Symbolism is a figure of speech that uses a person, object, situation, or word to represent a deeper and more abstract concept. For instance, the idea of ‘green light’ proposed by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby is symbolic of the American Dream, the ethos that anyone, regardless of their background, can attain success and prosperity through freedom and equality of opportunity.

Thematic Depth
Thematic Depth speaks of an approach to literature that intricately explores its central themes, going beyond a superficial overview. Through symbolism, the artist draws upon the parallels that exist between profound concepts and simpler, tangible entities, and uses the latter to allude to the former. In Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken, two seemingly ordinary roads are used to denote a philosophy of how our choices and decisions shape our lives. This use of symbolism elucidates the literary themes and connects them to everyday elements, thereby enriching the overall thematic depth.

Resonance
Resonance refers to the lasting emotional impact and reverberation the literary work has on the reader. For example, W.B. Yeats’s celebrated poem The Second Coming begins with the line, “Turning and turning in the widening gyre”. Here, “gyre” is used to denote a spiral or vortex, symbolic of chaos, confusion, and disorder. This helps the reader resonate with the idea of a world spinning out of control through a mix of unsettlement and anxiety. In this way, powerful uses of symbolism deepens the reader’s emotional engagement with the text.