...staggers the necessary distance in the freezing cold to attend an all-white people church. What captured my interest about this short story is the religious symbolism. Per R. Wayne Clugston “a symbol is an object, person, or action that conveys two meaning: its own literal meaning and something it stands for as well” (Clugston, 2010, p.480). It is filled with symbolism of life and death; good and evil; love and hatred; and peace and anger. Throughout this paper, Alice will demonstrate the significance of how the application of point of view, setting, and symbolism plays a role contributing the theme of a story. In the story, a black woman enters a “white” church. She is a woman of faith; “there was a dazed and sleepy look in her aged blue–brown eyes” (Clugston, 2010) blue symbolizes a peacefulness that this woman has because of her faith. She is not a welcomed visitor to this congregation, though. The parishioners feel “a fear of the black and the old” (Clugston, 2010), the use of the word black is not just to tell us the color of her skin, but to symbolize evil. This is further supported in the words, “many of them saw jungle orgies in an evil place” (Clugston, 2010). The interesting thing about evil here is that it is not suggesting that the woman is evil. Rather, it is a symbol of what is in the hearts of the congregation. They are racists. They are unwilling to welcome her into their church. It is ironic, because they know this woman. The pastor may have called her...
Words: 373 - Pages: 2
...From the beginning a young boy stuffs his pockets with stones and the younger boys quickly follow his lead. The stones, at first seem to represent a yearly game the children play. As the story advances, the stones pile up in a corner and the villagers stand away from the piled up stones as if they symbolize a sinister purpose. The stones function in this horror story are what the lottery winner is killed with. It appears this symbol means that the villagers have no value for human life and are ignorant about questioning a tradition so violent. Tessie, as many people in society, are innocently persecuted for irrational reasons. This also symbolizes that random prejudice can be based on race, religion, appearance, economic background, and sex. Most persecuted people have no control over their sex or background. Likewise, the villagers in this story follow tradition and persecute Tessie simply because they don’t question why and it has always been done this way. Tessie’s random death is bizarre. It is an example of how we presently and randomly show prejudice and mark people because of what we have been taught by our parents or society. As Tessie draws the slip of paper...
Words: 1012 - Pages: 5
...Symbolism is seen as the physical representation of themes and symbols that are used to create ideas. “Oedipus the King” is the perfect story for representing symbolism. It embodies symbolism in riddles from a mythical Sphinx, a blind man having the abilities to see visions of truth, the scarred feet of Oedipus, and a three-way crossroads. These symbols are used as creative tiny messages that the characters in Oedipus the King give to each other as way of shortcuts. The symbols become more meaningful even with the lack of words, and highlight the relationship between it and another person. The riddle of the sphinx was probably one of the more symbolic messages within the story of Oedipus the King. The riddle goes like this “What goes on four...
Words: 564 - Pages: 3
...William Golding's Lord of the Flies Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding a group of children are stranded on an island when their plane crashes. The freedom of having no parents while living in a society that doesn't enforce rules and laws are eliminated. As the novel progresses the kids find use for different items each symbolizing something of different significance. In this novel William Golding uses different objects to symbolize the difference between civilization and savagery. Through out the novel, the conch shell represents a way to maintain organization and unity within the group. Ralph and Piggy discover the conch shell on the beach and use it to inform and call the boys together after the crash separates them. The conch shell then becomes a powerful symbol of civilization and order in the novel. This shell effectively influences rules during the meetings. This rule is; whichever boy holds the shell holds the right to speak. "He can hold it when he's speaking," (Golding 33), this explains how whoever is holding the conch has the right to speak; this shows a sense of civility. In this regard, the shell is most definitely a symbol. As the island civilization dissipates, the boys descend into savagery; the conch shell loses its power and influence among them. Also, the boulder that Roger rolls onto Piggy crushes the conch shell, signifying the demise of the...
Words: 1171 - Pages: 5
...There are many symbols in the story, “Masque of the Red Death”. Some of these symbols include, the clock, the seven chambers, the red death, and the castle. The first symbol in the “Masque of the Red Death” I am going to address is the clock. The clock is located in the seventh chamber, and as a regular clock, chimes every hour. Every time the clock chimes, the partiers stop and think about death, and the fact that time will eventually run out. The clock represents that time is running out, and that death is coming. The second symbol in the “Masque of the Red Death” I will address are the seven chambers. Located in the castle itself, these chambers run from east to west. The chambers represent different stages of life, the chambers run from...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...Religious and Secular Symbols in the World Religion acts as a set of symbols that performs a distinctive function: they persuade us that there is a direct connection between our view of world and how we ought to live, or how we are supposed to live. By formulating concepts we begin to adopt these concepts as general order of existence. Symbols can demonstrate a heritage or any type of religion. Religion representation involves the usage of exclusive signs by a specific belief which explains everything that is related to its psyche and traditions, counting epitome, natural phenomenon and events the art that is developed on that ground over that phase (Ellwood, 1993). Mankind finds comfort in these symbols as to identify there humanity in which they are found. The Christian Cross is one of the most common signs of Christianity. The Cross can be communicated in many different messages or symbols. We are going to look at the cross as a focal and general symbol, as well as a secular symbol. The cruciform is an example of the cross as a focal symbol. Jesus figure being nailed on the cross in both his hands and feet, with a ring of thorns build like a crown on his head. For many Christians, it has become the foundation on how the world works: you must die before you can have a rebirth. People who consider themselves Christians have adopted the idea as the crucifixion as the prerequisite for resurrection, meaning death before new life. On the other hand, the cross can be considered...
Words: 1132 - Pages: 5
...Lord of the Flies Symbol is a thing that represents or stands for something. It could also be a mark or character used as a common representation of an object, function, or process. In the lifetime that anyone has lived so far, there is at least one symbol that is of importance in your life. Everyone has something that symbolizes them or some part of their life. In the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, shows a lot of mental/physical symbols and their importance. Some of the symbols that Golding shows and introduces in the novel are the conch, the beast, and Piggy’s glasses. One of the symbols that Golding showed in the novel was the conch. The conch was something that Ralph, a 12 year old boy, and Piggy, Ralph’s “lieutenant”(helper), had discovered and it was used to gather the group of kids that got stuck on the island along with them. In the group of kids, whoever had the conch, was the person who the the right to speak, meaning that the person was the leader of the group. Although later in the novel, the conch was no longer of use because of the savagery that came out of the kids made their ways of thinking different, which led them to become violent and out of control. Similar to an anarchy because if there is no control, then everything is chaotic. Soon after the boys have become savagery, the conch was crushed along with Piggy by a boulder that Roger, Jack the new leader’s “lieutenant”, pushes and so the conch shell is now of no use. The conch shell was a powerful...
Words: 819 - Pages: 4
...In the novel the Lord Of The Flies, by William Golding, the author uses symbols or items or ideas that represents something in the book Golding wants to emphasize. Like the conch and Piggy’s glasses both represent the tribe and their state of mind. Another example is the fire, which symbolizes hope of rescue in the book. Golding however also made some symbols change over time to show progress or rather how the tribe went near the savage ways of human nature. The conch for example, started out with beautiful vibrant pinks and whites but by the end of the book it was bleach white and then shattered. Another example is the fire which started as hope for rescue but turned into a symbol of destruction when Jack burned the island to kill Ralph. The conch was found by the soon to be leader Ralph and his acquaintance Piggy on a lagoon in some ferny weeds. Ralph sees a creamy white and asked piggy “ ‘ what’s that? A stone? No. A shell.” (Golding 15) This shows that the at first the conch was beautiful and...
Words: 925 - Pages: 4
...Lord of the Flies Symbol and Theme "What I mean is... Maybe it's only us."... Simon became inarticulate in his efforts to express mankind's essential illness” (Page 89). In this quote from the Lord of the Flies the beast is used as a symbol to represent the inner savagery that exists within us. Symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance. William Golding uses symbols to support the theme of Lord of the Flies which is civilization vs. savagery. This theme is present in many parts of the book but it is specifically developed using the following three symbols: the beast, the conch shell and, Simon. During the scene were Simon encounters the Lord of the Flies the Lord of the Flies speaks to him and says “There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast... Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill... You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are the way they are?” (Page 142). This quote completely reveals that the beast is symbolized as the innermost evil within all of us. This has a major role in the civilization vs. savagery theme because the beast represents the savagery. The beast is used yet again as a symbol for inner evil when Jack mounts the pig head on a stick. “The head is for the beast. It’s a gift” (Page 137). This shows how the boys begin to almost worship the beast as a god. It displays...
Words: 823 - Pages: 4
...Study Questions for Myth Symbol and Ritual Dakota 1) Symbols are the building blocks for life. They help us in life to communicate, learn, classify, bring out emotions, associate. The word Myth is actually Greek for throw together. They help us perceive. The relationship between signifier, signified, and signification is not all the complex. The signifier is what we perceive. An example is that different symbols can be perceived by different ways by different people. If someone were to look at an arrow and perceive it one way, i might look at the arrow and perceive it another. The signified is what we give to the perception. This can obviously be different with different people because it relies on ourselves. The signification is what ties these different perceptions together. Specific characteristics of a sign is that they have single meanings (an example would be a street sign giving the name of a street). A specific example of a signal is that they convey a meaning for an action. An example is a street light. When the green light is lit it gives someone the signal to go. Vice versa when the red light illuminates. A symbol is used to convey meaning. This would be a sign on the road that has the squiggly lines. It is conveying to drivers that the road is going to become winding. An example of a discursive symbol would be a symbol that is discrete and must be seen in a certain arrangement for one to understand. A presentational symbol must be perceived as a whole...
Words: 527 - Pages: 3
...Recognizing symbols while reading literature is important. What is symbolism? A word, object, or person that means something in addition to itself. Susan Glaspell used a lot of symbolism in her story A Jury of Her Peers. A few of the symbols are the basket, the bird, and the birdcage. All of the symbols affect our reading of the story as well as the characters in the story. The basket represents the Wright’s house and clue of murder weapon. The basket was the place where the investigators found the dead bird as well as the house was the place where the investigators found the body of Mr. Wright. The basket represents the evidence of the murders. “They turning to the sewing basket’’(p.564) ’’There’s something wrapped up in this piece of silk.” (p.565) The basket was a clue to the murder weapon, because the women found out about the quilt pieces. The women found Mrs. Wright was good with knotting rope together which is the weapon that was used to kill Mr. Wright. “We think, that she was going to knot it.” (p.565)...
Words: 481 - Pages: 2
...GUIDE TO COMMON HOME LAU NDERING AND DRYCLEAN ING SYMBOLS DOS/WIN Code Ref# Care Symbol Written Care Instructions What Care Symbol and Instructions Mean Wash MW_Norm Machine Wash, Normal Garment may be laundered through the use of hottest available water, detergent or soap, agitation, and a machine designed for this purpose. Initial water temperature should not exceed 30C or 65 to 85F. Initial water temperature should not exceed 40C or 105F. Initial water temperature should not exceed 50C or 120F. Initial water temperature should not exceed 60C or 140F. Initial water temperature should not exceed 70C or 160F. Initial water temperature should not exceed 95C or 200F. 30C MW30C Machine Wash, Cold 40C MW40C Machine Wash, Warm 50C MW50C Machine Wash, Hot 60C MW60C Machine Wash, Hot 70C MW70C Machine Wash, Hot 95C MW95C Machine Wash, Hot MW_Pres Machine Wash, Permanent Press Machine Wash, Gentle or Delicate NOTE: SYSTEM OF DOTS INDICATING TEMPERATURE RANGE IS THE SAME FOR ALL WASH PROCEDURES. W_DoNot MW_ Gentl Garment may be machine laundered only on the setting designed to preserve Permanent Press with cool down or cold rinse prior to reduced spin. Garment may be machine laundered only on the setting designed for gentle agitation and/or reduced time for delicate items. Garment may be laundered through the use of water, detergent or soap and gentle hand manipulation. Garment may not be safely laundered by any...
Words: 1034 - Pages: 5
...Benjamin Steele English 113 Dr. Gorman 2/9/2016 Question 2 Symbolism is a tool writers can use to imply ideas or qualities by the use of symbols. Stories filled with symbols can turn readers into investigators; keeping an eye out for anything and everything that can have an implied meaning. Raymond Carver, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck are masters at using symbolism to communicate to their readers. To no surprise these writers also use symbolism in the title of their stories. Three examples of this would be Raymond Carver’s story “Cathedral”, Ernest Hemingway’s story “Hills Like White Elephants”, and John Steinbeck’s story “The Chrysanthemums”. The question is; what is the symbolic meaning behind each of to these story...
Words: 802 - Pages: 4
...What is a Physical Symbol System? Here is Simon's own description. A physical symbol system holds a set of entities, called symbols. These are physical patterns (e.g., chalk marks on a blackboard) that can occur as components of symbol structures. In the case of computers, a symbol system also possesses a number of simple processes that operate upon symbol structures - processes that create, modify, copy and destroy symbols. A physical symbol system is a machine that, as it moves through time, produces an evolving collection of symbol structures. Symbol structures can, and commonly do, sever as internal representations (e.g., "mental images") of the environment to which the symbol system is seeking to adapt. They allow it to model that environment with greater or less veridicality and in greater or less detail, and consequently to reason about it. Of course, for this capability to be of any use to the symbol system, it must have windows on the world and hands, too. It must have means for acquiring information from the external environment that can be encoded into internal symbols, as well as means for producing symbols that initiate action upon the environment. Thus it must use symbols to designate objects and relations and actions in the world external to the system, Symbols may also designate processes that the symbol system can interpret and execute. Hence the program that governs the behaviour of a symbol system can be stored, along with other symbol structures, in the...
Words: 364 - Pages: 2
...Anh Ngo Mrs. Do English Shelter II, Block 4 24 October 2013 Symbol Symbol is something represent something else, mark, a person or an event. When the author of a poem write their work, their symbol gonna stand out, so the reader could easily feel sympathy with the author’s point of view. In real life, the way people making dialogue show their symbol (or culture), or people could easily label on the other people base on the skin color, the attitude,… In somehow, these 3 things are best present me and my culture : Ao Ba Ba, Hoi An’s Lantern, coconut. Ao Ba Ba is Vietnamese traditional clothes. It’s uselly attach to the image of countryside life, especially in the Southern Vietnam. This clothes structure are simple, as their meaning too, the top made by silk, button down and the pant also made by silk and wide a little at the end. Their will be a split on the side waist, and the 2 pockets is down in front of the belly part. The popularity of this clothes increased by their simple but still have the elegant look and versatility use. It is used by astounding population, where either it rural or urban are. Nowaday, this clothes has been modernize, not only the structure, color, material, but also the meaning of it. It have been consider as fashion too, with all the design. Just a normal simple meaning clothes, but could easily represent my culture. How wonderful ! At Hoi An, locate at the north of the country, there is a famous piece of artifact, name “ Hoi An Lantern”. Because...
Words: 670 - Pages: 3
