Symbolism

Chapter 13 in the text book was about symbolism. It was very interesting. The whole topic of symbols and symbolism is just interesting to me. The book defines a symbol as "something (an object, a word, an image) that is used to suggest a range of associations or feelings. Symbols prompt reflection and inquiry." It also states that symbols are highly personal. The first thing I thought about when reading about symbols was the Bible. Symbols/symbolism is coursing through the Bible. Its everywhere!
Just look at what a parable is! Jesus concealed the hidden message of the kingdom in parables! This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. - Matthew 13:13. The Bible has so much depth to it.
And other examples of symbols in the Bible besides parables are the number 7 symbolizing completion, and in Ephesians the man symbolizing the church and how God's love for the church is as a marriage. Look at the book of Hosea. The whole book symbolizes God's relationship with disobedient Israel.
One quote that I loved from the chapter was "symbols force us to grapple with meanings." How true is that! They are intriguing. Sometimes the not knowing, the curiosity, the wonder is what draws us in.
But we also can't get ourselves wrapped up in symbols too much. Sometimes we can dig too far into what things mean and miss the basic message of it all. And tying this into class, we can get so wrapped up in asking what does this mean, and this and this and this, that we can't see the whole picture. This can just make things too complicated. We should make connections without becoming disconnected from the piece.
Symbols really do help us to experience literature in different ways. :) We follow signs everyday of our lives, why not start paying more attention to the ones found in literature?