Symbolism—Day 1

Some time in April when I was discussing Theme, symbolism surfaced as one of the components in communicating the ideas (themes) fiction writers wish to convey. At the time I didn’t do more than peel back the first layer of skin on the subject, so I thought a little more comprehensive discussion was warranted.

In addition, though a number of us in the Christian writing community talk about the need for Christian literary art, few delve into the actual crafting of it. What makes a piece of writing artistic? That question needs to be a topic on its own, but I propose that the use of symbolism is one element in that aspect of fiction writing as well.

That symbolism fits in both the content camp and the expression camp indicates to me that it is an important subject.

To use symbols most powerfully, I think, a writer must develop them intentionally—something that happens best when the need of and purpose for symbols is grasped from the start.

So what is the purpose of symbolism? From Rebecca McClanahan in Word Painting:

A symbol is a visible sign—an object or action—that points to a world of meaning beyond itself. Although symbolism works by the power of suggestion, a symbol is not the same as a meaning or a moral. A symbol cannot be an abstraction. Rather, a symbol is the thing that points to the abstraction.

I might add that a symbol ought not to be explained within the story. Perhaps this is the reason some writers steer away from symbols—there’s a risk that readers might miss the meaning.

Of course, there is also the risk that the symbol won’t work—that it will be clumsy or ineffective, inappropriate or too transparent. McClanahan continues:

An object or action may come to symbolize a world greater than itself, but first it must justify its existence—as an object or an action—in the world of the story … For a symbol to work effectively, the real world must precede the symbolic … A symbol means more than itself, but first it means itself … when a symbol grows organically from its source—character, setting, conflict, plot, language and from our own passions—it can enrich our writing. But when it feels forced, self-conscious or merely placed over a piece of writing, it brings the whole house down with it.

That makes a lot of sense to me, but next time I want to discuss the issue of transparent symbols, especially for a Christian writer.

Speaking of “next time,” tomorrow, being the Fourth of July, will be my Blogger Holiday. Hope you all have a safe and sane celebration. 🙂