Symbolism
noun
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Color symbolism in dreams is a common concept.
Often appears as...
- symbolism in literature
- symbolism in art
noun
A system of symbols.
The national flag is a form of symbolism.
Often appears as...
- national symbolism
- religious symbolism
noun
An artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind.
Symbolism was a major movement in 19th century literature and art.
Often appears as...
- symbolism in literature
- symbolism in poetry
Usage tips
Literary
noun
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
Color symbolism in dreams is a common concept.
Often appears as...
- symbolism in literature
- symbolism in art
noun
A system of symbols.
The national flag is a form of symbolism.
Often appears as...
- national symbolism
- religious symbolism
noun
An artistic and poetic movement or style using symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind.
Symbolism was a major movement in 19th century literature and art.
Often appears as...
- symbolism in literature
- symbolism in poetry
Usage tips
Literary
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Meanings
Understand that objects, characters or colors in a story may have deeper meanings related to their symbolism.
The 'chains' in the story symbolize the character's struggle for freedom.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Variance
Remember, the same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures.
While white symbolizes purity in some cultures, it can symbolize mourning in others.
Pro Tip 3/3Universal Symbols
Some symbols have universal meanings across many cultures, such as the heart as love.
The heart symbolizing love appeared in both ancient Egyptian and modern Western art.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Meanings
Understand that objects, characters or colors in a story may have deeper meanings related to their symbolism.
The 'chains' in the story symbolize the character's struggle for freedom.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Variance
Remember, the same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures.
While white symbolizes purity in some cultures, it can symbolize mourning in others.
Pro Tip 3/3Universal Symbols
Some symbols have universal meanings across many cultures, such as the heart as love.
The heart symbolizing love appeared in both ancient Egyptian and modern Western art.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Meanings
Understand that objects, characters or colors in a story may have deeper meanings related to their symbolism.
The 'chains' in the story symbolize the character's struggle for freedom.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Variance
Remember, the same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures.
While white symbolizes purity in some cultures, it can symbolize mourning in others.
Pro Tip 3/3Universal Symbols
Some symbols have universal meanings across many cultures, such as the heart as love.
The heart symbolizing love appeared in both ancient Egyptian and modern Western art.
Compare with
allegoryemblemiconographyimagerymetaphorrepresentationsemioticssignification
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Video examples
Why Is It So Hard to...
We don't talk about lynching. We don't talk about segregation. And because of that, we don't have a healthy relationship with one another on the topic of race. Why are memorials, statues, schools, highways-- why is this symbolism so important? There are some people, I think, who think, it doesn't matter.
Video examples
Why city flags may be...
That's how deeply the flag has gotten into the civic imagery of Chicago. And it isn't just that people love Chicago and therefore love the flag. I also think that people love Chicago more because the flag is so cool. A positive feedback loop there between great symbolism and civic pride.
Video examples
Peter Reinhart: The art...
The yeast, whose mission it has been up till now to raise the dough, to enliven it, to vivify it, in order to complete its mission, which is also to turn this dough into bread, has to give up its life. So you see the symbolism at work? It's starting to come forth a little bit, you know.
Video examples
The 3,000-year history...
in which people wore hoodies with the hood up and marched in the streets against this kind of prejudice. It doesn't happen that often for a garment to have so much symbolism and history and that encompasses so many different universes as the hoodie. So, like all garments,
Video examples
The refugee crisis is a...
The most vulnerable refugees need to be given a new start and a new life in a new country, including in the West. The numbers are relatively small, hundreds of thousands, not millions, but the symbolism is huge. Now is not the time to be banning refugees,
Video examples
Why is this painting so...
and is often referenced at anti-war gatherings around the world. Hundreds of viewers have grappled with its harsh imagery, shattering symbolism and complex political messaging. But even without a close understanding of it’s complicated subtext,
Video examples
Ajit Narayanan: A word...
Specifically, I make technologies to help them communicate. Now, many of the problems that children with autism face, they have a common source, and that source is that they find it difficult to understand abstraction, symbolism.
Video examples
A video game to cope...
I added more ideas and I helped direct scenes. And I discovered that creating a video game is telling a story, but with an entirely new vocabulary. All the same elements of imagination and symbolism are there,
Video examples
A brief history of goths...
Although Roman culture was never fully lost, its influence declined and new art styles arose focused on religious symbolism and allegory rather than proportion and realism. This shift extended to architecture
Video examples
Watch two TED Talks at...
symbolism the symbolism of magic the universal hunger for connection the language of understanding the meaning of life to boldly go where no man has gone
Video examples
Why Is It So Hard to...
We don't talk about lynching. We don't talk about segregation. And because of that, we don't have a healthy relationship with one another on the topic of race. Why are memorials, statues, schools, highways-- why is this symbolism so important? There are some people, I think, who think, it doesn't matter.
Video examples
Why city flags may be...
That's how deeply the flag has gotten into the civic imagery of Chicago. And it isn't just that people love Chicago and therefore love the flag. I also think that people love Chicago more because the flag is so cool. A positive feedback loop there between great symbolism and civic pride.
Video examples
Peter Reinhart: The art...
The yeast, whose mission it has been up till now to raise the dough, to enliven it, to vivify it, in order to complete its mission, which is also to turn this dough into bread, has to give up its life. So you see the symbolism at work? It's starting to come forth a little bit, you know.
Video examples
The 3,000-year history...
in which people wore hoodies with the hood up and marched in the streets against this kind of prejudice. It doesn't happen that often for a garment to have so much symbolism and history and that encompasses so many different universes as the hoodie. So, like all garments,
Video examples
The refugee crisis is a...
The most vulnerable refugees need to be given a new start and a new life in a new country, including in the West. The numbers are relatively small, hundreds of thousands, not millions, but the symbolism is huge. Now is not the time to be banning refugees,
Video examples
Why is this painting so...
and is often referenced at anti-war gatherings around the world. Hundreds of viewers have grappled with its harsh imagery, shattering symbolism and complex political messaging. But even without a close understanding of it’s complicated subtext,
Video examples
Ajit Narayanan: A word...
Specifically, I make technologies to help them communicate. Now, many of the problems that children with autism face, they have a common source, and that source is that they find it difficult to understand abstraction, symbolism.
Video examples
A video game to cope...
I added more ideas and I helped direct scenes. And I discovered that creating a video game is telling a story, but with an entirely new vocabulary. All the same elements of imagination and symbolism are there,
Video examples
A brief history of goths...
Although Roman culture was never fully lost, its influence declined and new art styles arose focused on religious symbolism and allegory rather than proportion and realism. This shift extended to architecture
Video examples
Watch two TED Talks at...
symbolism the symbolism of magic the universal hunger for connection the language of understanding the meaning of life to boldly go where no man has gone
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Carolyn Chute
American Writer
Whenever I write, I write what I find to be the way people are. I never use any symbolism at all, but if you write as true to life as you possibly can, people will see symbolism. They'll all see different symbolism, but they're apt to because you can see it in life.
Quote examples
Peter T. King
American Politician
I support mosques, obviously. We need churches, temples, mosques. Whatever people use to speak with their god or to receive spiritual inspiration is good for the country. But the symbolism of it at ground zero, within two blocks or three blocks, I believe is wrong.
Quote examples
Conrad Anker
American Athlete
Standing on the apex of our planet is humbling. I'm starved of oxygen, depleted of reserves, unable to eat, and bound by anxiety. This is a dangerous place. Yet the symbolism of standing on top of the world gives me a chance to experience time on a cosmic scale.
Quote examples
Franka Potente
German Actress
I don't really care where I work, actually, because you know making a movie is like living in movie world. There's such a secluded world, and the director is the king ruling the country, and everybody's building this little town to speak in symbolism.
Quote examples
Ruth Asawa
American Sculptor
A lot of women wrote to me. Some wrote me long letters on the meaning of the circle and about mythology and about motherhood and the significance or the symbolism of the mermaid and the frogs and the turtles.
Quote examples
Pritam Singh
Singaporean Author
A plastic bag charge is far from representing mere climate change symbolism. It is a clarion call to us all to alter social norms equally if not more importantly reduce the amount of waste we generate.
Quote examples
Louise Linton
Scottish Actress
I love the emotional symbolism of the eternity band as a wedding band. It's like wearing the infinity sign on your finger and represents the cyclical and enduring aspect of love.
Quote examples
Gene Tierney
American Actress
When you have spent an important part of your life playing Let's Pretend, it's often easy to see symbolism where none exists.
Quote examples
Jack Kerouac
American Novelist
Symbolism is alright in 'fiction,' but I tell true life stories simply about what happened to people I knew.
Quote examples
Aaron Eckhart
American Actor
I think they are very important because westerns have a code and a symbolism.
Quote examples
Carolyn Chute
American Writer
Whenever I write, I write what I find to be the way people are. I never use any symbolism at all, but if you write as true to life as you possibly can, people will see symbolism. They'll all see different symbolism, but they're apt to because you can see it in life.
Quote examples
Peter T. King
American Politician
I support mosques, obviously. We need churches, temples, mosques. Whatever people use to speak with their god or to receive spiritual inspiration is good for the country. But the symbolism of it at ground zero, within two blocks or three blocks, I believe is wrong.
Quote examples
Conrad Anker
American Athlete
Standing on the apex of our planet is humbling. I'm starved of oxygen, depleted of reserves, unable to eat, and bound by anxiety. This is a dangerous place. Yet the symbolism of standing on top of the world gives me a chance to experience time on a cosmic scale.
Quote examples
Franka Potente
German Actress
I don't really care where I work, actually, because you know making a movie is like living in movie world. There's such a secluded world, and the director is the king ruling the country, and everybody's building this little town to speak in symbolism.
Quote examples
Ruth Asawa
American Sculptor
A lot of women wrote to me. Some wrote me long letters on the meaning of the circle and about mythology and about motherhood and the significance or the symbolism of the mermaid and the frogs and the turtles.
Quote examples
Pritam Singh
Singaporean Author
A plastic bag charge is far from representing mere climate change symbolism. It is a clarion call to us all to alter social norms equally if not more importantly reduce the amount of waste we generate.
Quote examples
Louise Linton
Scottish Actress
I love the emotional symbolism of the eternity band as a wedding band. It's like wearing the infinity sign on your finger and represents the cyclical and enduring aspect of love.
Quote examples
Gene Tierney
American Actress
When you have spent an important part of your life playing Let's Pretend, it's often easy to see symbolism where none exists.
Quote examples
Jack Kerouac
American Novelist
Symbolism is alright in 'fiction,' but I tell true life stories simply about what happened to people I knew.
Quote examples
Aaron Eckhart
American Actor
I think they are very important because westerns have a code and a symbolism.
Example 1 of 10
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