Literary Symbol Research Articles

Constructing Identity between Illusion and Reality in Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior

This paper explores the process of identity construction in Maxine Hong Kingston’s novel, “The Woman Warrior”, insisting upon instruments and literary tools, such as illusions, temporal innovation and persuasive strategies. In close relation to the central theme of the novel – the issue of identity and its development from a young age, in relation to one’s cultural heritage – this research focuses on the existence of illusions, as well as the way in which these are employed or combined with other techniques, in order to achieve the final goal of creating identity. The article analyses structures from the novel from different perspectives (literary, stylistic, temporal, persuasive) and the findings have shown that the recurrence of literary illusions, shaped from the effective combination of reality, myth and personal insights, creates the proper environment for self-reference construction and identity assimilation. In this respect, the usage of literary symbols and motifs, all gravitating around the concept of the woman warrior, is strongly connected to the Chinese society’s principles and perspective towards women and their behaviour. Additionally, different aspects from the novel, such as the narrative and the poetic ones, are completed by the descriptive discourse. This strategy gives a faithful image of the foreground, stimulating the readers’ imagination and sense of creativity. As a result, this paper observed that the novel written by Kingston constructed a testimony of oneself though the power of storytelling. This technique enlarged the topic of the book, creating a means of constructing identity and reclaiming agency for the female characters, as well as for the author herself.

Symbolism in Arabic Literature: Mourid Barghouti as a Model

This study explores the concept of "symbolism" in Arabic literature, focusing on its role in the poetry of Mourid Barghouti as a model. It examines the evolution of symbolism through different literary eras, from traditional and religious symbols to mythological and natural symbols, and analyzes how Barghouti employs these symbols to reflect his experiences and views on Arab issues, particularly the Palestinian cause. The study adopts an analytical methodology to study selected symbols in Barghouti's works, highlighting religious symbols such as Christ, historical symbols like Queen Bilqis, and mythological symbols inspired by Greek mythology. The study also examines the unique symbols Barghouti created to express his personal experiences. The results reveal that symbolism is a fundamental element in Barghouti's poetry. He uses it to convey themes of resilience, national identity, and human suffering. The study underscores the importance of symbolism in enriching poetic texts and deepening their meanings, enabling readers to gain a profound understanding of the human experience in literature. Key conclusions include Barghouti's strategic use of various types of symbols—religious, historical, mythological, and natural—to deepen meaning and evoke connections between the past and the present. His use of natural symbols represents renewal and resilience. The study recommended further studies on symbolism in modern Arabic literature, increased focus on traditional and religious symbols in Arabic poetry, the development of educational curricula to include the analysis of literary symbols, and the establishment of a database of key literary symbols in Arabic poetry. Additionally, it suggested exploring audience interaction with literary symbols, focusing on their reception in modern Arabic poetry.

Shepard's Desolate Deserts: The Place Where Finitude Meets Revival

This article addresses the literary symbolism of the desert landscape in combination with an ecocritical perspective and subsequently proceeds to analyze selected plays by Sam Shepard, focusing on the significance of the desert landscape, which has a profound impact on the psyches of his characters. Sam Shepard, as an author of American myths, adds an ancient and mystical quality to his desert environment, which intricately contributes to the development of the protagonists’ identities. The Western viewpoint of the desert as a place of danger and death is compared and contrasted with the spiritual potential of this arid land.

SYMBOLISM IN “A CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (1922) BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

This paper analyzes the use of symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (1922), focusing on its employment of allegory, archetypes, and symbols. The study seeks to throw further light on the manner in which Fitzgerald uses literary symbolism as a means to explore the modernist consciousness of the protagonist, Benjamin Button, who serves as an archetype for the alienation experienced by modern man in the Jazz Age. By examining both personal and conventional symbols, the paper not only reveals how the protagonist embodies the tensions of his era, but also highlights how he exemplifies the human representatives of the period. Special attention is given to several underexplored symbols within the story, including: Benjamin's dress suit, the cigars he smokes as an infant, his hair dye, fake whiskers, and the colored paper in kindergarten. These symbols illustrate Fitzgerald's craftsmanship in conveying complex themes such as identity, aging, and societal expectations. Through the juxtaposition of these symbols with Benjamin's unusual aging process, the paper argues that the protagonist becomes a symbolic figure for the disorientation and alienation experienced by individuals in the modernist era. Ultimately, the research provides fresh insights into how Fitzgerald’s symbolism deepens the narrative’s engagement with modernist themes, offering a richer understanding of both the text and its cultural significance.

Proletarian Melodrama: Censorship, Popularization, and Consumerism in Colonial Korea

This article introduces the 1933 novel After the Doll’s House by Ch’ae Mansik as an example of how revolutionary messages were presented through melodramatic narratives in colonial Korean proletarian literature. Between 1928 and 1930, several members of the Korea Artista Proleta Federacio (KAPF), most notably Kim Kijin, insisted that melodrama—a narrative form widely distributed in popular newspapers—could circumvent censorship to introduce revolutionary representations to the public. Although few proletarian authors initially agreed with Kim’s approach, many proletarian novels, especially those serialized in newspapers such as After the Doll’s House, adopted key elements from melodrama. Accordingly, this article explores how modern melodrama in colonial Korea as imported from Japan and Europe was uniquely adapted and transformed to deliver Marxist messages through localized literary symbols and tropes, despite strict censorship under the Government-General of Korea and the commercial demands of the publication market. After the Doll’s House thereby evidences how melodramatic narrative in colonial Korean proletarian literature was an effective strategy for expressing radical ideas within the restrictions of colonial rule as well as for creating a hybrid literary form under oppressive social conditions.

Symbology and Codes in Dan Brown’s Origin

This paper explores the intricate web of symbology and codes found within Dan Brown's gripping novel, Origin. As a renowned master of blending history, art, science and religion, Brown weaves a tale that captivates readers with a labyrinth of symbols and enigmatic ciphers. Through an analysis of key elements in the narrative, this study aims to shed light on the significance of symbolism and cryptographic puzzles as essential devices in the plot's development. Drawing upon Brown's signature writing style, the paper examines the role of religious symbology, ancient texts and iconic art and architecture, intertwining them with scientific theories to craft a compelling narrative. The central focus lies in the protagonist, Robert Langdon, a symbologist, whose expertise in languages and linguistics plays a pivotal role in deciphering messages and solving the mystery at hand. Jean Moréas' Symbolist Manifesto (1886) is a foundational text in the development of literary symbolism. In this manifesto, Moréas emphasized the importance of symbolism in art and literature, advocating for a departure from naturalism and realism. He proposed that artists should focus on conveying emotions and ideas through symbols, rather than direct representation. Applying Moréas' theory of symbolism, the researcher analyzes how Dan Brown employs symbols and codes as key elements in Origin. By analyzing the relationship between language and technological innovation, the study aims to unveil how these elements converge to heighten the intrigue and suspense in the novel. It delves into the significance of linguistic techniques and cryptic passages, as tools for building suspense and enriching the reading experience. Langdon reveals meanings and ideas inherent in symbols and codes and demystifies the concepts- "Where do we come from?" and "Where are we going?"

Politics of Symbolising Female Characters in Paulo Coelho’s By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept

Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho’s works are generally known for inspiring readers and using literary symbols to narrate complex philosophical concepts. Out of the seventeen works of Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept describes the conflicts faced by two lovers who are brought together by fate after eleven years. Re-joined, they set out for an excursion together as the issues in their relationship emerge again. Though Coelho explicitly uses water as a literary symbol in the novel, this paper closely analyses how the female characters in the same novel are also symbolised, making them symbols of self-submission. It thereby probes the complexity of the connection between female characters and water as literary symbols within the same context.

At Midnight I Rise: The Symbolism of Midnight in the Assertion of Jewish-Christian Difference

precis: This essay explores the negotiation of Jewish-Christian difference in the beginning of the Common Era through a comparative study of the symbolic associations of midnight. It comparatively analyzes references to midnight in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, as well as their later reception in Jewish and Christian communities, with attention to how the early Christian community adopted Jewish traditions of time and revised them to reinforce emerging Christian concepts. This essay proposes that the divergent symbolic associations of midnight in the two canons illustrate some of the central concerns and self-understandings of early Christian and Jewish communities, which became thematic in the assertion of Jewish-Christian difference during the parting of the ways. It demonstrates that the midnight passages are thematically linked as a time of transformation, but the content of that transformation differs between the two canons, reflecting themes of concern to the communities that developed the texts. Across the passages in the Hebrew Bible, midnight appears to be symbolic of a transformation that leads to the creation or strengthening of the people of Israel. In contrast to the national transformation envisioned in the Hebrew Bible, references to midnight in the New Testament are thematically related in their presentation of midnight as a time of eschatological transformation, symbolizing the turning point from this world to the next world, and reflecting an emerging religious tradition focused on a redemption beyond worldly time. This essay argues that these distinct thematic associations present concepts of transformation that were asserted during the parting of the ways, as the two religious traditions formulated parameters around their identities. It concludes with an exploration of two distinct temporal visions that eventually emerged as the two traditions separated, drawing parallels between the literary symbolism of midnight in the biblical text and later developments in Jewish and Christian perspectives on time.

Arwa Salih’s Gendered Critique

Abstract This article seeks to clarify the stakes of Arwa Salih’s critical methodology by reading her project—specifically, her development of Milan Kundera’s notion of kitsch, her analytic use of gender, and her formal and political concern with legacy and inheritance—alongside the literary history of iltizam. The article contends that Salih’s critical method and search for ethical knowledge frame iltizam as a form of militant kitsch that prized dogma and readymade answers over ethical and political curiosity. By reading Salih’s historical-political critique in terms of gendered literary symbolism and aesthetics, the article attempts to make clear the resonance of her analytic method in the field of modern Arabic literature—especially Egyptian literature—and to point out how literature and critique are implicated in the social and political changes that forged and solidified Egypt’s neoliberal era.

Analysis of Mystical and Literary Concepts in Maqalat-e Shams from a Semiotics Perspective

Semiotic systems and implications in the mystical literary work of Maqalat-e Shams Tabrizi raise multilayer. Thus, semiotic analysis of Maqalat can lead to a better understanding of such texts. In this article, Maqalat-e Shams is investigated from both mystical and literary points of view, and the science of semiotics is introduced. The research method is descriptive-analytical, and the library research method has collected and reviewed the data. From the mystical point of view, the semiotic analysis consists of expressions/idioms and word symbols. Terms such as Hijab, Samaa, Talab, Love, Monotheism, and word symbols such as Wine, Mirror, and homeland are semiotic features in Maqalat-e Shams and always describe the semantic relations among them. From the literary point of view, the Semiotic code of the creator, aesthetics, and intertextuality are evaluated. There are numerous Semiotic codes of the creator in Maqalat-e Shams that provide useful information about the life, personality, contemporaries, and social status of Shams of the reader. Also, aesthetics makes the text more prominent through symbols, exaggeration, Semantic contradiction, hyponymy, and repetition. Analysis of literary symbols reveals that the Maqalat are not closed texts that are explicit intertextual links between texts like the Quran, prophetic Hadiths, and works of poets and intellects such as Sanai, Attar, Al-Ghazali, and Najm al-Din Razi.

A Study on the Similarity of Literary Symbols Used for Social Modelling and Characterisation in Niche Cultures

A Study on the Similarity of Literary Symbols Used for Social Modelling and Characterisation in Niche Cultures

Unveiling the Influence of Cultural Symbols on Character Relationships and Emotions in Literature

This study delves into the captivating world of literary symbolism, exploring the profound influence of cultural symbols on character relationships and emotions within the intricate narratives of literature. Through a comprehensive analysis of select literary works, we unveil the transformative power of these symbols, unlocking their profound influence on the emotional context of character interactions. By examining how these symbols serve as bridges between authors and readers, we gain insights into the deep connections they forge. This research reveals that cultural symbols are not passive elements within literature; they are active agents shaping character interactions and emotions. The implications of this study are not confined to literary analysis but extend to a broader understanding of culture and emotions. This journey opens new avenues for researchers and enthusiasts to appreciate the timeless significance of cultural symbols in literature and embark on further explorations of this captivating subject.

Oriental philosophy in symbolist literature

Oriental philosophy in symbolist literature

A Critical Analysis of Symbolism in Modernist Literature with reference to T.S. Eliot and Roland Barthes

This study aims to conduct a critical analysis of symbolism in modernist literature, with specific reference to the works of T.S. Eliot and Roland Barthes. The objectives of the study are to identify the key symbols employed by these authors, explore their significance within the context of modernist literature, and examine the underlying themes and messages conveyed through these symbols. The methodology of the study involves a comprehensive literature review of relevant scholarly articles, books, and primary sources related to modernist literature, symbolism, and the selected authors' works. The analysis will be conducted through close reading and textual analysis of specific poems and writings by T.S. Eliot and Roland Barthes, focusing on their symbolic elements and their connections to broader social, cultural, and philosophical contexts. The problem statement of this study addresses the need to understand the deeper layers of meaning and significance in modernist literature, particularly with regards to the role of symbolism. By unraveling the layers of symbolism in the works of T.S. Eliot and Roland Barthes, this research aims to shed light on the complexities and nuances of modernist literature, and contribute to a deeper understanding of its artistic and intellectual foundations. The results and discussions of this study anticipate uncovering the intricate symbolic network embedded in the selected authors' works, revealing the multiple layers of meaning and the interplay between symbols and their socio-cultural context. Furthermore, the study aims to identify recurring themes and motifs across their writings, highlighting the distinct approaches to symbolism employed by each author. In conclusion, this study seeks to provide a critical analysis of symbolism in modernist literature, specifically examining the works of T.S. Eliot and Roland Barthes. By exploring the symbols, themes, and underlying messages in their writings, this research aims to contribute to a deeper appreciation and understanding of modernist literature as a significant literary and artistic movement. The findings of this study will not only enhance the scholarly discourse surrounding these authors but also offer valuable insights into the broader field of literary symbolism and its relevance in modernist literature.

문학적 기호로 읽는 노아의 방주와 그 의미작용

문학적 기호로 읽는 노아의 방주와 그 의미작용

The Quest for the Philosophers’ Stone: Alois von Sonnenfels’ ‘אור נגה—Splendor Lucis’, Vienna 1745

Abstract This article examines אור נגה—Splendor Lucis, oder Glantz des Lichts, a bilingual German-Hebrew alchemical work written in 1745 by Alois von Sonnenfels (1705–1768), a scholar and translator at the Austrian imperial court, who converted from Judaism to Catholicism in 1735. Splendor Lucis embodies a quest for ‘vera philosophia’, a true and pure knowledge, which its author seeks via the practical alchemical pursuit of discovering how to transmute base substances into gold using the legendary ‘Philosophers’ Stone’. Ultimately, Sonnenfels locates the secret to divine wisdom in the biblical figure of Job, and concludes that ‘vera philosophia’ is with God alone and cannot be grasped by humankind. This article analyses how Sonnenfels’ unique eighteenth-century text combines Jewish and Christian concepts with alchemical, kabbalistic, and literary symbols. Christian alchemists and Christian Hebraists often tried to prove that Christianity was the anticipated Messianic fulfilment of Judaism. By contrast, Sonnenfels presents a veiled discourse which carefully makes the case for the validity of Jewish texts and thus also for Judaism—under the watchful eye of the Catholic Church.

TheKalevalaand the Literary Archetype of the Hardworking Finnish American

AbstractIn recent decades, Finnish American literature has begun to receive more critical attention. The use of Finnish American identity symbols in this literature has also begun to be explored, although the number of studies remains relatively low and these studies tend to focus on the work of select authors and their use of food, language, or depictions of the natural world. Additionally, the roots and development of these identity symbols have yet to be investigated. In this article, I examine hard work, or a valuing of work, as a key Finnish American identity symbol. This article represents the first extended analysis of this symbol in Finnish American literature and also the first attempt to tie a Finnish American literary symbol to the Kalevala. Employing deductive thematic analysis of the Kalevala and two Finnish American literature anthologies, and with regard to existing sociological research on Finnish American identity symbols, this article identifies the literary archetype of the hardworking Finnish American and examines its relationship to the national epic of Finland.

Символът като средство за реализация на интердисциплинарен подход в обучението по музика и български език и литература в начален обра- зователен етап [Symbols as Means of Implementing an Interdisciplinary Approach in

The possibilities of symbols as means of implementing an interdisciplinary approach in teaching music and literature in primary education is the topic examined in this publication. This is a topic that is developed relatively rarely in pedagogical literature. In the theoretical aspects of this publication, the main parameters of the interdisciplinary approach, applicable to the education of students in 1st – 4th grades, which can be realized through literary and musical symbolism, are examined. Arguments supporting statements regarding the essence of symbols and the possibility of them functioning as denotation for one of the criteria for the manifestation and functioning of linguistic and musical intelligence, included in H. Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, are brought forth. The focus is on the essence of the two types of symbols – literary and musical as means of forming and developing the respective types of intelligence. The publication also examines some practical and applied aspects, the main emphasis being fairy tales as a literary genre and program music, which are rich in symbolism. Specific approaches to pedagogical interaction are listed such as “building musical characterization of a literary symbol”, “making sense of a specific musical work with the help of literary symbols”, “using literary symbols to realize musical content”. In this way, it is proven that they are a real basis for the implementation of an interdisciplinary educational approach in the education of primary school students.

One hundred years of change in Andrey Bely's image: Russian criticism of Bely as a symbolist literary critic

In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Russian critical discourse on the symbolist critic Bely in the last hundred years and to show the changes in this image, the critic Bely is judged in three stages in terms of the multiple relationships between Bely's literary criticism and his own literary creation, Russian symbolist literature, Russian literature and even Russian literary criticism, and finally to construct a collection of critical Bely's images covering different times, perspectives and fields, in which the image goes through the process of going from invisibility to incipient and then to complete presentation. The Russian criticism of Bely has been controversial in different eras, but his insistence on a combination of tradition and innovation and his active search for originality have made him a highly regarded critic. This review of the changing image of Bely deepens the understanding of Bely and Russian symbolism and is a useful reference for the study of Bely's literary criticism.

One hundred years of change in Andrey Bely's image: Russian criticism of Bely as a symbolist literary critic

In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Russian critical discourse on the symbolist critic Bely in the last hundred years and to show the changes in this image, the critic Bely is judged in three stages in terms of the multiple relationships between Bely's literary criticism and his own literary creation, Russian symbolist literature, Russian literature and even Russian literary criticism, and finally to construct a collection of critical Bely's images covering different times, perspectives and fields, in which the image goes through the process of going from invisibility to incipient and then to complete presentation. The Russian criticism of Bely has been controversial in different eras, but his insistence on a combination of tradition and innovation and his active search for originality have made him a highly regarded critic. This review of the changing image of Bely deepens the understanding of Bely and Russian symbolism and is a useful reference for the study of Bely's literary criticism.