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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Symbolism (Version 5)
These exercises were written
by IWW members
and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its
members.
You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that
you found
them at the Internet Writers Workshop
(http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).
Prepared by: Pat Johnson
Posted on: March 18, 2001
Revised, reposted, on: October 8, 2006
Revised, reposted on: January 31, 2010
Reposted on: August 21, 2011
Reposted on: August 4, 2013
Reposted on: July 15, 2018
Reposted on: April 4, 2021
Exercise: In 400 words or less, write a scene in which a
symbol is central to the story. Try to find a symbol that
has not been overused.
______________________
Writers often use symbols to denote an ideal, an emotion, a
relationship, a goal, a conflict, creed, ideology or
philosophy. This symbol can focus a reader's attention on a
narrative's underlying message or theme.
We've all read stories where a river has suggested the
onward movement of life, or symbolized a path leading to or
away from some situation. Rivers have stood for destructive,
implacable forces of nature, givers or takers of life.
Bridges often symbolize connection and communication, but a
bridge not crossed might represent dashed hopes or a
failure to connect. A house passed down through generations
might come to symbolize the family - is it proudly
maintained as a symbol of power and influence, or is left in
a state of disrepair? What would that suggest about the
family?
If the symbol is too abstract, the reader won't understand,
and would miss an important aspect of the story you're
trying to share. However, if a symbol is used too
prominently, it hits the reader unpleasantly between the
eyes. So, you might instead let the reader glimpse or hear
about the symbolic object in oblique manner, and then circle
back to it when appropriate.
______________________
Critiquing: Identify the symbol and tell why you think the
author effectively uses it to broaden and enrich the plot.
Might you suggest an improvement?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Greg Gunther.
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