SYMBOLISM
[prepared for students
of Indian Universities]
Dr. S. Sreekumar
I. What is a symbol?
The word
symbol originates from the Greek word ‘Symbolon’ meaning ‘mark’, ‘sign’ or
‘token’. The term became popular during the nineteenth century when many
discussions took place as to its exact meaning. But it proved elusive as
critics and creative writers could not give an exclusive significance to it.
The situation continues thus even today as Rene Wellek points out: “The term is
highly ambiguous and shifting”. Not only that, it has even acquired mutually
contradictory meanings. Its uses in “symbolic logic” and “mathematical symbol”
are contrary to its use in “poetic symbol”.
