SYMBOL and THEME

Symbols as well as themes greatly impact the perception of a story's meaning or purpose. Using symbols and themes allow an author to accentuate the deeper meaning of the plot. For example, the theme of 'To An Athlete Dying Young is time. This theme reoccurs throughout the entire poem to reinforce the deeper meaning behind the story. The theme is extremely significant as it allows the author to connect with their readers or audience. Similarly, symbols can create meaning behind characters or scenes that are revealed in the introduction and fully explained by the end. These deeper meanings usually connect with the audience by pertaining to current events or popular aspects of life.