Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Symbolism is when an object, person, situation, or action represents something beyond its literal meaning. It adds depth and layers of meaning to a literary work.
A story or poem in which characters and events represent abstract qualities or ideas.
Motif: A recurring symbol or theme throughout a literary work.
Metaphor/Simile/Personification/Allusion/Irony/Metonymy/Synecdoche/Hyperbole/Oxymoron: Different types of figurative language that can be used to create symbolic meaning in a text.