A main rhetorical device that appears throughout the entire Harry Potter series is symbolism. There are many names and items that stand for something else and many are introduced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. First, Harry’s scar represents the true love parents have for their children and how they are willing to do anything, including being killed, in order to save them. Next, the Mirror of Erised shows a person their truest desires and everything he or she would want in life. Thirdly, each wizard’s wand is representative of his or her character and personality and if the improper one is used, terrible events will occur. Finally, the names of the founders of the four Hogwarts Houses are symbols of the core beliefs and values of each. The first symbol that is introduced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is Harry’s scar from Voldemort’s attack. Lily Potter did not have to die, but she jumped in front of the curse directed at Harry to save him, an act of true love for her son. Hagrid states that “[it] was no ordinary cut. That’s what yeh get when a powerful, evil curse touches yeh…but it didn’t work on you” (Rowling 55). However, Albus Dumbledore later explains to Harry that “your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark” (Rowling 299). Although it is a constant reminder that Voldemort attempted to kill him and murdered his
Symbols in literary works can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Symbols can appear in a novel as an event, action, or object. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, the author, Zora Neale Hurston, uses the symbols of the gate to show Janie’s transitions to womanhood, independence from oppression, and realization of what love is to Janie.
Many novels have used symbolism to express certain feelings and emotions in discreet ways. What is symbolism? "The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships" (Dictionary.com). Numerous authors use the same denotations to illustrate different thoughts or ideas. Mark Twain uses various symbols, such as the river and the land to expose freedom and trouble in his novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
What do symbols illustrate in novels? In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, symbols are illustrated through people, objects, and colors. In this novel, a group of children are faced with the difficulty of living isolated from society after their plane crashes on a deserted island. With no formal civilization, parents, or rules, the kids have the freedom to do as they choose. Throughout the novel, the boys find and use objects on the island that symbolize something of different importance. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different objects to symbolize the difference between civilization and savagery.
Harry Potter is a fictional character invented by J.K Rowling in the series of seven books starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher 's Stone and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Wikipedia, 2015). Harry is the main character in this series whose parents died when he was young and he was brought up by his aunt and uncle (Philosopher’s Stone, 1997, p.5). Harry was neglected by his aunt and uncle (Philosopher’s Stone, 1997, p.27). Harry is presented a whole new reality when he goes to the zoo one day and his integration into the magical world changes him from the foundation. These changes within him will be analysed using the developmental psychology theories of Lawrence Kohlberg and Erik Erikson to explain how the environment aided or obstructed Harry’s development.
Symbols. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, a symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance. Throughout history, authors have used symbols in literature. From The Old Testament to today’s top selling novels, one will find evidence of symbolism. Ray Bradbury is highly guilty of this in Fahrenheit 451. This well-known and critically acclaimed book was published in October 1953 and continues to sell copies to this day. Why? Bradbury explored symbolism and a variety of themes such as life and censorship, common topics to a wide audience of people. Bradbury uses symbols to make the many themes clear and relatable to the readers. A Phoenix, mirrors,
The Wand, used by every witch and wizard to channel their naturally occurring magic into a variety of spells, is probably the most important symbol of the story. “The wand chooses the Wizard Mr. Potter, its not always clear why.” (Rowling 64) This indicates that the wand is symbolic of a separate entity, a being that has the conscious willpower to chose its master. It is not just an inanimate
Symbolism is a characteristic that stands out in a person or thing. People usually use symbolism for something that means to them or represents to them. The symbols are used for many things, for example the apple on the iphone, laptop or iPod symbolizes the brand. Symbols are also used in churches, for example the cross symbolizes Jesus Christ. It symbolizes how he was crucified, put to death on a cross. The colors symbolize something’s to for example the colors white, red and blue symbolize freedom in the United States, it also represents the United States flag. Symbols are also used in movies like the hunger games catching fire; their symbol is a mocking bird with an arrow on it.
My book report is on the book 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone' by J.K.
In stories there will be objects that will constantly be mentioned within the story. This is what is known as Symbolism. Symbolism is the use of object, name, or person to represent an idea. If a name is being use, a name such as autumn can represent the adulthood of a human. Creatures such as an Eagle, represents ‘Freedom’ and ‘America’. Even inanimate objects can represent ideas; the light bulb represents ideas that just sparked into a character’s head.
A good example of these symbols is the titles of the three different parts of the book. These symbols relate directly to the book instead of real life. These three parts are The Hearth and the Salamander, The Sieve and the Sand, and Burning Bright. The Hearth and the Salamander, for example, deals with Montag's struggle at his home and with himself. The Hearth and the Salamander deals with this because the hearth is a symbol of the home and a salamander will get rid of its own tail and grow it back which is what Montag is doing with his life.The Sieve and the Sand deals with Montag struggling with remembering the knowledge he has been cramming into his head. He can't remember anything about what he has read, just like how a sieve can't hold any sand that is put in it. The Hearth and the Salamander deals with Montag's struggle at his home and with himself. Burning Bright deals with Montag destroying his old life and starting again. He does this by burning his old life
The names of the characters in the story Great Expectations symbolize who they are and how they act. In Great Expectations there is a great deal of symbolism throughout the book as there is in life. There are symbols of isolation, manipulation, and wanting to be something else. These are all seen in the book through the characters of Estella, Abel Magwitch, Miss Havisham, Pip, and Biddy.
Oscar Chavez Dr. O’Hora English 1C 13 March 2015 Symbols in Deathly Hallows The symbolic references in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 by J.K. Rowling represent a broader aspect of the unconscious mind of our ego character and protagonist, Harry Potter. According to Carl Jung’s psychology of symbolism (Man and His Symbols), a symbol such as a snake or a sword may appear in our dreams or present lives from the unconscious giving significance to a stage of life. These symbols signify something greater than we may realize at the moment, and are to be carefully examined.
American literature reflects life and the struggles faced during existence. Symbols are an eloquent way for an author to create a more fully developed work of art. The stories themselves tell a tale; however, an author also uses symbols to relay his message in a more subtle manner. Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the earliest authors to use symbols as an integral part of his plots. This is clearly seen in both The Scarlet Letter and in The House of the Seven Gables. The use of symbols causes an "association psychology" to enter into the story, making it more intriguing.1 In Nathaniel Hawthorne's romance The House of the Seven Gables, symbolism is used eloquently to enhance the story
Symbolism is very important in a novel because it can be based of an object, person or situation that have a deeper meaning in context. There are many clues in the 12 stories of The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes that are symbols. In pg.50, Julia Stoner’s dying words are, “It was the band! The speckled band!” One would believe that there is some hidden meaning that could symbolize family or trust since they
The movie adaptation of J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a very pivotal movie in the series. Like the book, this movie is crucial in setting up an understanding for the rest of the series. Therefore it is important that the movie complements the novel as much as possible. Using one of the most essential features of a movie; visual imagery, the movie adaptation of the fourth novel is a good accompaniment for the novel. The visual imagery in this movie emphasizes emotions and reactions that we cannot possibly obtain from the book. For example, the death of Cedric Diggory at the end of the movie strikes a powerful emotional response as a result of his father, Amos Diggory’s grief. Seeing him cry makes the audience more