literature is a sign of mystery

Very often pupils of grades 5-7 ask the question: "The symbol in literature - what is it?" Do not panic. In this article, you will learn the definition of the term "symbol" and consider examples by which you will easily understand this definition.

Multiple definitions

Today in science there is not one but several definitions of a symbol in literature. If the student needs to uncover the concept, then it is worthwhile to dwell on the one that will be clearer to him. After all, in essence, they do not differ in any way.

In any kind of art, be it literature, painting or music, the symbol is very important. Every time the image is symbolic, its purpose is to depict the real picture of the world using portraits. Literary critics note that in literary texts symbolism lies in comparison, metaphors and even epithets.

So, the symbol in the literature is a sign, an object or a sign that replaces another object and expresses its essence hidden from extraneous views. In addition, the symbol is a guide to the artistic world of the author, who applied this symbol.

Similarity with trails

Many literary scholars believe that the symbol in literature is a path. However, there are several opinions on this score. For example, one of them is as follows: symbols are similar to paths, especially with metaphor and comparison, but the semantic content of the symbol is deeper and fuller. The difference between a symbol and a metaphor is that a metaphor is created in front of the reader. The symbol has the property of entering into the metaphor. But this is optional. Unlike allegory, a symbol can contain a plurality of images and meanings, which are explained by the context. Let's move from theory to concrete examples.

Vivid examples

It's no secret that the heart is a symbol of love. What other symbols are there, we'll tell you now.

In any art, there are clear and well-established symbols for all. One of them is black. It means sadness, loss and even death.

There are symbols in works of art. In every era they were different. The symbol in the literature is a method of giving the image depth and expressiveness, thanks to it various plans are connected: plot, mythological, historical and so on.

The symbol in the literature is (examples):

• Dog - devotion;
• Donkey - stubbornness;
• Scepter - power;
• Rose - femininity;
• Lily - purity, innocence;
• Lion - power;
• Mirror - the other world;
• The sun (according to Dostoevsky) is a symbol of life;
• The candle is faith in God, the divine power.

Symbols of light

Light in folk traditions is correlated with the luminary, month, summer, heat, flowers. It symbolizes the beauty of life, embodies truth, righteousness, holiness and the world order.

He symbolizes God's grace and turns an unclean force away from man. Solar (solar) symbols carry in themselves divine images and its powers. This is not surprising, because the sun was revered by our ancestors as a source of warmth and life. Light in folklore was called clear, red, kind, etc. In various Slavic rites they made oaths for the glory of the sun, they made promises. The Slavs believed that the Sun is a symbol of face or God's eye. They believed that the deity is watching the man through the sun.

The moon is another heavenly star, which is associated in popular beliefs exclusively with the world of the dead. The moon is opposed to the Sun - the deity of life, heat and light. All Slavs believed that the moonlight is dangerous. Especially it concerned newborns and pregnant women, who were forbidden to enter the moonlight.

The prevalence of the cults of the moon is explained by the fact that this luminary was important during the night hunting. It is also known that the ancient people established the influence of the moon on the ebb and flow, so for a very long time man believed that the Moon manages even his fate.

The moon symbolized chastity, indifference, volatility and impermanence. However, the full moon is associated with a circle, that is, with a symbol of perfection and wholeness.

The candle is a spiritual image. The candle is most often depicted in a world of darkness and ignorance. It is one of the most important symbols of the Orthodox tradition. It symbolizes Christ, the church, Grace, faith, memory and so on. In a particular sense, the candle is associated with the loneliness and quivering of the human soul, as well as with the briefness of its earthly existence. It is not by chance that a candle is lit when a person dies. Relatives of this rite want to illuminate his path to the world of death.

Conclusion

Domestic philologist Sergey Averintsev believes that the symbol in literature is a category of aesthetics, which is best disclosed.

The Soviet philosopher Alexei Losev assumed that the symbol is the principle of establishing regularities. Each symbol carries a special meaning. In literature and poetics, the symbol helps the reader understand the secrets of the world both in art and in reality.

In other words, a symbol in literature is an image that expresses the meaning of an object or phenomenon in a specific form.