Unlocking Texts: Symbolism and Imagery in Close Reading
Tip for Close Reading: Identify and Analyze Symbols and Imagery
Symbols and imagery are some of the most effective ways to enrich a text and convey complex themes, emotions, or ideas. By understanding how symbols and imagery are used, you can uncover layers of meaning that might not be immediately obvious.
What Is Symbolism?
- Symbolism is the use of a physical object, person, or event to represent an abstract idea or concept. A symbol transcends its literal meaning and takes on significance related to a theme or emotion.
- Example of Symbolism: In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the green light across the bay represents Gatsby’s unattainable dream and his longing for Daisy, as well as the broader theme of the American Dream. It’s not just a light; it symbolizes hope, desire, and illusion.
What Is Imagery?
- Imagery refers to the use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader. It helps readers visualize scenes, feel emotions, and engage with the text more deeply. Imagery appeals to the five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
- Example of Imagery: In The Road by Cormac McCarthy, the imagery of the barren landscape evokes a sense of desolation, isolation, and hopelessness, setting the tone for the novel’s bleak world.
Why Are Symbols and Imagery Important?
- Deepens Themes: Both symbolism and imagery help to reinforce the major themes of a text, often operating on a subconscious level.
- Evokes Emotion: They create emotional responses in the reader by drawing on universal ideas or experiences. Imagery, for example, can transport the reader into the world of the text, making abstract ideas tangible.
- Heightens Understanding: When you understand the symbols and images in a text, it becomes easier to grasp the author’s underlying message and critique societal values, norms, or issues.
Key Strategies for Analyzing Symbolism and Imagery
- Identify Repeated Symbols and Images
- Why: The repetition of symbols or images often signifies their importance and can help you understand key themes.
- Tip: Highlight any symbols or recurring images in the text. Ask yourself: What do they represent? Why do they appear multiple times?
- Example: In Lord of the Flies, the conch shell symbolizes order and civilization, while its gradual destruction represents the disintegration of society and the boys’ descent into savagery.
- Why: The repetition of symbols or images often signifies their importance and can help you understand key themes.
- Examine the Context of the Symbol or Image
- Why: The context in which a symbol or image appears is vital. It provides clues to its intended meaning and impact on the overall story.
- Tip: Pay attention to how and when the symbol or image is introduced and how its meaning might shift throughout the text.
- Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, the image of the mockingbird symbolizes innocence and kindness, which is most poignantly seen in the characters of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley, who are both unjustly harmed despite their harmless nature.
- Why: The context in which a symbol or image appears is vital. It provides clues to its intended meaning and impact on the overall story.
- Analyze the Sensory Details of Imagery
- Why: Imagery can appeal to more than just sight. By examining all types of sensory details (sound, taste, touch, smell), you can gain a more complete understanding of the atmosphere or emotional tone of the text.
- Tip: Focus on vivid descriptions. What sense is being evoked? Is it a harsh, unsettling image or a peaceful, serene one?
- Example: In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the imagery of the scarlet letter itself, contrasting it with the physical and emotional pain Hester Prynne experiences. The harsh visual image of the red letter stands as a symbol of both shame and strength.
- Why: Imagery can appeal to more than just sight. By examining all types of sensory details (sound, taste, touch, smell), you can gain a more complete understanding of the atmosphere or emotional tone of the text.
- Consider the Larger Significance of Symbols and Imagery
- Why: Sometimes, symbols and imagery are used to reflect societal issues, personal struggles, or historical events. Consider the broader significance of an image or symbol and how it reflects the author’s worldview.
- Tip: Don’t just focus on what symbols and images mean within the text—think about what they might represent in the context of the larger world or the time period in which the text was written.
- Example: In 1984 by George Orwell, the imagery of the telescreen and Big Brother’s constant surveillance symbolize the loss of individual freedom and the oppressive power of totalitarian regimes.
- Why: Sometimes, symbols and imagery are used to reflect societal issues, personal struggles, or historical events. Consider the broader significance of an image or symbol and how it reflects the author’s worldview.
- Link Imagery and Symbolism to Character Development
- Why: Symbols and imagery can also reveal insights into a character’s inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
- Tip: Consider how characters interact with or are affected by symbols and imagery. Does a particular symbol help to illustrate their struggles or growth?
- Example: In Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, the imagery of fire is used to represent both destruction and passion. When Jane’s emotions are at their peak, such as when she is at Thornfield, the imagery of fire symbolizes both her inner turmoil and her desire for independence.
- Why: Symbols and imagery can also reveal insights into a character’s inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
Examples of Symbolism and Imagery in Close Reading
Example 1: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (IGCSE/Edexcel)
- Symbolism: The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s unreachable dream, his idealized vision of Daisy, and the larger theme of the American Dream.
- Imagery: The descriptions of Gatsby’s lavish parties, with their vivid colors, opulent decorations, and festive atmosphere, create an image of excess and illusion, contrasting with the emptiness that Gatsby ultimately feels.
Example 2: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (A-Level/IB)
- Symbolism: The mockingbird symbolizes innocence and goodness. Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are both seen as symbolic mockingbirds because they are harmless yet suffer due to the prejudices of society.
- Imagery: Lee uses rich, Southern imagery to convey the atmosphere of Maycomb, including the hot, oppressive summer, which mirrors the tension and simmering racial injustice that builds throughout the novel.
Example 3: Animal Farm by George Orwell (IGCSE/Edexcel)
- Symbolism: The farm itself symbolizes the Soviet Union, with the animals representing different social classes or political groups.
- Imagery: Orwell uses stark and memorable imagery, such as the pigs’ gradual transformation into human-like figures, to highlight the corruption and betrayal of the revolution’s ideals.
How to Apply Symbolism and Imagery in Exam Responses
- Tip: When writing about symbolism or imagery in exams, always relate these elements back to the broader themes or messages of the text.
- Clue: Use phrases like:
- “The use of the [symbol/image] represents…”
- “The recurring [symbol/image] emphasizes the theme of…”
- “The author’s use of imagery here conveys a sense of…”
- “The use of the [symbol/image] represents…”
- Example Response:
- “In The Great Gatsby, the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dream and his obsession with an idealized past. This symbol ultimately represents the hollowness of the American Dream, as Gatsby’s dream remains forever out of reach, just like the green light.”
- “In The Great Gatsby, the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dream and his obsession with an idealized past. This symbol ultimately represents the hollowness of the American Dream, as Gatsby’s dream remains forever out of reach, just like the green light.”
By analyzing symbolism and imagery, you unlock deeper layers of meaning in a text and gain a fuller understanding of the author’s message. These literary devices not only enhance the aesthetic quality of the work but also provide profound insights into its themes and characters.