Any color can be used symbolically in a poem, novel, or short story. However, few colors are as mysterious and multilayered as black. This deep shade can impart a whole range of symbolic meanings — depending on the context, it can stand for grief, depression, evil, death, mystery, formality, heaviness, or bleakness. Thanks to its

If a piece of poetry or prose includes vivid color symbolism, we as readers have a window to better understand its layers of meaning. However, some colors have more nuanced symbolic meanings than others. Purple is one of these colors. This rich shade has traditionally been associated with either sorrow or royalty and wealth, but

Blue is a shade that has captivated us for centuries. As the color of the sea and sky, it inspires a sense of vastness and wonder that few colors can. So it’s no wonder that poets and writers often use it to convey symbolic meaning. Here’s a look at a few poems, short stories, novels,

Green is the color of spring, of growth, and of new life. If you’ve ever gotten lost in a captivating poem, novel, or story, you know that it can feel like wandering through a beautifully vibrant ecosystem. That might make it seem like green is an ideal color for creating memorable literary symbols. Interestingly enough,

What does yellow stand for? You might say it represents joy, warmth, energy, or happiness. It often does, but yellow’s symbolic meaning is richer and much more nuanced than that. It can represent hope, optimism, and new beginnings — but it can also symbolize stagnation, decay, death, and even cowardice. As is the case with

Bright, fiery shades of orange are beautiful in their own right. However, in the literary world, they take on a new kind of beauty. Just as it does in the real world, orange commands attention when it appears on the page. When orange appears in a piece of literature, it’s almost never by accident. Skilled

If you’re at all familiar with color psychology, you know that different colors conjure different emotions within us. Some of those emotions stem from the cultural associations we’ve made with each color, some come from personal associations, and some even arise from physiological reactions (did you know that looking at red can elevate your heart