* It's not universal: Unlike traditional symbols like a heart representing love, a contextual symbol's meaning is not inherent.
* It's specific: Its meaning is tied to the specific setting, characters, events, or themes of the text or situation.
* It's dynamic: The meaning of a contextual symbol can evolve as the text progresses or the situation changes.
Examples of Contextual Symbols:
* A red rose in a romantic novel: It symbolizes love and passion. But in a story about a funeral, it might symbolize grief and loss.
* A broken window in a play: It could symbolize the shattered dreams of a character, the fragility of their world, or the violence they've experienced.
* A particular song in a movie: It can evoke emotions, connect characters, or foreshadow events, all depending on its context within the film.
Essentially, a contextual symbol is a symbol that gains its meaning from its surrounding environment and the specific story it's telling.