Symbols are crucial in human communication and culture, serving as shorthand for complex ideas, emotions, and concepts. They are prevalent in society, from national flags representing countries to logos identifying corporations. Symbols can be visual, auditory, or even tactile and often carry significant cultural significance. For instance, the colour white is linked to purity and weddings in many Western cultures, whereas in some Eastern cultures, it is associated with mourning and funerals. The power of symbols lies in their ability to convey meaning quickly and universally, transcending language barriers and fostering a sense of shared understanding within a community.
In everyday life, symbols assist us in navigating social interactions and expressing our identities. Clothing, for example, can symbolise one’s profession, social status, or personal style. A doctor’s white coat, a police officer’s uniform, or a businessperson’s suit all convey specific roles and expectations within society. Similarly, our clothes can communicate our personality, values, and affiliations. For instance, a punk rocker’s leather jacket and spiked hair might symbolise rebellion and nonconformity. Meanwhile, a hipster’s vintage clothing and thick-rimmed glasses may represent a desire for individuality and nostalgia.
Last update on 2025-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Religious symbols, such as the cross or crescent moon, represent faith and connect individuals to a larger spiritual community. These symbols can be found in places of worship, on personal jewellery, or even tattooed on the body as a constant reminder of one’s beliefs and values. In some cases, religious symbols promote unity and understanding among different faiths, as demonstrated by the interfaith symbol, which combines elements of various spiritual traditions.
Symbols can also be used to challenge social norms and promote change. The LGBTQ+ community reclaimed the pink triangle in the 1970s as a symbol of pride and resistance. Similarly, various social movements have employed the raised fist, from Black Power to the feminist movement, to signify solidarity and the struggle for justice and equality. By appropriating and redefining these symbols, marginalised groups can assert their identity and demand recognition and respect.
Symbols in Drama Education
In drama education, symbols play a significant role in helping students understand theatrical concepts and storytelling techniques. Drama educators often use symbols to explore themes, characters, and emotions, encouraging students to think critically and creatively about their environment. By engaging with symbols, students learn to interpret and create meaning, skills that are essential not only in theatre but also in everyday life.
Similarly, props and costumes can serve as symbols to represent characters or ideas, allowing students to explore the intricacies of storytelling and character development. A student portraying a king might wear a crown and wield a sceptre to signify their power and authority, while another student acting as a beggar might don ragged clothing and carry a tin cup to depict poverty and desperation. Students can learn how to use symbols to create more compelling and believable narratives and characters by experimenting with various props and costumes.
As students progress in their drama education, they begin to understand how symbols can enhance a performance’s overall impact. They learn to use lighting, sound and set design as symbolic elements that contribute to the mood and atmosphere of a scene. For instance, dark and shadowy lighting might symbolise fear or danger, while a bright and colourful set could represent happiness or celebration. By manipulating these elements, students can create a more immersive and emotionally resonant experience for their audience.
Through this process, students gain a deeper appreciation for the power of symbols in the theatre. They learn to think symbolically, utilising objects, actions, and images to convey meaning and evoke emotions. This skill enhances their performances and helps them become more thoughtful and empathetic individuals, capable of understanding and appreciating the symbolic nature of the world around them.
Symbols in Professional Theatre and Dramatic Works
In professional theatre and dramatic works, symbols create rich, multi-layered narratives that engage audiences intellectually and emotionally. Playwrights and directors utilise symbols to explore complex themes and ideas, often drawing on cultural, historical, or personal references to add depth and meaning to their creations. Symbols can be subtle or overt, and their interpretation can vary depending on the context and the audience’s engagement and expectations.
One of the most renowned examples of symbolism in theatre is the use of the cherry orchard in Anton Chekhov’s play of the same name. The cherry orchard symbolises the past, representing the declining aristocracy and the shifting social landscape of Russia at the turn of the 20th century. The characters’ relationship with the orchard reflects their struggles with identity, nostalgia, and the inevitability of change.
For instance, the protagonist, Lyubov Ranevskaya, clings to the orchard to signify her lost youth and happier times. Meanwhile, her brother, Gayev, views it as a symbol of their family’s legacy and status. Chekhov creates a powerful commentary on the human condition and the passage of time through this symbol, encouraging audiences to contemplate their relationship with the past and the future.
In modern theatre, symbols are still used to explore contemporary issues and challenge social norms. For example, in August Wilson’s play “Fences,” the fence that the protagonist, Troy Maxson, builds around his house symbolises protection and confinement. It embodies the barriers that Troy has constructed in his life, both physically and emotionally, illustrating the ways he seeks to control his family and future. The fence also represents the racial and economic obstacles Troy faces as a black man in segregated 1950s Pittsburgh, emphasising the systemic inequalities that restrict his opportunities and ambitions. Wilson explores race, family, and the American Dream through this symbol.
Symbols in Opera
Alongside their use in plays, symbols are also found in various forms of dramatic works, such as opera, dance, and film. In these mediums, symbols are conveyed through music, movement, and visual imagery, creating a multi-sensory experience for the audience. For instance, in Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madama Butterfly,” the recurring motif of the butterfly symbolises the protagonist’s fragility and her ultimate transformation. The butterfly’s delicate beauty and fleeting nature reflect Cio-Cio San’s innocence and vulnerability.
Symbols in Dance
In dance, symbols are conveyed through movement and choreography. For instance, in Martha Graham’s iconic piece “Lamentation,” the dancer is enveloped in stretchy fabric representing grief and mourning. The dancer’s movements, constrained by the fabric, illustrate the struggle to cope with loss and the longing to break free from the weight of sorrow. Through this powerful use of symbolism, Graham creates a deeply moving and universally relatable artwork.
Symbols in Film
In film, symbols can enhance visual storytelling and create a more immersive experience for the audience. For instance, in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining,” the Overlook Hotel symbolises isolation, madness, and the destructive power of the past. The hotel’s winding corridors and eerie atmosphere reflect the protagonist’s descent into insanity, while the recurring images of blood and ghosts signify the violent history that haunts the place. By employing these symbols, Kubrick crafts a chilling and unforgettable cinematic experience that delves into the dark corners of humanity’s psyche. Objects can also prove very powerful symbols in films, as seen below in this excellent video on why props matter in movies.
Below is an updated list of 200 common objects with their symbolic meaning(s). This list is now double the length of the previous list, with new symbolic meanings added.
It also includes not just objects but the occasional body part (eye, hand), animal (wolf, deer, owl, lion, spider), and natural phenomena (lightning, storm) to aid students in understanding these examples can be incorporated into scripts and dialogue and be referred to in the drama for symbolic meaning, even if they cannot physically be presented be on stage.
Reasons vary as to why particular objects are symbolic of specific abstract ideas, though these explanations are usually steeped in history, religion and culture. Don’t be confused if you see opposite symbolic meanings for the same object on this list, below. While unusual, this can occasionally occur because objects can sometimes mean different things in different cultures. Not all objects have a single, universally accepted symbolic meaning.
Teachers and students are encouraged to use some of the objects listed below as a symbol in drama work in the classroom and see if the intended symbolism was successfully conveyed to the audience in the performance. Good luck!
Common Objects and Their Meanings As a Symbol
1-100
| # | Object | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | acorn | potential growth |
| 2 | almanac | prediction, guidance |
| 3 | anchor | hope, stability, steadfastness, security, calm, composure |
| 4 | angel | spirituality, God, heaven |
| 5 | ankh | life, eternity |
| 6 | anvil | hard work, determination |
| 7 | apron | domesticity, labour |
| 8 | arch | triumph, victory |
| 9 | arrow | mortality, war, protection, peace, alliance, direction, ambition |
| 10 | apple | temptation, original sin |
| 11 | axe | strength, power |
| 12 | balloon | childhood, holding on, letting go, freedom, dreams |
| 13 | bamboo | flexibility, strength |
| 14 | bee | hard work, community |
| 15 | bell | warning, alarm, time, Christmas, wedding, alertness, celebration |
| 16 | bible | religion, Christianity |
| 17 | bicycle | progress, circle of life |
| 18 | bird | freedom, hope, new beginnings, inspiration |
| 19 | barbed wire | difficulty, pain |
| 20 | barrell | abundance, propsperity |
| 21 | basket (fruit) | abundance, prosperity |
| 22 | blanket | comfort, warmth, friendship |
| 23 | boat | journey, transition |
| 24 | bollard | protection |
| 25 | bones | death, mortality |
| 26 | book | knowledge, wisdom, learning |
| 27 | bow | strength, love |
| 28 | bowl (full) | prosperity, domesticity |
| 29 | brazier | warmth, gathering |
| 30 | bread | strength, stubbornness |
| 31 | bracelet | affection, bonds |
| 32 | bridge | transition |
| 33 | briefcase | ambition, importance, psychological baggage |
| 34 | broken mirror | misfortune, bad luck, separation |
| 35 | broom | cleanliness, sweeping away of old beliefs, magic (folklore) |
| 36 | bull | abundance, variety, and richness of life’s experiences |
| 37 | butterfly | transformation, hope, rebirth |
| 38 | camera | memories |
| 39 | candle (lit) | life, enlightenment |
| 40 | candle (snuffed) | death |
| 41 | canteen | sustenance, travel |
| 42 | cap | casualness |
| 43 | cat | mystery, indepdence, grace, intelligence, cunning |
| 44 | cauldron | transformation, magic |
| 45 | chain (linked) | union, unity |
| 46 | chain (broken) | freedom, independence |
| 47 | chalice | universal creativity, Eucharist, femininity |
| 48 | cherry blossom | fleeting nature of life |
| 49 | cigar | celebration, wealth, success |
| 50 | clock | inevitability of change, deadline, routine |
| 51 | clock (quartz) | precision, modernity |
| 52 | clouds | trouble, mystery, uncertainty |
| 53 | clover (three-leaf) | hope, faith, love |
| 54 | clover (four-leaf) | good luck |
| 55 | coffin/casket | death, mortality |
| 56 | coin | power, luck, superstition, wealth |
| 57 | compass | safety, protection, guidance, direction |
| 58 | cork | sealing, containment |
| 59 | cross | Christianity, faith, healing, sacrifice, redemption |
| 60 | crown | power, authority, immortality, righteousness, leadership, royalty |
| 61 | crucible | transformation |
| 62 | crystal ball | clarity |
| 63 | cup | receptivity, emotion |
| 64 | dagger | betrayal, danger |
| 65 | dais | elevation, focus |
| 66 | deer | gentleness, intuition, love, compassion |
| 67 | diamond | purity, invincibility, unity, love |
| 68 | dice | chance, risk, fate |
| 69 | dome | grandeur, protection |
| 70 | door (open) | welcome, opportunity, transition |
| 71 | door (closed) | safety, imprisonment, exclusion, privacy, control, protection |
| 72 | dove | peace, innocence, spiritual purity, harmony |
| 73 | dreamcatcher | unity, protection |
| 74 | dumbell | strength, self-improvement |
| 75 | dying flowers | transience of life |
| 76 | earrings | womanhood, wealth, identification, high status |
| 77 | easel | artistic creation |
| 78 | egg | birth, new life, potential |
| 79 | egg (cracked) | vulnerability, new beginnings |
| 80 | envelope | containment, message |
| 81 | escutcheon | heraldry, identity |
| 82 | eye | perception, knowledge |
| 83 | eyeglasses | intelligence, insight, clarity, perception |
| 84 | fan (handheld) | wealth, royalty |
| 85 | feather | freedom, travel, truth, ascension, wisdom |
| 86 | fence | protection, boundaries |
| 87 | fern | humility, sincerity |
| 88 | fire | desire, destruction, passion, anger, transformation, danger |
| 89 | fish | fertility, wisdom, Christianity |
| 90 | flag | identity, patriotism, unity |
| 91 | flame | eternity |
| 92 | lask | containment, travel |
| 93 | flowers (living) | friendship, sympathy, affection, love |
| 94 | flowers (dead) | sadness, grief, death, decay |
| 95 | flute | harmony, peace |
| 96 | fob (key) | access, security |
| 97 | fog | uncertainty, mystery |
| 98 | forest | mystery, danger |
| 99 | fork | divergence of ways |
| 100 | fountain | life, rejuvenation, flow, abundance |
Last update on 2025-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
101-200
| # | Object | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | four-leaf clover | good fortune |
| 102 | garlic | protection, health |
| 103 | gates | passage into the afterlife |
| 104 | gavel | authority, law, justice, power |
| 105 | girdle | restraint |
| 106 | glass (broken) | ascension, progress, the relationship between heaven and earth |
| 107 | globe | wholeness, unity, interconnectedness |
| 108 | gloves | protection, care |
| 109 | goblet | celebration, fate |
| 110 | goggles | clarity, protection |
| 111 | gold (object) | wealth, divinity |
| 112 | gong | call to attention, significant moment of revelation |
| 113 | grapes | fertility, abundance |
| 114 | hammer | justice, revenge, destruction |
| 115 | hammock | rest, relaxation |
| 116 | hand | action, capability |
| 117 | hardhat | labour |
| 118 | harmonica | simplicity |
| 119 | harp | hope, calm, peace |
| 120 | harpoon | struggle |
| 121 | hearth | warmth, family |
| 122 | honey | sweetness, prosperity, pleasure, truth, knowledge |
| 123 | horse | freedom, strength, courage, nobleness, endurance |
| 124 | horseshoe | good luck, protection |
| 125 | hourglass | passing of time, mortality |
| 126 | hourglass (flipped) | cyclical nature of existence, new beginnings |
| 127 | ice | rigidty, frigidity, isolation |
| 128 | incense | prayer, aroma |
| 129 | ingot | wealth, potential |
| 130 | inkwell | communication, creativity |
| 131 | ivy | friendship, fidelity |
| 132 | jade | purity, nobility |
| 133 | jewel | wealth |
| 134 | jigsaw piece | puzzle, interconnection |
| 135 | jug (empty) | scarcity, need |
| 136 | jug (full) | domestic comfort, nourishment, plenty |
| 137 | kaleidoscope | diversity, complexity |
| 138 | key | opening, closing, access, secrets, unlocking opportunities |
| 139 | keyhole | mystery, hidden knowledge, discovery |
| 140 | kite | freedom, hope, ambition |
| 141 | kneading board | transformation |
| 142 | knife | betrayal, division, separation, sacrifice, danger, martyrdom |
| 143 | knocker | announcement, entrance |
| 144 | knot | life everlasting, unity, bond |
| 145 | ladder | triggering change |
| 146 | ladle | service, nourishment |
| 147 | lamp | knowledge, guidance, inspiration |
| 148 | lantern | enlightenment, illumination, the right path, guidance |
| 149 | leaf | renewal, change, fertility, growth |
| 150 | lever | revelation, power |
| 151 | light bulb | invention, intelligence |
| 152 | lighthouse | guidance, warning |
| 153 | lightning | scrutiny, the pursuit of truth |
| 154 | lion | courage |
| 155 | lily | beauty, temptation |
| 156 | lipstick | sexuality, strength, defiance |
| 157 | lock | security, mystery |
| 158 | locket | love, memory |
| 159 | loom | creation, destiny |
| 160 | magnet | attraction (physical, emotional, conceptual) |
| 161 | magnifying glass | scrutiny, pursuit of truth |
| 162 | mallet | force |
| 163 | mask | deception, concealment |
| 164 | match (lighting) | warmth, comfort, enlightenment, spiritual growth |
| 165 | maze | journey, confusion |
| 166 | measuring tape | evaluation, judgement |
| 167 | medal | achievement, honour |
| 168 | mirror | vanity, reflection of one’s soul, truth |
| 169 | mistletoe | love, friendship, good luck |
| 170 | moon | intuition, dreams, feminine energy, mystery, cyclical change |
| 171 | mop | removal of dirt or moral impurity |
| 172 | mountain | obstacle, achievement |
| 173 | musical instruments | beauty, transience, romance, wealth, leisure |
| 174 | nail | sacrifice, suffering, pain |
| 175 | necklace | beauty, connection |
| 176 | needle | precision, healing |
| 177 | nest | creativity, tranquility, love, home |
| 178 | net | entrapment, opportunity |
| 179 | nib | precision |
| 180 | noose | trap, danger |
| 181 | oar | navigation, journey |
| 182 | olive branch | goodwill |
| 183 | orange (fruit) | prosperity, health, happiness |
| 184 | owl | wisdom, mystery, wealth, good luck, transformation, dreams |
| 185 | oyster | hidden beauty |
| 186 | paddle | navigation, control |
| 187 | parasol | protection, royalty |
| 188 | parchment | knowledge, history |
| 189 | pawn (chess) | expendable, hidden potential |
| 190 | pearl | innocence, wisdom |
| 191 | pen | stability, power, authority, creativity, communication |
| 192 | pendulum | rhythm, inevitability |
| 193 | pepper | spiciness, excitement |
| 194 | pepper (red) | good luck, fortune, protection |
| 195 | pet | unconditional love |
| 196 | phoenix (bird) | life after death, resurrection, immortality |
| 197 | photograph(s) | memories |
| 198 | piano | family, romance, prosperity |
| 199 | pig | gluttony, fertility |
| 200 | pillow | comfort, happiness |
Last update on 2025-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
201-300
| # | Object | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | pipe (tobacco) | contentment, contemplation, peace |
| 202 | poppy | revelation, power |
| 203 | pram | protection, tenderness |
| 204 | pumpkin (carved) | Halloween |
| 205 | purse | wealth, vanity |
| 206 | quartz | energy, clarity |
| 207 | quill and ink | learning, intelligence, antiquity |
| 208 | quilt | comfort, history |
| 209 | quiver (full) | readiness, potential |
| 210 | rabbit | creativity, luck, fertility, fear |
| 211 | railroad track | mourning, death, elegant beauty, remembrance, legacy |
| 212 | rainbow | hope for tomorrow, diversity |
| 213 | raven | mystery, transformation |
| 214 | ribbon | memory, celebration |
| 215 | ring | friendship, eternity |
| 216 | ring (wedding) | love, eternity, commitment, eternal love |
| 217 | rock | strength, permanence, stability |
| 218 | rose (red) | romance, love, beauty |
| 219 | rope | unity, loyalty, connection, restraint |
| 220 | destiny, predetermined path, inevitability | exclusivity |
| 221 | ruler | measurement, evaluation, judgement |
| 222 | rune | mystery, magic |
| 223 | saddle | journey, partnership |
| 224 | salt | preservation, purity |
| 225 | sand | passing of time, cleansing, uniqueness, transformation |
| 226 | satchel | burden, storage |
| 227 | scabbard | protection, restraint |
| 228 | scales | balance, justice |
| 229 | scissors | separation, severing, spiritual unity, physical closeness |
| 230 | scroll | learning, knowledge, wisdom, life, time |
| 231 | seed | new life |
| 232 | sextant | journey, orientation, adventure, progress, exploration |
| 233 | shell | birth, good fortune, resurrection, fertility, protection, beauty |
| 234 | shield | knowledge, light, wisdom |
| 235 | shovel | hard work, discovery |
| 236 | sickle/scythe | death (final harvest) |
| 237 | sieve | filtration, discernment, |
| 238 | skull | death, mortality, danger, hazard, warning |
| 239 | snake | temptation, the underworld, rebirth, immortality, renewal |
| 240 | snow | purity, innocence, calmness |
| 241 | snowflake | individuality, delicacy |
| 242 | spider | manipulation, good luck, wisdom, feminine power, creativity |
| 243 | spider web | fate, deception, interconnectedness, fragility, death |
| 244 | spoon | nourishment, comfort |
| 245 | staff | leadership, comfort |
| 246 | stairs | progress, transition |
| 247 | star | achievement, success |
| 248 | stars | distance, magic, guidance |
| 249 | statue | immortality, power, stillness |
| 250 | stones | endurance, permanence, stability |
| 251 | storm/thunderstorm | chaos, turmoil, uncertainty, madness |
| 252 | straw | frailty, simplicity |
| 253 | sundial | time, mortality |
| 254 | suitcase | journey, travel, holidays |
| 255 | sun | life, energy, power, clarity, positivity, vitality, enlightenment |
| 256 | swan | grace, beauty |
| 257 | sword | protection, power, authority, strength, courage |
| 258 | table (round) | equality |
| 259 | tapestry | threads of destiny |
| 260 | teacup | hospitality, warmth |
| 261 | teapot | hospitality, comfort |
| 262 | telescope | discovery, foresight, higher knowledge |
| 263 | thermometer | measurement, change |
| 264 | torch (on) | life, enlightenment, guidance |
| 265 | torch (off) | death |
| 266 | totem pole | ancestry, storytelling |
| 267 | tree | growth, strength, resilience, connection to nature |
| 268 | tree (oak) | victory, resurrection |
| 269 | trowel | craftsmanship, construction, growth |
| 270 | trumpet | strength, endurance |
| 271 | tulip | perfect love, passion |
| 272 | ukulele | harmony, simplicity |
| 273 | umbrella | shelter, protection |
| 274 | urn (empty) | loss |
| 275 | urn (full) | knowledge, light, wisdom |
| 276 | vase | wealth, prosperity, beauty, femininity |
| 277 | vial | containment, secrets |
| 278 | vine | connection, growth, friendship, strength, determination |
| 279 | violets | shyness, faith, inspiration, passion |
| 280 | violin | artistic expression, emotional expression |
| 281 | vulture | death, rebirth |
| 282 | wallet | wealth, identity |
| 283 | water | birth, fertility, cleansing, life |
| 284 | weapons | power, violence, vengeance |
| 285 | wedge | separation, insertion |
| 286 | wheat | harvest, fertility |
| 287 | wheel | progress, cycle |
| 288 | wheelbarrow | labour, burden |
| 289 | whip | power, control, authority, discipline |
| 290 | whisk | agitation |
| 291 | wine | tranquillity, harmony |
| 292 | wolf | loyalty, independence, family, teaching, intelligence |
| 293 | wreath | victory, eternal life |
| 294 | wristwatch | prosperity, innovation, wealth, achievement, milestone |
| 295 | xylophone | diversity, harmony |
| 296 | yardstick | evaluation, judgement |
| 297 | yarn | relationships |
| 298 | yarn (spool) | creativity, continuity |
| 299 | yarn (tangled) | complexity, confusion |
| 300 | zither | tranquility, harmony |
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Thanks for helping my project start
yeah my project is a totem pole project needing symbols i was literally cooked if not for this…
good thing i found this website cuz my big project at the end of the first semester is tomorrow, 12/13/2024 when its due…
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thank you so much for helping me with ideas of an object for a school object.
That’s great! Glad the information was helpful. Thanks for your feedback.
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