Symbolism: Definition, Examples, and Insight
What is symbolism? This is the school of thought that things, people, plants, and symbols around us represent other things. When you see white roses blooming in nature, what comes into your mind? Of course, you will see beautiful flowers, but you will not leave it at that. It is human nature to want to decipher the meanings of something further than being content with its appearance and existence.
Symbolism can also be defined as a literary element that uses signs, plants, people, words, and art, among other things, to symbolize something beyond the precise meaning. This concept is not confined to literary works only because symbols surround us daily. It is in us to always want to know what something means beyond its appearance and literal meaning.
Example
A good example of symbolism being put into good use is the color red. Many cultures believe that the color red is a symbol of love, romance, and passion. Negatively, the color red connotes danger. During Valentine’s Day, you are prone to notice the color red all over, not only in flowers but clothing and other things. This is because people believe that red symbolizes love and intense passion.
In conclusion, it is safe to say that even though many people believe in symbolism, symbolic qualities of certain things exist only in certain contexts, and at times you might encounter something that symbolizes nothing at all.
Common Symbol Meanings
- Alchemy Animals
- Alchemy Metals
- Alchemy
- Alchemy
- Anchor
- Ancient Alchemy
- Animal Alchemy Symbols
- Animal Love
- Animals In Dreams
- Ankh
- Apple Tree
- April
- Artifacts
- Asclepius
- Aspen Tree
- August
- Aura Color Meanings & Symbolism
- Aura Color Projection
- Aztec
- Basic Shapes
- Basilisk Monster
- Bluebell Flower
- Bodhi Tree
- Buttercup Flower
- Caduceus
- Calligraphy
- Castle
- Cat Prints Symbols
- Celtic Animal
- Celtic Archetypes
- Celtic Calligraphy
- Celtic Cernunnos Symbolism
- Celtic Cernunnos Symbols
- Celtic Cross Meaning
- Celtic Eagle
- Celtic Five-Fold
- Celtic Goddess Danu
- Celtic Jewelry History
- Celtic Knots
- Celtic Mandala Symbols
- Celtic Meaning Of Blackthorn Tree
- Celtic Sign Symbols
- Celtic Skull
- Celtic Symbols
- Celtic Symbols For Purity
- Celtic Symbols Of Blodeuwedd
- Celtic Tattoo History
- Celtic Trinity Triquetra Symbolism
- Celtic Triskelion Symbol
- Celtic Warrior
- Chain Symbolism
- Chakra Mandala
- Change
- Chinese Dragon
- Chinese Flowers
- Chinese Symbol Writing
- Chinese Symbolism
- Chinese Symbols
- Chinese Symbols For Longevity
- Chinese Symbols: Abstract Knowledge And Skills
- Chinese Zodiac Signs & Moon Phases
- Christmas
- Circle
- Cloud
- Color
- Common Dream
- Creating A Personal Symbol
-
Symbolisms
- Daisy
- Dandelion
- Dara Celtic Knot
- Death And Loss Meaning
- December
- Demons
- Diamond Alchemy
- Diamond
- Dragons
- Earth & Meditation
- Edelweiss Flower
- Elemental Alchemy Symbols
- Eye of Horus
- Eye
- Family
- Fathers
- Feathers
- February
- Flower Colors
- Flower
- Garden
- Getting Messages From Nature
- Gnomes Earth Elementals
- Goblins Mythology
- God and Goddess
- God And Goddess Symbol Meanings
- Goddess Inanna
- Goddess Temperantia Symbol
- Good Health
- Good Luck Animals
- Good Luck
- Good Luck Symbols in Business
- Goran Jonsson
- Gorse Tree
- Grapevine
- Grass
- Greek Goddesses Of Motherhood
- Griffin Mythology
- Halloween
-
Symbolisms
- Hand Symbolic Meaning
- Heart Symbolic Meaning
- Heather Flower
- Holiday and Calendar Meaning
- Honeysuckle Flower
- Hopi
- Horseshoe
- Hourglass
- Hunab Ku
- Iron Cross
- J.K. Rowling
- January
- July
- June
- Kachina
- Knife
- Knots
- Kokopelli
- Law Of Attraction
- Lightning
- Lily Symbolism
- Listening To Nature For Answers
- Loch Ness Monster
- Lotus Flower
- Love
- Maltese Cross
- Mandala
- Mandala Symbol
- Mandala
- March
- May
- Maya God and Goddess Symbol
- Mayan Symbolic Meanings
- Mayan
- Memorial And Memory Meaning
- Mermaid
- Mimosa Flower
- Mistletoe
- Money
- Moon Symbolism & Meditation
- Mother Bird
- Mothers Symbolic Meaning
- Mulberry Tree
- Native American Mandala
- Native American Meaning of Cardinal Directions
- Native American Sun Meaning
- Nature
- Nature Symbols
- November
- Number Thirteen
- October
- Orcs
- Palm Tree
- Passion Flower
- Peace Lily Flower
- Periwinkle Flower
- Petunia Flower
- Poinsettia Meaning
- Polarity Law Symbolism Meaning
- Poppy
-
Symbolism
- Quaternary Celtic Knot
- Rainbow
- Rose Symbolism
- Salamander Fire
- Seasons Symbolism Meaning
- September
- Shamrock
- Shou
- Sioux
- Sirens
- Skull
- Spiral Meaning
- Square Meaning
- Squirrel Tracks
- Star of Bethlehem Flower
- Starlight
- Summer Solstice Meaning
- Sun Yantra
- Sunflower Meaning
- Swords
- Sylphs
- Symbolic Elementals
- Symbolic Elements
- Symbolic Meaning of Problems
- Symbolism for Guidance
- Saints
- Stones
- Tapuat Symbol Meaning
- The Fallen Angels
- Tree Symbolism And Meaning
- Triangle Meaning
- Triskelion Meaning
- Tuatha De Danann
- Twins Meaning
- Undines Symbolism
- Unicorn
- Water
- Wind Symbolic Meaning
- Winter
- Wisteria Meaning
- Wolf Medicine
- Yantra Mandala Symbolism
- Yew Tree
- Zigzag Symbolic Meaning
- Zombie Legend
Check Out >> Totems and Spirit Animals