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Symbolism

Movement
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Late 19th-century movement using symbols to evoke ideas and emotions

Detailed Definition
Symbolism in poetry employs objects, images, or actions to represent abstract ideas, emotions, or concepts beyond their literal meaning; rooted in the late 19th-century Symbolist movement, it prioritizes suggestion, ambiguity, and sensory evocation over direct statement.
Example
Example in poetry:
Symbolism: Baudelaire’s "Correspondences" equates scents with spiritual states; Yeats’ "The Second Coming" uses falcon/falconer as societal collapse; Plath’s "Mirror" symbolizes truth and aging; Contemporary: Ocean Vuong’s "Aubade with Burning City" uses Saigon’s fall as personal symbol
Additional Notes
Use of symbols—objects/images representing abstract ideas. Fundamental poetic technique. Study symbol vs. allegory distinction. Practice identifying recurring symbols within poems/traditions.
Other Meanings of “Symbolism”
Also Known As
Symbolic movement Emblem aesthetics Figurative theory Representative art Symbolist Movement Symbology Symbolist style
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