A red rose. A white whale. A green light. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. A symbol is something concrete that stands for something abstract. It is not the same as an allegory, where every element has a one-to-one meaning. A symbol is more open.

Symbols can be universal or personal. Water often symbolizes cleansing or birth. Fire often symbolizes destruction or passion. But writers can invent their own. The green light in The Great Gatsby means something specific in that novel. The white whale in Moby-Dick has been read as nature, God, evil, and obsession. Symbolism works best when it is not too obvious. If the symbol is explained, it dies. If it is too obscure, it confuses. The best symbols resonate on multiple levels. They enrich the story without distracting from it. They are not puzzles to solve but layers to experience.

Common symbols

• Water: cleansing, birth, death
• Fire: passion, destruction
• Light: knowledge, hope
• Darkness: ignorance, evil