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The skillful and judicious use of symbols, or symbolism, is one of a writer’s most powerful tools.

A symbol can be defined as a specific thing that may stand for ideas, values, persons, or ways of life; a symbol always points beyond its own meaning toward a greater and more complex meaning. In literature, a symbol links or draws together a specific thing with ideas, values, persons or ways of life, in a way that otherwise would not be apparent. A symbol might also be regarded as a substitute for the elements being signified, much as a flag stands for its nation’s ideals.

Symbols developed only within an individual work are termed contextual (also called private or authorial).

Conventional (aka cultural or universal) symbols (those we are most concerned with) embody ideas or emotions both the writer and reader share because of a common social/cultural heritage.

Some examples of commonly used conventional symbols include:

Water: life, birth, spiritual existence, purification

Fire: destruction, hell, purification, rebirth

Morning: rebirth, renewal, hope

Night: death, aging, lack of hope, mystery

Red: danger, passion, anger

Green: envy, growth, life

White: purity, goodness

Black: evil, death, absence, mystery

Eyes: vigilance, truth

Hands: industry, labor, strength

Blindness: refusal to see truth or reality, ignorance

Spring: rebirth, youth

Fall/Autumn: age, decline, harvest

Pearls: purity, innocence

Diamonds: strength, constancy

Lamb: purity, innocence, Christ

Serpent: evil, the devil

Donkey: foolishness, stubbornness

Fox: cleverness, cunning, slyness

Lion: bravery, intimidation

Birds (in general): freedom

Dove: peace

Buzzard/vulture: death, destruction

Bread: life, hospitality

Grapes: youth, pleasure

Roses: love

Lilies: purity

Rings/circles: infinity, fidelity, oneness

This is, of course, a very short, limited list, but hopefully enough to give you an idea what conventional symbol is, and maybe a hint as to how it works.