Symbols in poetry are objects used to represent abstract ideas.
Symbolism Defined. Symbolism is everywhere; symbolism exists whenever something is meant to represent something else. Symbolism is a figure of speech that is used when an author wants to create a certain mood or emotion in a work of literature. Lesson Summary. Symbolism is used in literature when one thing is meant to represent something else. Symbolism helps create meaning and emotion in a story. Metaphors and allegory are literary elements that help writers create symbolism in their literary pieces. Symbolism Poems. Below are examples of symbolism poems. This list of symbolism poems is made of PoetrySoup member poems. PoetrySoup is a great resource for examples of symbolism poems or a list of symbolism poetry. These examples illustrate what symbolism poems look like. There is also a link below to the definition of symbolism and a page where you can discuss these types of Not all poets use symbolism as a poetic device. Robert Frost, one of the most famous American poets, preferred to use metaphors. Metaphors are devices that build an analogy between two things rather than having one thing symbolically represent another thing not present in the poem or an abstract thought. Knowing what symbols mean in one poem allows the reader to use this knowledge to interpret other poems. The weather or descriptions of the atmosphere in poems can be used to interpret the more abstract ideas of inner thoughts and feelings. Frost's poems do have some symbolism, however. His most well known poems, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and The Road Not Taken, have symbols that stand for choices and the paths people take in life. In the latter, this symbol is the fork in the road. Knowing what symbols mean in one poem allows the reader to use this knowledge to interpret other poems. The weather or descriptions of the atmosphere in poems can be used to interpret the more abstract ideas of inner thoughts and feelings. Definition: A symbol is literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often concealed at first sight, and is representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than those that are visible in the literal translation alone.  It is the job of the poet to not take the usage of symbols lightly. When the poet uses objects to represent people and thoughts, it requires readers to use their own experience and the knowledge that a symbol can have multiple meanings. The use of symbols enhances the reading of a poem. Knowing what symbols mean in one poem allows the reader to use this knowledge to interpret other poems. The weather or descriptions of the atmosphere in poems can be used to interpret the more abstract ideas of inner thoughts and feelings. Symbolism was a late nineteenth-century art movement of French, Russian and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts. In literature, the style originates with the 1857 publication of Charles Baudelaire 's Les Fleurs du mal.  Symbolism Definition. Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbolism can take different forms. Symbolism gives a writer freedom to add double levels of meanings to his work: a literal one that is self-evident and the symbolic one whose meaning is far more profound than the literal one. The symbolism, therefore, gives universality to the characters and the themes of a piece of literature. Symbolism is a figure of speech in which an object, person, situation, or word is used to represent something else. Metaphors and allegory are examples of forms of symbolism in literature. Watch the correct answer. Your score: {{(quiz.score / quiz.totalQuestions) * 100 | number:0}}%. Oops, you didn't pass. Symbolism is a literary device used by many writers, and this quiz/worksheet combo will help you test your understanding of this literary device. Some of the topics you'll be assessed on include the definition of symbolism and examples of symbolism and metaphor. Goodshoot RF/Goodshoot/Getty Images. Symbols in poetry are objects used to represent abstract ideas. Unlike metaphors, symbols are not obvious comparisons; instead, they are objects that play a key role in the narrative and also represent an idea. Because of this, identifying what is a symbol and what is not can be tricky at first. 
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-symbolism-in-literature-definition-types-examples.html http://www.poetrysoup.com/poems/symbolism http://www.ehow.com/info_8101807_meaning-symbols-poetry.html http://www.ehow.com/info_8101807_meaning-symbols-poetry.html http://literary-devices.com/content/symbol http://www.ehow.com/info_8101807_meaning-symbols-poetry.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolism_(arts) http://literarydevices.net/symbolism/ http://study.com/academy/practice/quiz-worksheet-symbolism-in-literature.html http://www.ehow.com/info_8662753_definition-symbols-poetry.html
what is symbolism in poetry