Symbolism

• Objects: Authors often use everyday objects to represent larger concepts, like a dove symbolizing peace or a journey representing life.
• Colors: Colors are used symbolically to evoke emotions or represent themes, such as red for passion or danger, and white for purity.
• Characters: Characters can symbolize larger ideas or societal issues. For example, in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, characters represent political figures and ideologies.
• Settings: Settings are symbolic to reflect themes and moods. A stormy night might symbolize turmoil or conflict, while a sunny day represents happiness and peace.

Metaphor

• Conceptual Metaphors: These link abstract concepts to more concrete experiences, like describing time as money (“saving time”, “wasting time”).
• Extended Metaphors: These are developed over several lines or throughout a work, deepening the meaning, such as in Shakespeare’s “All the world’s a stage” from As You Like It, which compares life to a theatrical play.
• Implied Metaphors: These subtly compare two unlike things without mentioning one of them directly, creating layers of meaning without explicit statements.
• Visual Metaphors: These create imagery to help readers visualize abstract concepts, like describing a character’s emotional state as a “storm within”.

Both symbolism and metaphor allow authors to convey complex ideas and emotions, adding depth and richness to their narratives.