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GCSE English Literature · key term
An object, action or image that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
Used by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas
Paper 1, Paper 2
Revise: BassanioThe repetition of “parts” binds the ring to his body and life. This hyperbole turns a small object into a symbol of permanent fidelity. Structurally, the promise prepares the later ring plot: the audience will be able to compare his emphatic words with his actions.
An object, action or image that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning, such as a ring representing marital faithfulness.
Connect a method to its meaning: explain how a paradox, symbol or imperative develops Dickens’s presentation of the Ghost.
Track patterns across the novella. A changed rule, repeated slogan or returning symbol can support a whole-text argument.
Treat ‘They mate for life’ as the partner’s statement and explore how it makes the swans a symbol of commitment.
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A person, object or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
A word, object or action that carries meaning beyond its literal function.
A character, object or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
A detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, place or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, character or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, place or detail that suggests meanings beyond its literal role.
An object, detail or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning; Miss Havisham’s stopped clocks represent her refusal to move beyond her betrayal.
Something that represents a wider idea beyond its literal function. Wemmick’s drawbridge helps represent his separation of home from work.
An object, action or setting that carries meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, person or detail that carries meaning beyond its literal role. The Agra treasure represents both desired wealth and the harm caused by pursuing it.
An object, person or image that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning. The Agra treasure represents both the attraction of wealth and its destructive consequences.
An object, place or event that suggests meanings beyond its literal role.
An object, action or image that carries a meaning beyond its literal role.
A character, object or image that represents an idea beyond its literal role.
An object, action or place that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, image or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An image, object or feature that suggests meanings beyond its literal identity. Light in “Tissue” can suggest hope, truth or spiritual guidance.
An image, object or action that represents a wider idea beyond its literal meaning.
Paper 1, Paper 2
An object that represents an idea beyond its literal function. Portia’s ring represents marital loyalty and makes that loyalty subject to a condition.
Revise: Act 3The ring is therefore a symbol of commitment and a test of loyalty. Bassanio promises that it will leave his finger only when his life ends. Unlike the deadly financial bond, this obligation is affectionate, but both agreements make promises subject to consequences.
An object, image or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, action or image that carries meaning beyond its literal role. The rings represent marital promises.
An object, character or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, action or image that carries meanings beyond its literal role.
Paper 1, Paper 2
An object, place or image that suggests meanings beyond its literal role in a story.
A detail, object or setting that carries meaning beyond its literal role, such as the debris caught on the final fence suggesting accumulated loss.
An object, person or image that carries meanings beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, image or action that carries meanings beyond its literal role in a text.
An object, place or image that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, action or place that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
Component 1, Component 2
An object, action or image that carries meaning beyond its literal identity.
Revise: Act 3The handkerchief is Othello's first gift to Desdemona, embroidered with strawberries. It is both a prop, a physical object that actors handle, and a symbol of their love. Its meaning changes as it moves between characters.
An object, action or image that carries meanings beyond its literal function.
An object, action or image that carries meaning beyond its literal role.
An object, action or image that carries a meaning beyond its literal role, such as a ring representing marital faithfulness.
An object, action or image that represents a wider idea; the rings represent marital promises and fidelity.
An object, image, action or other feature that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, action or image that carries a meaning beyond its literal role, such as Sheila’s engagement ring representing her relationship with Gerald.
A person, object or event that represents an idea beyond its literal role in a text.
An object, image or action that carries meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, place or action that carries meaning beyond its literal role. The locked red-room represents Jane’s powerlessness as well as physically confining her.
An object, place or event that carries meanings beyond its literal role in the story, such as the damaged chestnut tree representing Rochester and his relationship with Jane.
An object, place or image that suggests meanings beyond its literal role in a text.
An object, setting or action that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, setting or action that carries a wider meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, action or setting that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, place or detail that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in the story.
An object, character or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, figure or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
A character, object or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, feature or action that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in a text.
A character, object or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, person or feature that represents a wider idea. Silas’s gold represents both material wealth and his attempt to find security without human relationships.
An object, place or action that has a literal role in a story while also suggesting a wider idea.
An object, person or detail that carries meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, image or action that suggests a meaning beyond its literal significance.
An object, action or image that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, action or image that carries a meaning beyond its literal function, such as an engagement ring representing a relationship.
An object, action or image that carries meaning beyond its literal function.
A character, object or image that represents a wider idea as well as having a literal role in a text.
An object, action or detail that carries meaning beyond its literal function.
An object, image or action that carries meaning beyond its literal role in a story.
An object, detail or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, action or setting that suggests meanings beyond its literal role in a text.
A person, object or place that carries a wider meaning beyond its literal role in the story.
An object, place or action that carries meaning beyond its literal role. The locked red-room can symbolise Jane’s powerlessness.
An object, place or image that suggests meanings beyond its literal role in the story.
An object, character or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, figure or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning; the Phantom’s black covering suggests death and mourning.
An object, character or detail that represents a larger idea as well as having a literal role in a text.
An object, character or detail that represents a wider idea as well as having a literal role in a text.
An object, image or action that carries meanings beyond its literal role.
An object, action or image that carries meanings beyond its literal role.
An object, image or action that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning. A flag can represent a nation and loyalty to it.
An object, image or action that suggests an idea beyond its literal meaning. In The Bluebell, the flower represents childhood innocence, affection and remembered happiness.
An object, image or action that suggests a meaning beyond its literal role.
An object, action or image that represents a wider idea: the wedding rings represent marital faith and promises.
An object, action or image that represents a larger idea as well as having a literal role.
An object, character or action that represents an idea beyond its literal role in a text.
An object, action or image that carries meaning beyond its literal role in a text.
An image or object that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, action or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, character or image that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, figure or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, character or detail that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning.
An object, image or feature that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in a text.
An object, person or feature that represents an idea beyond its literal meaning. In Silas Marner, gold comes to represent both material wealth and misplaced affection.
An object, place or other concrete detail that carries meaning beyond its literal role in the story.
An object, person or detail that carries meaning beyond its literal role, such as Silas’s gold representing an inadequate substitute for human affection.
A person, object or action that represents an idea beyond its literal role in the story.
An object, place or image that carries a meaning beyond its literal role in the story.
An object, place or image that suggests meanings beyond its literal identity.
