Words With Impact: Describe Symbols as Allusions and Echoes

Workshop: Discover Words That Sing

“Three women cackle over a steaming pot? We know we’re in the presence of evil, thanks to William Shakespeare, even though these three women may live in Winnipeg and ride motorcycles.”  Jack Hodgins

Symbols as Allusions and Echoes

Often we can find our echoes of metaphor, symbols, and allusions through our personal history, literature, scripture, folk-tales, songs and culture. These characters, phrases, and patterns continue to add depth and enrich resonance to our readers.

Jack Hodgins, A Passion for Narrative, points out that we can add depth by making stories connect to other stories by allusions, or implied comparisons, or with passages that echo passages we recognize from somewhere else. Usually these are characters, phrases or patterns that make us think of other stories that have had an effect on us. Boy—raft. Dust bowl—Depression. Cowboys—West. These are familiar touchstones in American literature. But we’ve also incorporated other allusions into the cultural history: Holy Grail, Voyages, Hobbits, and Aliens.

We need to keep “listening” to our stories. Don’t force a symbol, or theme, but watch and see through the brainstorming and drafts what rises to the surface. However, once you see the comparisons, or know some themes, look for ways to enhance them naturally.

If a particular metaphor keeps echoing through the work examine it for the potential to either become a symbol you incorporate, or keep as a symbol for yourself writing towards it without stating what it is.

According to Hodgins, although being aware of the reason behind it can add more depth and richness and humor when done well. For your reader though, it is better to be so subtle that it’s almost unnoticed. Although it’s really not necessary that your reader get the echo reference, however, if you choose to use it you must know what it means, and use it properly so that you’re not misinterpreting the basis. The other possibility is completely reversing it, as in a parody.

Action Steps:

1.     In the most recent movie you’ve seen what memory echoes did you notice—either as positive or negative—that applied to you personally?

2.     Consider your most favorite movie and identify the echoes you respond to in it.

3.     If you have a favorite genre in movies, what key metaphors or connections do you expect to see?

Share: Did you discover any surprises in the characters, the phrases, or patterns?

Read deep, marcy