Symbolism: "Mr. Flood's Party"
Symbolism is "a specific word, idea, or object that may stand for ideas, values, person, or ways of life" (Roberts 2047). When used correctly, symbolism can be very effective. Edwin Arlington Robinson is a master of symbolism and uses it very effectively in his poetry. In "Mr. Flood's Party," Robinson uses symbolism to forewarn his readers of Mr. Flood's inevitable death.
The first symbol Robinson uses that foreshadows Mr. Flood's death is the harvest moon. Mr. Flood says to himself, "we have the harvest moon/ Again, and we may not have many more" (Robinson lines 9-10). A harvest moon suggests that it is the season of autumn which comes near the end of the year. Autumn is a traditional symbol (used in many pieces of literature) that symbolizes one's nearing the end of life.
Another symbol Robinson uses to foreshadow Mr. Flood's death is a bird, "[t]he bird of Time" (Khayyam qtd. in Allison). When Mr. Flood says, "The bird is on the wing,"......

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Title: Symbolism: "Mr. Flood's Party"
Approximate Word Count: 458
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