Tuesday, October 14, 2014

What is the difference between imagery and symbolism?

Imagery is a term used when referring to any descriptive
language used by a writer.  When you see something in real life, or in a photo or a
film, you see an image.  When you read a description of something a writer wants you to
visualize (or sense in some other way), he/she must use imagery to get the picture
across to the reader.


Symbolism is one thing that stands in
for or represents another.  Colors are common symbols in literature:  white for purity,
virginity or cleanliness; red for passion, anger or evil.  Usually a color or other
object needs to be repeated in order for the reader to understand that the writer
intends it to be symbolic.

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