Final answer:
Symbolism in literature represents larger ideas or themes, and can foreshadow future events. Recurring symbols, or motifs, help identify the narrative's themes. Figurative language such as metaphors and similes are used to evoke emotion and suggest deeper meanings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote you provided is an example of symbolism which often represents larger themes or ideas and can hint at future events known as foreshadowing. In literature, symbols can foreshadow outcomes and manifest abstract concepts into tangible elements. For instance, the use of the character Pearl in 'The Scarlet Letter' is symbolic, representing the perceived danger of female sexuality in a Puritan society, which can foreshadow societal conflict and personal struggle within the story. Similarly, in nature, elements like a tree or the sea may symbolize life, growth, or the subconscious, respectively. These symbols, through their repeated use in the text or motifs, can lead us to identify themes of the narrative, such as a transition from innocence to experience. Because they recur frequently, these motifs attract attention and suggest a deeper significance than their literal meaning.
Figurative language, including metaphors and similes, uses images and comparisons to evoke emotion and to suggest ideas beyond the literal meaning of words. A metaphor like 'My love, you are a rose' directly equates love with a rose, suggesting beauty but also potential pain from thorns, without using 'like' or 'as', which would make it a simile. By identifying and interpreting these literary devices, readers can gain insight into the story's themes and characters' emotions.
In examining a story's theme, we look at motifs and figures of speech to draw conclusions about the underlying messages. Greek art's reliance on mythical symbols reveals much about their culture and the importance they placed on mythology and the stories that shaped their collective identity. This connection to myth served as both storytelling and a way of imparting moral and social values to the community.