The Symbolist movement was first distinguished in literature (Boston College). It was not until later that art was accepted as Symbolist. According to Hardy in his lecture, “Symbolism is literary movement – primarily poetic that is focused inward and connected with words that reflect represent reality.” Jean Moréas wrote the Symbolist Manifesto in 1886 (Boston College). Boston College says, “Symbolism was an idealistic movement, created by artists discontented with their culture.” Symbolist suggested their meanings. They would not come right out and say what they meant. They believed words were insufficient (Hardy). Since Symbolist believed words were insufficient, they used symbolic allusion to get their messages across to the reader. Symbolist beliefs and literary techniques are what Symbolist poets used to make their literary movement distinct from all other movements before its time.
Symbolist Poets looked at language as an insufficient to truly capture reality; therefore, they used symbolic allusions to recreate reality (Hardy). Symbolic allusions are constructions of symbols to that express what is seen or felt (Hardy). Hardy says that Symbolists also like to use synesthesia in their poems; synesthesia is the use of language generally associated with one type of imagery to describe a different type of imagery. These techniques are what helped symbolist get their points across. Symbolist poets had virtually no boundaries when writing their poems. Symbolist poetry often included some type of explicit material or allusion. This was unlike any major literary movement before. Before this literary movement the word “nose” was not even supposed to be used in poetry, but Baudelaire uses wording like “pissing hogwash” and “lecherou...
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...ke down the boundaries that were set in place by the Enlightenment Thinkers, Romantics, and all other generations before them. They broke these boundaries with the verboten language and literary techniques that they used. The Symbolists used these things in ways that had never been done before. Symbolists used these literary techniques to express their unique beliefs. The Symbolists’ literary techniques and beliefs are what made the movement distinct from all others.
Works Cited
"Symbolist Art -- Introduction." Symbolist Art -- Introduction. Boston College, n.d. Web. 05 May 2014.
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Baudelaire, Charles. “To the Reader.” Puchner. 468-69.
Hardy, Ben “Symbolism.” Blue Ridge Community College. 12 February 2014
Puchner, Martin. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Third ed. Vol. E. New York: Norton, 2012. Print.
Bierhorst, John, et al. The Norton Anthology: World Literature. Vol I. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.,
Years ago, Sister Mary Corita Kent, a celebrated artist and educator of the 1960’s and 1970’s stated, “A painting is a symbol for the universe. Inside it, each piece relates to the other. Each piece is only answerable to the rest of that little world. So, probably in the total universe, there is that kind of total harmony, but we get only little tastes of it” (Lewis "Quotes from Women Artists"). Nowadays, a painting is not the main form of art humans appreciate. In fact, literature of all sorts can be considered a different form of art and often found in literature are symbols. A "symbol" is an object, person or action which represents an abstract idea (Warren “English 102”). In literature, a symbol or set of symbols can have a wide range of meanings. For example, color is a universal symbol; some may say it is a general symbol for life. However, each color separately can symbolize something different depending on the context. Analyzing five piece of literature for symbolism, one will be able to gain a deeper understating of symbols.
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving those meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can take different forms, generally, it is an object representing something that gives an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism is The Great Gatsby to show the true identity of his characters. It also gives more meaning to things that would be seen as ordinary objects throughout the novel. There are many more symbols used throughout The Great Gatsby, in fact there might too much to even list.
Damrosch, David and David L. Pike. The Longman Anthology of World Literature Second Edition. Pearson Education, Inc., 2009.
“Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used by the author to represent abstract ideas or concepts.” Symbolism in literature is the depth and hidden meaning in any piece of work. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a powerful and evocative novel laced with symbolism. The most obvious is the symbol of the scarlet letter itself, representing Hester’s sin of adultery. Hawthorne’s other symbols are less obvious and are very often obscured in the novel.
Symbolism is one of the most effective and powerful elements in writing. We see various examples of this all throughout "The Things They Carried." Symbolism enables us to tell a story one way, while all along trying to say another. I believe Tim O'Brien has achieved success in doing so in "The Things They Carried."
Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Peter Simon. 3rd. ed. Vol. B. New York and London:
Symbolism is the use of symbols to imply thoughts are unique in relation to their literal sense. Authors often use this literary element to create a certain emotion and relay a more profound meaning into a work of writing. As we go through the story, this utilization can be easily found in the classic tale of Rip Van Winkle as symbolism plays a major part.
One attribute of Modernist writing is Experimentation. This called for using new techniques and disregarding the old. Previous writing was often even considered "stereotyped and inadequate" (Holcombe and Torres). Modern writers thrived on originality and honesty to themselves and their tenets. They wrote of things that had never been advanced before and their subjects were far from those of the past eras. It could be observed that the Modernist writing completely contradicted its predecessors. The past was rejected with vigor and...
Lawall, Sarah,et al. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2nd ed. Volume A (slipcased). Norton, 2001. W.W. Norton and Company Inc. New York, NY.
People hold different things to be symbolic. Dove and peace, a rose and love; they are simple things yet widely symbolic. Symbolism is commonly used in literature to change or deepen meanings or instill a different meaning to the mind of the readers. The reader is forced to think, make connections, and succeed in adding a new meaning to the novel. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses symbolism in the form of his characters and to develop the theme, the corruption of the American Dream.
Domrosch, David. Longman Anthology of World Literature, The, Compact Edition. 1st Edition. Pearson College Div: Longman, 2007. Print.
Everything is a symbol. Everything has a deeper being in which it represents once it is unlocked. The father of deconstruction, Jacques Derrida, was quoted in an interview saying that deconstruction is “to not naturalize what is not natural”. Therefore symbolism is deconstruction in its rawest form. Symbols beg to not be taken at their natural face-value, but rather dived into to reach their deep inner-core of true meaning. One must use every element of deconstruction to unlock the true meaning of a symbol. Symbolism in literature allows the author to express his thoughts and motives in a way that is engaging and entertaining to the reader. The reader must dissect every bit of knowledge presented in order to reach the full fountain of knowledge that can be expressed by a symbol. Symbols are a beautiful thing. It allows the reader to make his own connections to the author’s expressions. The reader can especially be engaged in George Orwell’s 1949 dystopian novel 1984. Symbolism is important in 1984 because the reader can find connections to today’s government in Orwell’s message of control, propaganda, and oppression within the symbols that Orwell creates.
A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. (2009 Open-Ended Question for AP English Literature and Composition).
Puchner, Martin. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2012. Print.