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:
An owlA serpent
The human brain
Neurons firing
In Society:
A library
A book
A teacher/professor/tutor
Parchment/Scroll
Ink and paper
An alphabet
Words on a page
School
A diploma
Graduation cap
IQ
An exam
Albert Einstein
Athena
The Sciences
Curiosity
Greek philosophers
Logic
A match being lit
A light bulb coming on
Truth
A journey that never ends
SEE ALSO: A Quest For Knowledge (we loved knowledge so much we did it twice!)
These are just a few examples of things one might associate with knowledge. Some are more powerful than others. A library is a strong symbol, and likely will not require reinforcement. However, a diploma could stand for a number of different things and not foreshadow knowledge on its own. Let the story's tone decide if one strong symbol or several smaller ones work the best.
9 comments:
Interesting post. After watching episodes of 'Chuck', I've come to see gaming addicts as associated with smart nerds (as a high-school teacher I don't often see the connection in real life).
I would never have thought of a match being lit, but that totally works!
And then there's Athena...
An apple might work too, maybe? Apple for the teacher and all. What do you think?
There are some excellent ideas on knowledge in here, and just when I needed it! Thank you!
Love your post and the brainstorming you're doing for symbolism. I like the lit match idea as well. Could add maybe a science lab or that type of equipment, like a beaker.
- valdictorian?
- graduation cap?
- awards?
- spelling bee ribbon?
I'd never thought of a lit match being a symbol for knowledge. Interesting.
Foreshadowing is a great device!!
Thank you all so much for your additions!
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