THEME AND SYMBOLISM THESAURUS

FAILURE



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HELPFUL TIP:

Your story's theme is its central message to readers and can be reinforced with specific symbols and motifs pulled right from the setting. Additionally, symbols woven into a scene can underscore your character's emotions, establish mood, and even generate conflict. Explore your story theme thoughtfully and use associated symbols to do more with less.
THEMATIC STATEMENTS THAT MAY APPLY TO YOUR STORY:
You're not defined by your failures.
Failure is a necessary part of growth.
You've only failed if you give up.
If you don't fail, you're not trying hard enough.
Failure can be a motivation to succeed.
Past failures don't make you unworthy of love or esteem.
Each failure brings us closer to succeeding.

LIES (ANTI-THEMATIC STATEMENTS) YOUR CHARACTER MIGHT BELIEVE:
I am defined by my biggest failure.
If success isn't guaranteed, there's no point in trying.
My failure makes me unworthy of success, love, and recognition.
Unless I'm exceptional, I am a failure.
If others see me as a failure, I must be one.
There is too much stacked against me to succeed.
Because of my failure, I deserve to be an outcast.
I'm better than them (because I haven't failed as they have).
Any future attempts will turn out the same as my past ones—I'll fail.
If a venture doesn't achieve its original purpose, it has failed.

CHARACTER TRAITS TO SUPPORT OR CHALLENGE THE THEME:
COCKY, COMPULSIVE, CONTROLLING, CYNICAL, DEFENSIVE, FLAKY, INFLEXIBLE, INHIBITED, INSECURE, MACHO, NERVOUS, OVERSENSITIVE, PARANOID, PERFECTIONIST, PESSIMISTIC, SELF-DESTRUCTIVE, SUPERSTITIOUS, WORKAHOLIC, WORRYWART, ADAPTABLE, ADVENTUROUS, AMBITIOUS, ANALYTICAL, APPRECIATIVE, CENTERED, CONFIDENT, CURIOUS, EASYGOING, EFFICIENT, HUMBLE, OBJECTIVE, OBSERVANT, OPTIMISTIC, PERSISTENT, STUDIOUS

WOUNDS THAT MAY SHAPE A CHARACTER'S PERSPECTIVE:
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CREATIVE WORKS THAT EXPLORE THIS THEME:
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NATURAL SYMBOLS FOR THIS THEME:
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HUMAN & SOCIETAL SYMBOLS FOR THIS THEME:
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SYMBOLISM EXAMPLES IN STORIES:
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