Symbolism in Harry Potter

1. Symbolism

2. definition
 Symbolism: when writers use
animals, elements, things,
places, or colors to represent
an idea.

3. For example
 In western movies, who wears the white hat?
 The good guy or hero
 Why?
 White is a symbol for good.
 In western movies, who wears the black hat?
 The bad guy or the villain.
 Why?
 Black is the symbol for evil.

4. Colors
 Often colors are used to represent various
characteristics or emotions.
 the symbol of good or innocence
 Brides and angels wear white.
 Black: the symbol of evil
 Villains in old time movies often wore black.
 Red: the symbol of love or courage.
 Red is the color of Valentine’s Day.

5. Colors
 Blue: the symbol of beauty and
loyalty.
 Purple: the symbol of royalty.
 Gold: the symbol of wealth and
power.
 Green: the symbol of hope, growth,
new life; also the symbol of envy.
In the spring, the earth turns green
bringing the hope of a new
season.

6. Nature Symbols
The Symbol: SPRING is the symbol of new life.
The Reason: Spring is when the earth comes
back to life and everything blooms
creating new life.
The Symbol: SUMMER is the symbol of the
young adult years.
The Reason: During the summer, everything is
growing and active just like youth.
The Symbol: FALL is the symbol for middle age.
The Reason: FALL is late in the year, and the
growing season ends the same way
middle age is a time when people
slow down.
The Symbol: WINTER is the symbol of old age.
The Reason: In winter, nothing grows, and
everything is dormant.

7. Nature Symbols
The Symbol: NIGHT represents death.
The Reason: Night is the end of the day just as
death is the end of life.
The Symbol: SUNRISE is the symbol for a new
beginning.
The Reason: The sunrise is the beginning of a
new day, and each day offers a
chance to start over.

8. Nature Symbolslements
The Symbol: FIRE is the symbol of cleansing and
purification.
The Reason: Fire burns everything away leaving
things cleared to begin again.
The Symbol: WATER is the symbol of life and
cleansing.
The Reason: Water is necessary to live, and
churches use water to wash
(cleanse) away sins.
The Symbol: AIR is the symbol of change.
The Reason: As air sweeps in and takes the form.
of wind, it sweeps away the old and
brings in the new.
The Symbol: STONE is the symbol of building and
solidity.
The Reason: STONE is natural, of the earth, and
the strongest building material.

9. Animal Symbols
The Symbol: BEAR
If a person is described as being a,
bear, they are strong or grouchy.
The Symbol: DOVE
the symbol of peace or love
The Symbol: HAWK
the symbol of war
The Symbol: LION
the symbol of courage, bravery,
and leadership

10. Symbols in the Harry Potter
books (movies)
 The Philosopher’s Stone –The story revolves around
the fated Philosopher’s Stone and Voldemort’s
quest to gain eternal life. Like the forbidden fruit that
Eve stole in the Bible, it’s a small, round and red item
that symbolizes what humanity should never get
their hands on; Dumbledore, a bearded, God-like
figure, says as much, telling Harry that though the
stone brings with it great wealth and eternal living,
these are the two things that can ruin a person’s life.

11. Symbols in the Harry Potter
books (movies)
 Snape symbolizes the unknown or evil. He wears
deathly black robes, has very pale skin, and there is
the question of whether or not he ever sleeps.

12. Symbols in the Harry Potter
books (movies)
 Patronuses symbolize the character traits of The
Wizard. For example: Hermoine’s is an otter
(cleverness); Ron’s is a terrier (obedience, loyalty);
Dumbledore’s is a phoenix (hope); Ginny's is a
horse, and horses are thought of as spirited and
free, which matches her personality; Lupin’s is a wolf
which is not only a representation of himself, but his
secret side as well.

13. Symbols in the Harry Potter
books (movies)
 Luna: The name Luna relates to the moon. She’s pale and has
seen great darkness in her own life. The moon has long been
associated with madness, so she has an eccentric personality.
She appears in the darker films as a somewhat innocent-seeming
source of lightness.

14. Symbols in the Harry Potter
books (movies)
 The Mirror Of Erised Reflects: The use of the Mirror of Erised is important
because it shows Harry’s deepest desires which have never been
shared before. This scene sets up conflict between Harry and
Valdemort. (Erised spelled backwards is Desire.)

15. Symbols in the Harry Potter
books (movies)
 Horcruxes Are Symbols Of Voldemort’s Insecurities: Lord Voldemort split his
soul into pieces, and placed these fragments into magical items. He
accidentally placed a part of his soul in Harry. It was his biggest fear to be
defeated; it seems that when he created his horcruxes, we saw the true
colors of Voldemort’s soul.

16. Symbols
 Most symbols in literature connect to things you are
familiar with in life. Being aware that writers use
symbols, means that you can spot them in the
stories you read and make connections to the
meanings these symbols have. Understanding
symbols allows you to understand the story on a
much deeper level.