A Dictionary of Literary Symbols

by Michael Ferber

This is the first dictionary of symbols to be based on literature, rather than "universal" pyschological archetypes, myths or esoterica. Michael Ferber has assembled nearly two hundred main entries clearly explaining and illustrating the literary symbols that we all encounter (such as swan, rose, moon, gold), along with hundreds of cross-references and quotations. The dictionary concentrates on English literature, but its entries range widely from the Bible and classical authors to the twentieth century, taking in American and European literatures. Its informed style and rich references will make this book an essential tool not only for literary and classical scholars, but for all students of literature.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Writing, Art, Literature, Spirituality, Literary Criticism

274 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Alok Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful book... no doubt. The author has worked hard on bringing the references and appearances of the symbol in great works of literature to the fore so that readers can understand not only the images but also the contexts. Moreover, the book has a huge collection and I liked it. However, it does lack a universal interpretation of images. For example, in the very first letter of the alphabet, A, Amarnath does not include an Indian allusion to the cave of great importance, the Amarnath caves, the abode of Shiva. Therefore, an update to include Indian English poetry and literary symbols could make it more useful for students in India.

[max · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful reference work. Entries include such curiosities as marigold, swallow, goat, cup, spleen (see bile), leaf, dog and dust (see clay).

One of the peculiarities about this book is the inclusion of entries that are not traditionally considered symbols at all, e.g., death, dream, seasons, and time. The author acknowledges this in his introduction, advising that "I have chosen to err on the side of generosity rather than exclude something one might want to know, and many instances come closer to metaphor, allusion, or even motif than to symbol strictly defined."

Included is an appendix entitled "Authors Cited," which provides the names of authors referenced in individual entries, their dates, and the language in which they wrote. The authors are overwhelmingly Greek, Latin and English, although other languages are represented, including French, Spanish, Russian, German, Portuguese, Italian, Persian, Hebrew, and Welsh.

As its title denotes, this work is intended to be an aid to the study of literature, as opposed to mythological or archetypal symbols. For such a work, consult An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols.

[John Jemar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought for school and kept it as a reference

[Sohail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is far from complete. In fact, it is almost exclusively restricted to the Classic and Romantic literature (the latter being the author's area of expertise). Consequently, it omits some of the most important symbols that I was looking for. But this book's great strength lies in the way it has been written: not as a pure dictionary and reference book, but as a book that can be read from start to finish.

[G.T. Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

On writing...

On writing...

so much of developing one's craft is purely repetition, purely mechanical, like periodically reading such books like this, and referring to them while one is developing. always a pleasure to review, especially with a beer for breakfast.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really neat book. Not one you read front to back, but a great reference, especially where the classics are concerned.

[Laura Durnell]

Checked this out from the Chicago Public Library. Will have to purchase my own copy.

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dictionary on detailed explanation of literary symbols http://www.mohamedrabeea.com/books/bo...