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Rahmawati, I., & Budi, W. (2023). Making Meaning of the Pandemic Through Symbols in Literary Work. KnE Social Sciences, 8(12), 829–836. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v8i12.13728

https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v8i12.13728

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authors

  • Irma Rahmawati

    Irma Rahmawati

    Dian Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Wahyu Budi

    Wahyu Budi

    Dian Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia

Published Date

  • Jul 18, 2023

Making Meaning of the Pandemic Through Symbols in Literary Work

KnE Social Sciences / Transdisciplinary Symposium on Business, Economics, and Communication (TSBEC 2022) / Pages 829–836

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is still a thing people think about and deal with. It affects everything, including literature. Arguably, making meaning of a pandemic through literature can be a helpful strategy to cope with the situation. This paper aims to observe the meaning of the symbols in a novel by Herman Melville, Moby Dick. The story possesses various symbolic meanings and can relate to the metaphorical point of view of the pandemic. The paper uses a qualitative methodology to focus on finding the symbols, the themes represented, and the meaning of the symbols for each character and relating them to post-pandemic situations using a qualitative methodology. The theory of symbolism by Susanne Langer is employed to identify and analyze the symbols in Moby Dick. This paper results on the symbols’ relevance and creates meaning for the situation of the post Covid-19 pandemic.


Keywords: post pandemic, literature, novel, symbolism

References
[1] Melville H. Moby-Dick. Ed. Hershel Parker and Harrison Hayford. New York: Norton and Company. 2002;1:8-427.

[2] Thwala JJ. An Examination of Symbolism in JP Shongwe’s Poetry. Journal of Social Sciences. 2017 Sep 2;50(1-3):88-95.

[3] Oxford University. Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, University of Oxford. 2020.

[4] Wallenfeldt J. Pequot. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pequot

[5] Atwood M. Complete guide to literary themes: Definition, examples, and how to create literary themes in your writing - 2020. Retrieved 2 Oct. 2020, from www.masterclass.com/articles/the-complete-guide-to-narrative-themein- literature-definition-examples-and-writing-how-to

[6] Langer SK. Feeling and form. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul; 1953. DOI