Exploring Symbolism Across Art Forms

Music, Art and Poetry (MAP) Sessions are hosted by The Teacher's Academy

As a part of our Thoughtful Thursday MAP series, on the 1st of May 2025, Brinda led a discussion on symbolism in poetry, using examples from poets like W.B. Yeats and Robert Frost, and introduced a contemporary Arabian poet, Norma Shehab Rai. The team also discussed the importance of symbolism in art, the complexity of paintings, and the use of symbolism in music, with Jatin explaining the symbolism of the swan in classical music compositions. The conversation ended with a discussion on the interconnectedness and multidisciplinary approach in their sessions and plans for future sessions.

Symbolism in Poetry: Universal and Personal

Brinda led a discussion on symbolism in poetry, explaining that authors use symbols to convey their intended message. She noted that this is particularly common in poetry, as it allows poets to express various emotions and phases in life without repetition. Brinda also mentioned that particular objects and natural elements have become universal symbols, while others are more personal and private. She used examples from poets like W.B. Yeats and Robert Frost to illustrate the use of symbols in their work. 

Symbolism in Frost's "Dust of Snow

Brinda discussed the symbolism in Robert Frost's poem "Dust of Snow," focusing on the crow, hemlock tree, and snow. She explained how these symbols represent darkness, evil, and purity and contribute to the poem's message about the transformative power of small, insignificant acts. Brinda also mentioned other poems by W.B. Yeats, such as "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," which convey similar themes of nature and the human experience. Finally, she introduced a contemporary Arabian poet, Norma Shehab Rai, and her poem "Hugging the Jukebox," which explores the intersection of memory and the Caribbean Sea.

Alfred's Passion for Music

Brinda discussed the story of a 6-year-old boy named Alfred who learns all the words to all the songs on his grandparents' jukebox and sings them. The grandparents, who can't sing, are amazed by Alfred's talent and impact on the community. Despite his young age, Alfred's passion for music is evident, and he continues to sing even when he's put to bed. The story highlights the power of music and the impact it can have on people's lives.

Symbolism in Art and Poetry

Brinda discussed the importance of symbolism in art, using the example of a jukebox as a symbol in a poem. She emphasised that symbols create an atmosphere and leave a lasting memory. Mr. Ghosh then spoke about symbolism in art, noting that it is not a new concept for Indians, as seen in their gods and goddesses. He highlighted that European artists took liberties with symbolism, making it difficult to understand their intended meanings.

Abstract Paintings and Symbolic Music

Subhashish discussed the paintings' complexity and abstract nature, noting that they often depict imaginary animals and are difficult to understand without research. She mentioned that these paintings are not necessarily representative of the period and are not commonly used by other artists. Brinda also pointed out the use of gloomy and dreamy colours in these paintings. The participants were encouraged to share their thoughts and reflections on the paintings before moving on to Jatin's explanation of the usage of symbolism in music.

Poetry Reading Session With Teacher Reading Her Submission

Rohini Agarwal, who was present, read her poem. 

Swan Lake: Music, Poetry, and Sports

Jatin discussed the symbolism of the swan in various mythologies and its use in classical music compositions. He shared his inspiration for choosing the Swan Lake composition by Tchaikovsky, which was initially composed in 1875 and is considered one of the most challenging pieces for ballerinas. Jatin also explained the plot of Swan Lake, which involves a king falling in love with a woman cursed by a sorcerer to transform into a swan. He mentioned the movie adaptation of Swan Lake, which used the Black Swan character to represent the mental state of the performer rather than the original plot. Jatin then shared a figure skating performance based on the Swan Lake composition, highlighting elements like 32 spins to express the character's vulnerability. 

Interconnected Sessions and Personal Reflections

Brinda discussed the interconnectedness and multidisciplinary approach, emphasising the benefits of broadening horizons and making connections. She encouraged participants to share their reflections and suggested improvements. Sandeep stressed the importance of being prepared and optimising time during sessions. Minakshi shared her experience with a teacher interested in joining the sessions, and Sandeep advised downloading the Zoom app for easier access. 

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Simplicity and Trust - Nikita Rajpurohit

Simplicity refers to the quality of being simple. It means to be yourself, to be natural without any show-offs.  When we talk about simplicity, it can be living a comfortable life in a simple way like a simple lifestyle, simple dressing sense, simple food, etc. When we are simple, people feel comfortable to talk to us and it automatically generates trust.

Trust means to believe in oneself, others, etc. Where there is trust, there is no need to prove yourself right. It means to believe other’s words without asking for any evidence or proof. It is rightly said, " Trust is like a vase, once it is broken, it can never be the same again".To maintain every relationship, trust is required.  Trust can be built only when we listen to people, understand them without judging them. We need to inculcate these values in our students as it plays a major role in our life. 

We, as educators, need to interact with students, understand them to build a good rapport. In the classroom, we need to use simple strategies to make students understand, like using simple language, converting theory into practice, play way methods, fun learning, etc. It has been a proven fact that these strategies help students to remember things for a long time. We can inculcate trust among students by giving them responsibilities. When they will be assigned some work, they will try their best to fulfil their duties and responsibilities and will maintain that trust which the teacher has shown on them.

I will share one classroom incident where simplicity and trust is depicted. When I joined the school and was made class teacher of VIII B, I appointed a monitor. But I observed that students were not listening to him. Then I kept changing monitors but still no change could I see. Then slowly with time, I observed a boy who was well-liked by all his classmates. He was, of course, naughty also. But still, I appointed him as the monitor.

I saw a change that in the absence of a teacher, he managed the class very well and carried out all his duties properly. I was really very happy to see him managing class so well that I appreciated him. As I showed trust in him and gave responsibilities, he also maintained that trust. So this is how we can build trust in a simplified manner.

Nikita Rajpurohit

The Fabindia School