The Symbolism & Sonic Techniques That Make Writing Memorable

The Fundamentals of Figurative Language Collection — with Kelly Grace Thomas

This lesson is part of the Fundamentals of Figurative Language collection — check out all the lessons HERE to learn how to create crackling tension, deepen emotional resonance, and bring impact to every word.

Hey, Forever Workshoppers!

Today’s Crafting Fierce & Flawless Figurative Language lesson is going to be a mashup of some of the key players of figurative language that we haven’t already covered (see previous lessons for a rundown of metaphor, imagery, hyperbole and personification).

During this lesson, we will focus on how to create echoes, whether in meaning or sound. We 'will be discussing symbolism and sonic devices such as alliteration and onomatopoeia, and how to immerse the reader in each experience so they become part of the writing, experiencing the depth, environment, and musicality.

First stop: symbolism.

What is Symbolism?

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Symbolism is the use of an object, person, or idea to represent something else — often an abstract concept or emotion — beyond its literal meaning. Simply put, it uses one symbol to create something larger.

Some symbols, such as a red rose representing love or a clock or hourglass symbolizing time, are baked into our consciousness because of their presence in fairytales and childhood stories.

Our job as writers is to go beyond the ordinary symbols and make images that are unique and specific to our writing.

One of the most famous symbols is the green light in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby stares repeatedly at the green light on Daisy’s dock, as it comes to represent all he desires but does not have: the chase of the American Dream and his love, Daisy Buchanan.

In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the ghost of the daughter Sethe killed to prevent her from being returned to slavery becomes a symbol for the trauma of the past, especially in regards to slavery, and the unresolved pain and guilt around the horrific things that Sethe and the rest of the community experienced.

Why Is Symbolism Important?

Symbolism has the power to evoke an emotion or an idea without overtly saying it. Once we pair a part of a poem, story, scene, character, or emotion with a repeated object, we begin to transfer their wants, needs, and dreams onto that object. The idea is that the symbol now serves as an echo of that idea or sentiment, without the writer needing to restate it.

Common Flaws with Symbolism

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While symbolism is a powerful tool, it must be employed thoughtfully and strategically. Below are some things to consider when using symbolism in your writing.

FLAW #1: Symbol is Not Unique

As mentioned earlier, some symbols have been so overused in literature that they feel cliché. Because readers are so familiar with clichés, they are rarely memorable and often skipped over. Using a cliché symbol—a butterfly for transformation, rain to represent sorrow or grief, a broken mirror for a fractured identity—rarely makes for symbols that stick. You want your symbolism to be unique to you.

Example: Sally walked into their father’s closet — how had it been a year already? She wrapped himself in his old shirt, smelled the last memory of him and wept.

SOLUTION: Try to use something that feels specific to that speaker or character's world. Is there something that was specific to their story, their history, that you can use to create a symbol that feels unique to them?

Rewrite: It was an ordinary Wednesday, and Sally was making cupcakes for the prom bake sale. She opened the drawer and saw it: her father's lucky spoon, the silver tarnished from time, the handle bent. Her father had kept it since childhood. How had he been gone a year already? She took it out of the drawer, dipped it into the batter, put a sickly sweet spoon in her mouth and wept.

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FLAW #2: It’s Not Developed

Symbolism is effective because the meaning of an image, place, or object deepens over time and takes on a new form every time we encounter it. If we don’t see the symbol enough, or the emotion or idea associated with it is unclear or confusing, it is hard to consider it a symbol.

Because it is difficult to show how a symbol develops over time in an example, we will look at a more holistic approach.

Example: A symbol is mentioned once or twice during a point that feels either too dramatic or not dramatic at all. We are unsure of the meaning because it feels like it is just a detail of the scene, not something that carries meaning or emotion.

SOLUTION: Track the symbol over time, how many times is it mentioned, in what capacity? How does it change or stay he same? How does it reflect the characters' or speakers' emotional transformation?

Rewrite: Develop the use of the symbol, being strategic about what moments and emotions it is being paired with. Is it mentioned multiple times? Does the meaning deepen? Does the reader have a clear understanding of what this is supposed to mean?

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FLAW #3: Too Many Meanings

One of the most significant problems with symbolism is that writers often fail to convey their intended meaning because they have a speaker or character apply too many abstract ideas or emotions to one object. When this happens, the reader is unsure which thread to follow, making it difficult to understand the exact thing the symbol is trying to convey.

Example: Having a speaker or character look at an object and think of a variety of memories, all with different emotions and meanings.

SOLUTION: This is not to say that an object shouldn’t spark multiple thoughts or feelings; it absolutely can. If you want the symbol to be clear, there must be a primary idea associated with the symbol.

Rewrite: Go back to the scene, paragraph, or stanza, and out of all the ideas and feelings mentioned, see if you can pick out a primary place to land. Identify the abstract ideas present and how the speaker or character is grappling with them. Make it clear to the reader in that moment what the most important idea or emotion to focus on.

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How to Craft Fierce and Flawless Symbolism

#1. Recycle Objects