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How Does Edgar Allan Poe Use Symbolism

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Edgar Allan Poe uses symbolism to portray the understanding of perverseness. When people, objects, places, or events have a meaning in themselves, but also stand for something else, they are considered symbols. In the story, Poe shows numerous of ways on how symbolism is used to support the thesis. One example of symbolism is when the narrator went to a bar and discovered a cat similar to Pluto and followed him home. Poe states “The white patch was not the image of an awful - ghastly thing! It was the GALLOWS!”(Poe 52). A gallows is a structure with a noose hanging from a crossbeam. It is used for hanging criminals. This evidence proves that alcoholism is causing the narrator to imagine terrible things. The white patch foreshadows that the
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In a book “Among the Hidden” by Margaret Peterson Haddix, symbolism is used to create a powerful feeling with a place or thing. For example, Luke (the main protagonist) was "... always safe and protected by the house and the barn and the woods. Until they took the woods away." (pg. 11) The woods were Luke’s playground where he didn’t have to worry about being seen, his only safeguard and protection from the Population Police.

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843 Words | 4 Pages

Another example of usage of symbolism in this book would be Alcohol. Alcohol is used as a symbol to convey a deeper meaning. Alcohol in this novel symbolizes that many of the characters face problems and obstacles that are very difficult, but they don’t really face them head-on. They try to escape from their problems in many ways, and the main one is alcohol. The characters are having tough times in their lives, where they really don’t know what to do and how to handle their obstacles or setbacks to be happy.

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448 Words | 2 Pages

Also, in the movie/book The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, we saw the author use symbolism to show us what was actually happening. These two groundbreaking authors use symbolism to show us friendship, trust, and dehumanization. In Night, Eliezer and his father are trying to survive the cataclysm that occurred to the Jewish population and the others in the camp. There were multiple examples of symbolism.

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641 Words | 3 Pages

The well-known symbol, the raven, signifies the presence of death, which we later learn was the death of his well-beloved, Lenore (Davis). One of the more prominent allusions is the reference of the Plutonian Shore which refers to the underworld and the wait for the ferryman to take the banished across to the gates of Hell (Davis). This symbolic allusion helps Poe describe the night as hellish (Davis). Another symbol that is easy to pick out is the bust of Pallas that the raven perches on. The symbolism of the Goddess Athena and of her great wisdom helps the reader understand how the author will always have the curse of persistent memory; a "mournful and never-ending remembrance" (MeJohnson).

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188 Words | 1 Pages

Sometimes symbolism is a way that the author can show messages through objects within the story. Symbolism can be used to prove points within the story or even represent a certain factor within the story. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding the conch takes a big part of symbolizing the health of the government. When the boys find the conch the book puts detail into the conch but later changes the color when the government becomes less healthy. Another big object that is used as symbolism is the fire.

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706 Words | 3 Pages

An example of this imagery the Poe uses is the ebony clock chiming and making the people in the entertainment room go silent in fear. “…. while the chimes of the clock yet rung, it observed that the giddiest grew pale, and more aged and sedate passed their hands

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844 Words | 4 Pages

Poe uses symbolism a lot in his stories to make his writing have a more eerie feeling. ”The Tell-Tale Heart” and “Masque of Red Death” both have symbols that induce fear into the main characters hearts. In The Tell-Tale Heart Poe writes “...for it was no the old man who vexed me but his evil eye “(75).The narrator kills an innocent old man for that hr thought the old man's eyes were judging. Although the old man just had cataracts ,the narrator could not stand the man for his eye he compared looked as vulture's eye. The narrator was afraid of this old man and his “evil eye”.

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1695 Words | 7 Pages

In the same way, Poe’s symbolism of his heart is used to illustrate how he is able to have peace knowing that his love for Annie is stronger than anything he goes through in his life. Both writers use symbolism to illustrate their thoughts on coping with the burdens of the

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202 Words | 1 Pages

Along with irony and characterization, symbolism is used to prove that people hold grudges, their pride of identity gives way to revenge, which can end in a fatality. The wine and apple are symbolic of temptation. Montresor is deep in the catacombs with Fortunato, but the only thing that he is focused on is the wine, not his safety. They are both used to make them think that they are getting what they want, but instead the opposite happens. “But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power.’

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1100 Words | 5 Pages

Symbolism in general is the building blocks to all sources of literature and can shape a piece of writing in many ways. Symbols in general can portray what something or someone represents, giving a deeper and metaphorical meaning to a symbol. Symbolism is often used within poetry, literature, music, or even art. This is how an author conveys a different meaning to the audience. For example artists may use the color “red” not only because of the color theory, but to convey love, passion, and maybe even health.

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1822 Words | 8 Pages

One of Edgar Allan Poe’s most known attributes is his use of fear in many of his stories. He used words and images to instill the fright into his readers. He strung together scenarios that happen to his characters that encapsulates real fears that a reader could have. Poe would use fear in his stories in multiple ways. A story could relate around a certain fear.

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834 Words | 4 Pages

Symbolism is one of the most important properties a story can have. It's often used to develop a character or a theme throughout the story that is being told. Symbolism in literature is best described by as the use of symbols and objects to signify ideas and qualities by giving them a symbolic meanings that are very different from their literal sense. The short stories "Where are you going, Where have you been?" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" have very obvious examples of symbolism.

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855 Words | 4 Pages

Though Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories like, The Cask of Amontillado, to his poems like, The Raven, Poe’s shows his writing style to use physical imagery and connotative syntax to show ,imagery in his writing. Throughout his life, Poe had always lived through the most chaotic and evil of time. His parents died while he was 3 years old. After his parents died, he lived with another family member who never accepted him as their own son. Later on in life, Poe had served in the military and at that point he started writing poems.

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624 Words | 3 Pages

Another example of symbolism is, “Putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a cloak closely about my person” (pg. 2). The black silk represents the darkness and horrid effect of this story. It also adds mystery to the mood. Poe also uses vivid sensory details to craft his

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815 Words | 4 Pages

Symbolism has been around for ages and is used quite frequently in literary works to help emphasize or give a better understanding to the reader. Concepts within different characters help

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