Symbolism Thesaurus Entry: Death

Every day we interact with objects, places and sensations that affect the way we think and feel. This can be used to the writer's advantage by planting symbols in the reader's path to reinforce a specific message, feeling or idea.

Look at the setting and the character's state of mind, and then think about what you want the reader to see. Is there a descriptive symbol or two that works naturally within the scene to help foreshadow an event or theme, or create insight into the character's emotional plight?

In nature:

A fallen tree
A dead (standing) tree
Rotten tree stump
Carrion
Animal bones
A bleached skull
Broken bird eggshells
A nest fallen from a tree
A spray of feathers lying on a patch of flattened grass
A dead beetle lying on its back
A harsh, barren landscape (desert, frozen tundra)
A biting, numbing wind
Frostbite
Cracks in lake ice
A swamp (smell and sight)
The over-sweet odor of decay
Crows, ravens
Talons, claws, sharp teeth or beak
Vultures circling or roosting
Dead leaves
The caw of a crow/raven
A silenced animal cry
Darkness falling
The hiss of a snake
A deep throated growl in the dark
Maggots
An apple with a rotten core
Winter
Red poisonous berries
The wet chill of mist
Fish floating in a pond

In Society:

Passing a roadside shrine (cross, plastic flowers, etc)
A junkyard
A burned out light
Broken glass
Black smoke
A condemned building
A derelict home
A mangled rusted bike skeleton lost in the tall grass
A barn or shed with the roof caved in
A broken down/rotten fence
Peeling paint or wallpaper
Infection or decease
Sewers
Rats
Funeral home
Cemetery
Road kill
Shadows
Street thugs
Alleyways
Gravestone
The hollowed stare of a junkie
Dumpsters
Body bags
Morgue
Scythe
Hourglass
Pirate flag
Car accident
Dead bugs on a windshield or windowsill
A broken or mangled road barrier
The color Black
Coffin
A funeral procession
A hearse driving by
Silver skull jewelry
Skull tattoos
The grim reaper
Bats
Worms caught out on the sidewalk after a rain
Dead plants in planters, flowerbeds
The smell of medicine
The bleep of a heart rate monitor
Gunshots
Blood (a nosebleed, drops of dried blood on a sidewalk, etc)
Swords, knives or guns & ammo (on display in a store or in use)
Horror movie posters
A darkened, empty room
The Tarot death card

These are just a few examples of things one might associate with death. Some are more powerful than others. A hearse driving by your MC as she walks home from work is a strong symbol, and likely will not require reinforcement. However, a bitter winter wind ripping at your MC's clothes and freezing her cheeks may not foreshadow death on its own. Let the story's tone decide if one strong symbol or several smaller ones work the best.