Giants In The Earth Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of symbols or anything that is meant to be taken both literally and as representative of a higher and more complex significance. Many authors use symbolism within their writing to help develop the meaning of their story; Ole Edvart Rölvaag is no exception in his novel, Giants in the Earth. Examples of symbols include Beret’s chest/trunk, trolls, the family's journey westward, the Indian gravestone, and the birth of Peder Victorious. All of these items have two meanings. One meaning is a general representation, and the other shows a more complex knowledge of what the object or event means. A couple symbols represent Norway. The first example is Beret’s chest/trunk from home. This was a part of the luggage that was carried from their home in Norway to the plains of South Dakota. The general meaning of it is a reminder of home and a family antique. However, this trunk symbolizes the idea of the death of Beret. She cleared it out so that she could lie in it when she died. The chest was one last memory of home and she wanted to die at home. The second example was that

Next, is the journey westward. The general meaning of the journey is moving to new land and starting a new life. It symbolizes all the settlers around the world coming to America, and it shows people always wanting to obtain more. Additionally, the Indian graves are also symbols in the novel. When the children first find them, they don’t know what they are; it isn’t until later when they discover that Indians travel through their land, that they understand their true meaning. The graves represent the idea that land can never truly be owned by one person. Per Hansa claims the land, but the Irish had staked the land first and the Indians used the land on their route, so the true ownership of the land is in question. The graves also symbolize the reality of death and hardships that occur on the