THEME AND SYMBOLISM THESAURUS

SURVIVAL



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to view the Theme And Symbolism Thesaurus in its entirety, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

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:
To survive, we must adapt.
To survive, you must be prepared.
Survival depends on having the right resources and allies.
Survival is the first order of business.
Only the strong survive.
When it comes to survival, the rules go out the window.
Every creature will do what is needed to survive.
You need love to survive.
Merely surviving isn't enough.

LIES (ANTI-THEMATIC STATEMENTS) YOUR CHARACTER MIGHT BELIEVE:
I'm not strong enough to do what's necessary to survive.
I've survived up until now, and I'll do it again.
I don't think I'll make it through this.
I will survive at any cost.
My own survival isn't as important as other people's.
If you can't make it, you don't deserve to.

CHARACTER TRAITS TO SUPPORT OR CHALLENGE THE THEME:

WOUNDS THAT MAY SHAPE A CHARACTER'S PERSPECTIVE:
...

CREATIVE WORKS THAT EXPLORE THIS THEME:
...

NATURAL SYMBOLS FOR THIS THEME:
...

HUMAN & SOCIETAL SYMBOLS FOR THIS THEME:
...

SYMBOLISM EXAMPLES IN STORIES:
...

...