There are many symbols that come up in western literature (water, weather, food, etc) that readers often miss. These symbols can unlock an understanding of deeper themes. This article would talk about some common symbols that appear in western writing, what they can mean, and how the reader can interpret them/connect them to the bigger picture of what they're reading. Specific books that come to mind are Beloved, Great Expectations, and Song of Solomon.
These are some examples of symbols you could discuss: water meaning rebirth, foggy weather meaning confusion/mystery, and the color white meaning pure. Since some symbols have different meanings depending on the context, you could also write about how to determine which meaning applies to the text you're reading.
Since these symbols are so common and universal, but have different meanings across books, I'd choose 1-3 specific symbols first. Then, I would choose corresponding books that use those symbols in ways you want to talk about. The books don't all have to use the symbols the same way, but you do want to create a cohesive comparison/contrast narrative throughout the article. – Stephanie M.1 year ago
I think that focusing specifically on one type of symbolic representation. Like for example the weather does typically follow the mood in many novels. This would narrow down a very broad topic. – AmyKryvenchuk1 year ago