Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos

Facultad de Humanidades, Artes y Ciencias

Sociales

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY: Symbolism

Subject: Literature I

Teacher: Bruno, Florencia

Student: Mediza, Sofia Luz

Academic year: 2018

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Language
3. Symbolism
4. Children´s literature
5. Symbolism in children´s books
6. Symbolism in “Three Little Pigs” by Grimm brothers (1812)
7. Conclusion
1. Introduction

According to Ursyn, (2018) a symbol is the representation of an abstract concept,

not just a thing, and is comparable to an abstract word. This known tool has been
criticized over the years by a number of specialists. Despite the fact that is highly used
for almost all writers, especially in fairy tales, some authors such as Riis, Ole and
Woodhead, Linda (2010) believe that symbols may change over time and become
meaningless. However, the usage of symbols was adopted by famous authors such as
Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll, Charles Perrault and many more in a lot of well-known fairy
tales and their pedagogical purposes and benefits have been demonstrated.

“Symbolism is fundamental to our existence as men. Man has always used symbols
in every form of self-expression and communication. Words, shapes, colors, designs,
and forms are the basic materials to which man attaches meaning and uses for
communication both within his own psyche and as a vehicle for reaching other
individuals”. (Ditcher, 1960, p118)

The purpose of this essay is to understand in depth a specific area that is of literary
interest. In the first place, some general concepts such as “Language” will be defined;
also what elements compose it in the written form in order to make literature and its
characteristics. Secondly, this written work includes the description of one of the most
used literary devices called “Symbolism”; how it is used, its characteristics and the
description of some types readers can encounter when analyzing literature.

Moreover, this essay has the intention to reveal which is the importance of using
symbolism in children´s books and to discover its benefits for their cognitive growth and
development. Finally, it includes a brief example of symbols included in a well-known
fairy tale for children, “The three little pigs” by Grimm Brothers, together with their
implication.

2. Language

In the first place, it is important to know some aspects of the concept “Language”.
Thomas, L and Wareing, S (2005) say that “there are several different ways of thinking
about language; which way you think about it depends on which aspect of language
you are interested in” (p5) These authors also suggest that “one way of thinking about
Language is as a systemic way of combining smaller units into larger units for the
purpose of communication.”

“Human beings can communicate with each other. We are able to exchange
knowledge, beliefs, opinions, wishes, threats, commands, thanks, promises,
declarations, feelings. We can laugh to express amusement, happiness, or disrespect,
we can smile to express amusement, pleasure, approval, or bitter feelings, we can
shriek to express anger, excitement, or fear, we can clench our fists to express
determination, anger or a threat, we can raise our eyebrows to express surprise or
disapproval, and so on, but our system of communication before anything else is
language.” (Mohamed, 2016, p53)

Furthermore, the choice of vocabulary is fundamental when addressing children. It

has to be suitable to that kind of audience as well as the structure of the story.
According to Courtland. L, Bovée (2003) writers adapt what they say by their selection
of words and sentences, the language they use and the message to the people they
are addressing, since the lexis that authors use when writing for a child are not the
same words they would use when writing for an adult. Moreover, the usages of rhyme,
adjectives or onomatopoeias that really create the scene are also relevant. Cypreansen
(1959) also mentions that of all forms of symbolism, language is the most highly
developed and most complicated since a term can take many meanings.

Language written or spoken is symbolism. The word is a symbol, and its meaning is
constituted by the ideas, images, and emotions, which it raises the mind of the hearer”.
(Whitehead, 1927, p2)

3. Symbolism

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1768), Symbolism refers to a literary

and artistic movement originated by a group of French poets who, in the late 19th
century, influenced the European and American literatures of the 20th century.
Furthermore, symbolist artists started to express individual emotional experience
through the use of symbolized language

Literary Devices Editors (2018) refer to Symbolism as a literary device to represent

an abstract concept and to signify ideas by giving them symbolic meaning.
Furthermore, this suggests that they are different from their literal sense and they tend
to be deeper and more significant. “Travel, for instance, can represent life, black, can
represent death, an American flag, can represent patriotism, motherhood and apple pie
can represent goodness, and a lion can symbolize courage” (Milhorn, 2006, p112)

From the point of view of Mahler, Adam (2017), a symbol usually shares a set of
key characteristics with the thing being symbolized, or is related to it in some other
way. Some literary works have symbols that are easy to recognize since they are
commonly used. However, there are others that don’t give an obvious or clear idea
which makes them more difficult to interpret

What is more, the idea of ´symbol´ should not be confused with the term ´sign´
since they are not equivalents. According to the psychoanalyst Carl Jung (2017) “a sign
stands for something known, as a word stands for a referent. In contrast, a symbol
stands for unknown things that cannot be made clear or precise...” (p217)

We believe that the use of symbols is very important and a key tool for writers to
take a piece of writing to another level as it gives a writer freedom to convey many
meanings in a poetic way to a piece of literature. We also consider that, despite the fact
that their meanings vary depending on different cultural backgrounds, they evoke
interest since readers can have a view of the writer´s mind.

"Symbolism is no mere idle fancy or corrupt degeneration; it is inherent in the very

texture of human life. Language itself is a symbolism." (Whitehead, 1927, p61)

There are different ways of expressing symbolism since a symbol can be applied to
a physical object, a character, or an event. In addition, Rahman (2015) says that there
are three types of symbolism we encounter in analyzing literature, dreams, or even our
life experiences.
Firstly, Conventional symbols are those symbols that have different interpretations
depending on the cultural context. For example, the ankh, which in Greece and Rome
was used as a symbol for Aphrodite and Venus. However, the same symbol in the
modern world is used to represent the female in biology. Then, Personal symbols are
those that change from author to author. For example, the interpretation of a dog in a
literary work may be seen as the representation of bad attitudes for some writers but it
may also be interpreted as protection by others. (Rahman, 2015, p12)
 Additionally, there are some figures of speech that use symbolism, such as
Metaphors. According to YourDictionary, they compare two things that are not similar
and show that they actually do have something in common. In a metaphor, there is an
additional meaning to a word. This makes it an example of symbolism. Also,
YourDictionary provides some examples of symbolism that take the form of metaphors
such as:
Time is money: This is symbolic because it warns you that when you spend your
time, you are giving up the opportunity to be doing something else with that time. Also,
like money, time is not infinite.
Life is a roller-coaster: This is symbolic because it indicates that there will be ups
and downs in life that you have to weather.
Love is a jewel: This is symbolic because it suggests that love is rare and
pressure.

Apart from the types of symbolism mentioned, some authors consider that
sometimes symbolism takes the form of a literary tool called an Allegory. “Characters
may be given names such as Hope, Pride, Youth, and Charity; they have a few if any
personal qualities beyond their abstract meanings. These personifications are not
symbols because, for instance, the meaning of a character named Charity is precisely
that virtue. Generally Allegory is a story illustrating an idea or a moral principle in which
objects take on symbolic meanings” (Salunke, 2010, ch10)

4. Children’s literature
“From newspapers and other media, children’s literature is understood to refer to
the materials written to be read by children and young people, published by children´s
publishers and stocked and shelved in the children´s and/or young adult sections of
libraries and bookshops” (Reynolds, 2011, p1).
UKEssays explains that this kind of literature has got its name from the middle half
of the nineteenth century, but it began as oral tradition centuries earlier, when the older
people narrated their experiences with the purpose to entertain the younger ones using
different languages and dialects according to the location. What is more, in their book
“Key words for children’s literature”, Nel. P and Paul. L (2011) reveal that books
produced specially for children until the end of the seventeenth century were nearly all
schoolbooks or books of manners and modals and laid out how children should
behave. “Currently, everything from folk and fairy tales, myths and legends, ballads and
nursery rhymes are under the term Children’s literature” (Reynolds, 2011, p2).
In addition, Children’s literature is “one of the earliest ways in which the young
generations encounter stories and it plays a powerful role in shaping how we think
about and understand the world. Stories are a key source for images, vocabulary,
attitudes, and explanations to understand issues of the world”. (Reynolds, 2011, p4).
Besides, Reynolds and Grenby (2011) agree that, since they are directed to children,
books are often bound up with some kind of education and so they can be important
carriers of information about culture, society, the present and the past. Following this
sense, we believe that writers have the power to use several tools and elements as
they wish to train the child’s imagination and build up new conceptions of reality. What
is more, it is important to highlight the role of illustrations together with the written
material. Children learn to 'read' illustrations in the same way as they do with print.
These can be drawings, paintings, collages, or photographs. According to Bodmer
(1992), illustrations serve to "expand, explain, interpret, or decorate a written text"
(p.72). Also, Fang, Z (1996) describes the importance of picture books since by reading
books without too much linguistic text, children learn to use their active imagination to
interpret and recreate a mental representation of the story. Picture books can serve as
an effective tool to stimulate and promote children's creativity. Likewise, children often
associate illustrations with their life experiences or familiar images, construct meaning
based on their existing schemas or schemata. Children’s literature tends to be simple
and does not normally allow for fully developed characters, this is why the author
mentions that drawings help develop the characters by depicting situations and
emotions immediately familiar and credible to the children.
Furthermore, Crippen, Marta (2012) reveals that books for children play an
important role because they provide students with opportunities to respond to them;
they give them appreciation about their own cultural heritage as well as those of others;
they help students develop emotional intelligence and creativity; they foster growth and
development of the student’s personality and social skills; and they transmit important
literature and themes from one generation to another. It is crucial for children to learn
these values because, “developing positive attitudes toward our own culture and the
cultures of others is necessary for both social and personal development” (Norton,
2010, p3)

UKEssays explains that all literature that is published is not worth to be called
Children’s Literature. Literature with quality has to do with creativity, significance of the
ideas, and artistic use of the language and style, which keeps the work fresh and
meaningful in the minds of young readers.

5. Symbolism in children´s books

As regards Children´s literature, writers tend to use symbolism to connect very
young children to the story through something familiar in order to make it easier to
relate. A research made by the University of Virginia psychologist DeLoache. J (2004)
suggests that there is evidence that infants are sensitive to the intentions of other
people in interpreting their symbolic activity. Moreover, reading material with symbolic
representations encourage them to use reasoning skills which is very positive for
problem solving. However, DeLoache says that it´s difficult to be sure whether a young
child´s use or understanding of words is truly symbolic.
Hephzibah Anderson (2014) from the BBC suggests that, the hidden nature of their
messages is crucial to make a story so captivating. Its power to enchant “depends to a
considerable degree on the child’s not quite knowing why he is delighted by it”.
(Bettelheim, 2010, p18)
It is known that stories do not just develop children’s literacy. Besides, the journal
TheConversation published that children have a strong influence on children’s
understanding of culture; they convey values, beliefs, attitudes and social norms, which
shape children’s perceptions of reality where symbolism also plays an important role.
“As mentioned earlier, one of the main functions of symbols is no enable humans to
acquire information without direct experience. The majority of our store of cultural
knowledge exists only because we can learn indirectly through symbolic representations”
(DeLoache. J, 2004, p68)
On one hand, fairy tales are especially famous for their great usage of symbolism.
Chapman (2008) in “The novel writing help” believes that children absorb all of the
symbolism and deeper layers of meaning while reading for enjoyment, without being
aware. This is a reason why we think that it is important to provide children with good
written productions that require input from them because if everything is given to
understand and nothing is left to the imagination, reading becomes a passive exercise.
Moreover, from everything described before we can summarize saying that young
children need to develop their interpretation skill, which means that they have to be
able to read between the lines and fill in the gaps in order that reading becomes far
more active and stimulating.

On the other hand, Chapman expresses that symbolism exists not just in literature
but in the world around us. All road signs, for example, are symbolic. They are
universally understood by everyone since we all know what they mean and they are in
no way ambiguous. However, symbols in literary works are generally more complex
and they tend to be less obvious and more open to interpretation.

6. Symbolism in “Three Little Pigs” by Grimm brothers (1812)

Three Little Pigs is a famous and very well-known fairy tale by all generation of
children. As the majority of children´s stories, it possesses many symbolic
representations to convey a profound meaning. Some elements that function as
symbols are, for example, the houses the three pigs built. They are symbols of man's
progress in history: from a straw, to a wooden house, finally to a house of solid brick.

Moreover, the pigs themselves stand for society. From the point of view of
Bettelheim. B (2010) the first pig represents the working class, the second pig
represents the middle class and the last one is the upper class, the wealthy.
Furthermore, the pigs' actions also show progress from a dominated personality to a
controlled one since the first pig built his house with the least care out of straw; the
second used sticks; both throw their shelters as quickly and effortlessly as they can, so
they can play for the rest of the day. They seek immediate gratification, without a
thought for the future and the dangers of reality, although the third pig shows some
growth in trying to build a stronger house than the youngest. He is able to postpone his
desire to play, and to predict what may happen in the future. Furthermore, Bettelheim.
B, emphasizes the idea that "The Three Little Pigs" helps the child's thinking about his
own development without ever telling what it ought to be, permitting the child to draw
his own conclusions. This process makes for true maturing.

Also, he describes the role of the wild and destructive wolf as “all asocial,
unconscious, devouring powers against which one must learn to protect oneself, and
which one can defeat through the strength of one's ego” and in this way, the child is
told that through developing his intelligence he can be victorious over even a much
stronger opponent. The fairy tale of The Three Little Pigs has been read all over the
world and is one of the most popular books for children.

7. Conclusion

Language is a very complex system that uses certain devices such as symbols, to
make stories more profound and emotional. What is more, children’s literature is
involved in a process of change and modernization, as regards style, language use, in
the handling of certain subjects, and in the perception of some topics. Literature
addressed to children started as part of the oral tradition in the 16th century and
developed through many centuries including a process of evolution in the elements
used to make those stories more vivid and pedagogic. This famous form of literature
plays an important role since it helps students develop emotional, social and moral
intelligence though the elements used for the narration of stories. A very useful tool
used for many writers to achieve children’s understanding is the usage of symbolism
through which a wide variety of ideas are represented and illustrated in order to teach a
moral, explain an abstract concept or simply to make the writing more poetic.

Children’s books contain much more than just cute stories. Despite the fact that
they were critized by some authors due to their fantasy and unreal elements, their
positive responses and benefits for children’s mental development and comprehension
of the world have been demonstrated and still it is the most useful device in writing,
especially for children’s books.
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