English
Theme and symbolism.
Definition
A theme is the central message or insight about life that a literary work conveys, while symbolism is the use of concrete objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas. Symbols are one of the key tools authors use to develop and reinforce themes throughout a text.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 In The Great Gatsby, the green light symbolizes Gatsby's unreachable dreams, reinforcing the theme of the American Dream's corruption
- 2 In Lord of the Flies, the conch shell symbolizes order and democracy, and its destruction reflects the theme of civilization vs. savagery
- 3 In To Kill a Mockingbird, the mockingbird symbolizes innocence, supporting the theme of injustice