1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,000 Symbols? Isn't that something you have to write about in English class? 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,000 My name is Ken Mears. 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:11,000 And I'm Melissa Fales. 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:33,000 And welcome to Writers World. 5 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:46,000 According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a symbol is, quote, a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract, end quote. 6 00:00:46,000 --> 00:01:00,000 Another definition comes from masterclass, quote, symbolism is a literary device, wherein words, people, markings, locations, or abstract ideas represent something beyond their literal meaning, end quote. 7 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:08,000 Some common examples of symbols would be the cross in the Christian faith or how you wear black to a funeral. 8 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:21,000 A literary example of symbolism comes from novelwritinghelp.com, quote, a boy has just been dumped by his girlfriend and he has shut himself away in his bedroom to be by himself. 9 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:29,000 He is sitting by the window with his nose an inch from the glass, watching the sky turn blacker and blacker as a storm blows in. 10 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,000 When the rain starts, he watches the water streak down the window pane. 11 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,000 The symbolism here is obvious. 12 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:41,000 The heavy skies symbolize the boy's heavy heart and the raindrops symbolize his tears. 13 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:50,000 The boy's feelings are barely mentioned in the summary above, but the description of the weather, nevertheless, conveys precisely how he is feeling, end quote. 14 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,000 Ken, why use symbols in writing? 15 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,000 Well, there are a variety of reasons to use symbols in writing. 16 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:05,000 You can use them to help drive a theme home, to associate certain elements with one thing or another, just that kind of sort of thing. 17 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:11,000 I think usually symbols are used in writing to help convey a message or represent something. 18 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:17,000 I think the mockingjay and catness representing the rebellion in the Hunger Games. 19 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:22,000 They can also sometimes be accidentally included, but that's a whole other topic. 20 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,000 Basically, you use symbols to get a point across or represent something. 21 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:31,000 In David Matt's Masterclass, he lists four reasons why you should use symbols in your writing. 22 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:36,000 His number one reason is, quote, symbols help you show without telling. 23 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:41,000 Writers use symbolism to convey complex ideas without using a ton of words, end quote. 24 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:52,000 Novel writing help also had a great point to add to David's, quote, symbolism is not just about enabling a writer to say the same thing more concisely. 25 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 It is about allowing them to say something more effectively. 26 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,000 All good novels require input from readers. 27 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:05,000 If everything is spelled out for the audience and nothing is left to the imagination, reading becomes a passive exercise. 28 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:14,000 But if readers are required to interpret, to read behind the lines and fill in the gaps, reading becomes far more active and stimulating, end quote. 29 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:21,000 David continues with his next three reasons why you should use symbolism, saying, quote, symbols connect themes. 30 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:28,000 Figurative language and symbolism can be a connective thematic tissue that runs through a literary work. 31 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:37,000 The color green is used throughout F. Scott's Fitzgerald the Great Gatsby as a marker for the money and materialism that defined the life of J. Gatsby. 32 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 Symbols add imagery. 33 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Symbols can add a visual element to complex themes. 34 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:52,000 One of the great symbolists is William Goldling, whose novel The Lord of the Flies is packed with good examples of symbolism as imagery. 35 00:03:52,000 --> 00:04:00,000 A conch shell represents authority and order, a pig's head symbolizes pure evil, and an island stands in for the Garden of Eden. 36 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,000 Symbolisms hint at darker meanings, end quote. 37 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,000 Before we get any further, I would like to point out that symbolism is a literary device. 38 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:12,000 It is something to put in your toolbox and use at your decision. 39 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,000 We aren't telling you you have to do anything. 40 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,000 It's just a cool, deeper something you can do. 41 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Now, symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. 42 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,000 There are two types of symbolism. 43 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,000 Ken, why don't you explain what small scale symbolism is? 44 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:38,000 Well, I would say that small scale symbolism is kind of symbolism that is localized to a certain part of the story. 45 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:44,000 These would be the symbols that don't run through very long, maybe just a few chapters or for a part of the story. 46 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,000 Basically, just generally more localized and small scale. 47 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:55,000 Right. While large scale symbolism is a symbol that carries throughout the whole novel, in The Good Earth, throughout the whole story, 48 00:04:55,000 --> 00:05:00,000 Wang Long, the main character, views this house in his town a certain way. 49 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,000 The house is a symbol of wealth and a social standing. 50 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:09,000 Wang Long doesn't feel he belongs to, even when eventually he more than qualifies. 51 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:15,000 And throughout the story, you get to see his relationship with the house and his feelings, which is really cool to read. 52 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:21,000 Ken, are you more likely to use small scale or large scale symbolism in your writing? 53 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,000 I think usually I at least tend to use symbolism more small scale, if at all. 54 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:31,000 However, I do have some examples of longer symbolism being present in my writing. 55 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:40,000 I think a lot of people are more inclined to use solely large or solely small scale and not really use both of them in a certain story. 56 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:47,000 Now we get to the question of how to use symbols in your writing. Ken, how do you use symbols in writing? 57 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,000 Well, you just kind of work them in. 58 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:59,000 If you're thinking consciously about what symbols you want to include, you want to make sure you know what symbols you're using and what they represent. 59 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,000 You sort of weave them into the story and take note whenever it would be appropriate to use a symbol. 60 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,000 For example, you could have a certain type of bird, say the killdeer bird. 61 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Yes, that's a real bird. 62 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,000 Always seem to show up right before trouble in your story. 63 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:19,000 Maybe even how your characters notice this and get a sense of dread and foreboding whenever they hear that bird's call. 64 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,000 This is a simple animal symbol of danger. 65 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:29,000 Basically, if you weave it in where needed to make an essential mental association with the symbol and what it means within your story. 66 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:33,000 I would like to note here that there are different kinds of symbols. 67 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:40,000 We have color symbols, for example, black meaning depression or darkness, green representing spring and new life, that sort of thing. 68 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:45,000 We also have like animal symbols like snakes representing tricksters or beguilement. 69 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:51,000 And of course, you can have shapes or weapons as symbols like two axes representing a Viking tribe of the like. 70 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:58,000 There are a lot of ways you could use symbolism and I'll list off some potential ways you could use this device. 71 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:04,000 You could use symbols to show how a character is feeling in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. 72 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:11,000 The main character is introduced and he's wearing all black, showing the melancholy mood inside of him. 73 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,000 You could foreshadow using symbols. 74 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:21,000 The fifth sense every time there's a color red, you know that something with the boy is about to happen. 75 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Symbols could show what is happening instead of explaining what is happening. 76 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:33,000 I came in on my sister watching White Collar and someone in the show pulled up their pant leg and showed their tracking anklet. 77 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:43,000 So without knowing the whole story, I knew that because there was an FBI agent that he was a bad guy or a questionable character. 78 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,000 You can use symbols to show a character's goal. 79 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:52,000 In novel writing help, they give the idea that a character really wants to make something of himself. 80 00:07:52,000 --> 00:08:01,000 And becoming mayor, becoming a millionaire, marrying the most beautiful woman in town are all symbols to the character of making it. 81 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,000 They have a good point that I want to close on that. 82 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:11,000 Quote, the beauty of symbolism in a novel is that a reader can suggest without ever having to explain. 83 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,000 Do you use symbols in your writing, Ken? 84 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 Not as much as I would like to. 85 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:21,000 I have a good example, though, that's actually laid out in my next book, The Dark Hero. 86 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:28,000 In this book, we are introduced to the Order of Malevolence, basically one of the main villains groups of servient people. 87 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:35,000 They wear the symbol of their order, which is an eye surrounded by a two headed snake with a trident pointing down at the eye. 88 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:42,000 It's explained during a sort of cultist scene that the eye represents the all-seeing eye of the Malevolent One. 89 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,000 The two headed snake represents the consuming and rebirth of a better world. 90 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:51,000 And the trident represents the weapon which the Malevolent One will use to bring the world to its knees. 91 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:57,000 This is a kind of latent symbolism within the world of the story, something not everyone could pull off. 92 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,000 But it is possible and a good example of at least how I've used it. 93 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,000 We hope today's episode was helpful. 94 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,000 If you like our podcast, please share it with your friends and family. 95 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:12,000 For sources in the transcript, visit writersworldpodcast.weebly.com. 96 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:15,000 And our Instagram is writersworldpodcastofficial. 97 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:20,000 Our Patreon is patreon.com slash writersworldpodcast. 98 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:26,000 If you want your questions answered, our email is writersworldpodcast at gmail.com. 99 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,000 Until next time, I've been Melissa Faust. 100 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,000 And I've been Ken Mears. 101 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,000 With Writers World. 102 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,000 And keep on writing.