Common Symbols and Their Meanings:
* Nature:
* Sun: Life, energy, rebirth, knowledge, power
* Moon: Mystery, night, feminine power, intuition
* Water: Emotion, change, purification, life, death
* Trees: Strength, growth, wisdom, longevity, interconnectedness
* Birds: Freedom, hope, spirituality, messengers
* Flowers: Beauty, love, joy, mortality
* Fire: Passion, destruction, transformation, anger, purification
* Colors:
* Red: Passion, love, anger, danger, war
* Blue: Peace, calm, sadness, tranquility, wisdom
* Green: Growth, nature, hope, envy, jealousy
* Yellow: Happiness, optimism, deceit, cowardice
* White: Purity, innocence, death, peace, surrender
* Black: Death, evil, mystery, mourning, power
* Animals:
* Snake: Wisdom, temptation, danger, transformation
* Lion: Strength, courage, power, royalty
* Dove: Peace, purity, love, hope
* Wolf: Loyalty, wildness, cunning, instinct
* Owl: Wisdom, knowledge, mystery, night
* Objects:
* Mirror: Reflection, self-awareness, vanity, illusion
* Door: Opportunity, transition, passage, choice
* Window: Perspective, hope, freedom, vulnerability
* Road: Journey, life path, choice, destiny
* Key: Access, unlocking secrets, power, opportunity
Specific Examples from Famous Poems:
* "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost: The two roads symbolize choice and the paths we take in life.
* "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe: The raven symbolizes grief, loss, and the darkness of the speaker's soul.
* "The Wild Swans at Coole" by W.B. Yeats: The swans symbolize beauty, fleeting time, and the passage of youth.
* "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost: The woods symbolize isolation, peace, and the allure of the unknown.
* "Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats: The nightingale symbolizes beauty, joy, and the escape from reality.
Remember:
* Symbolism in poetry is often complex and open to interpretation.
* The meaning of a symbol can vary depending on the context of the poem.
* Pay attention to the specific language and imagery used by the poet to understand how symbols function in the poem.
These are just a few examples to get you started. Exploring different poems and literary works can help you learn more about the different ways symbols are used in poetry.