Symbolism in Literature: Grade 7 Worksheet [With Answers]
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Concrete vs Abstract Meaning: Grade 7 English Grammar Worksheet on Symbolism in Literature
Have you ever wondered why a red rose in a story often means love, or why a dove makes you think of peace? That is the power of symbolism. In Grade 7, learning about symbolism (concrete vs abstract meaning) helps you unlock secret layers in every story you read. A symbol is something concrete (physical and real) that stands for an abstract idea (something you cannot touch, like love, peace, or freedom). When an author uses symbols, they add deeper meaning to a story without stating the idea directly. This Grade 7 English grammar worksheet on symbolism will teach you how to spot concrete objects, understand their abstract meanings, and become a reader who sees beyond the surface. Whether you are reading a novel, a poem, or even watching a movie, understanding symbolism will make every story more exciting and meaningful.
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What Is the Topic?
The topic of this worksheet is Symbolism (Concrete vs Abstract Meaning). A symbol is something concrete that stands for an abstract idea. The concrete meaning is the literal, physical object in the story. The concrete object is the physical thing you can see or touch. The abstract meaning is the deeper idea that the symbol represents. The abstract idea is the deeper meaning. For example, a dove is a concrete object that symbolises peace. A red rose often symbolises romantic love. A flag is a concrete object that symbolises a country. A broken chain can symbolise freedom from oppression. A heart shape is a concrete object. Love is the abstract idea that a heart represents. A symbol often has a meaning beyond the literal. An author uses symbols to add deeper meaning to a story. The same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures. A reader must infer what a symbol means based on context. Understanding symbols helps you read more thoughtfully.
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What’s in This Worksheet?
This worksheet contains five different exercises that help students master symbolism (concrete vs abstract meaning). Here is what is included:
1. Exercise No. 1 – Multiple Choice Questions – Students choose the correct word to complete each sentence about symbolism. This exercise tests basic knowledge of concrete objects, abstract ideas, and how symbols work.
2. Exercise No. 2 – Fill in the Blanks – Students complete sentences by filling in missing words related to symbolism. The exact words are not provided in a word bank; students must use their understanding of the concepts.
3. Exercise No. 3 – True and False – Students read ten statements about symbolism and decide whether each one is true or false. This helps correct common misunderstandings about what symbols are and how they work.
4. Exercise No. 4 – Underline the Words – Students read ten sentences that each contain a symbol. For each sentence, students must underline the concrete object AND the abstract idea it represents. This exercise focuses on identifying both parts of a symbol.
5. Exercise No. 5 – Paragraph Writing – Students read a paragraph about symbolism that has blanks. They must fill in each blank using a word from the word bank provided at the end of the paragraph. This combines reading comprehension with vocabulary application.
This worksheet supports exam preparation by covering definitions, examples, cultural differences in symbolism, and how to infer meaning from context.
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Definitions, Examples, Techniques, and Tips
Based only on the content of this worksheet, here are the exact definitions and examples students will learn:
Definitions:
- Symbol: A symbol is something concrete that stands for an abstract idea. A symbol is an object that stands for an idea. A symbol stands for something bigger than itself. A symbol often has a meaning beyond the literal.
- Concrete meaning: A concrete meaning is the literal, physical object in the story. The physical object itself is the concrete meaning. The concrete object is the physical thing you can see or touch. A heart shape is a concrete object. The concrete meaning of a flag is a piece of coloured cloth.
- Abstract meaning: The abstract meaning is the deeper idea that the symbol represents. The idea behind the object is the abstract meaning. The abstract idea is the deeper meaning. Love is the abstract idea that a heart represents.
- How symbols work in stories: An author uses symbols to add deeper meaning to a story. A writer chooses symbols to make the story feel deeper and richer. An author can show you an idea without stating it directly. The reader uses context to understand what a symbol means in a story. A reader must infer what a symbol means based on context. A symbol that appears many times is probably important.
- Symbols can have different meanings: The same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures. White symbolises purity in some places. White symbolises mourning in other places.
Examples taken directly from the worksheet (Exercise No. 4):
1. The sunrise symbolised hope for the villagers after the long war.
- Concrete object: sunrise
- Abstract idea: hope
2. The crumbling wall represented the end of their friendship forever.
- Concrete object: crumbling wall
- Abstract idea: end of their friendship
3. A flowing river symbolised the unstoppable passage of time itself.
- Concrete object: flowing river
- Abstract idea: passage of time
4. The broken mirror represented how their trust could never be repaired.
- Concrete object: broken mirror
- Abstract idea: trust could never be repaired
5. A single candle in the window symbolised welcome for the lost traveller.
- Concrete object: single candle
- Abstract idea: welcome
6. Riya’s white dress symbolised her pure and honest heart.
- Concrete object: white dress
- Abstract idea: pure and honest heart
7. Ravi’s lotus symbolised purity and new beginnings.
- Concrete object: lotus
- Abstract idea: purity and new beginnings
8. The locked door represented all the secrets the family kept hidden.
- Concrete object: locked door
- Abstract idea: secrets the family kept hidden
9. The barren tree stood for the loneliness the old man felt inside.
- Concrete object: barren tree
- Abstract idea: loneliness
10. The rising sun stood for a fresh start after years of struggle.
- Concrete object: rising sun
- Abstract idea: fresh start
Key facts from True and False section:
- A symbol always has both a concrete and an abstract meaning. (True)
- A river can symbolise the flow of time or the journey of life. (True)
- The abstract meaning of a symbol is the physical object itself. (False)
- Readers must use clues to understand what a symbol represents. (True)
- A symbol means the same thing in every story ever written. (False)
- A writer chooses symbols to make the story feel deeper and richer. (True)
- The concrete meaning of a flag is a piece of coloured cloth. (True)
- Symbols are only found in poetry, never in novels or films. (False)
- Darkness can symbolise ignorance, evil, or the unknown. (True)
- A reader does not need to think about symbols to understand a story fully. (False)
Quick learning tip: A symbol always has two meanings: the concrete (physical object) and the abstract (deeper idea). Always ask yourself: What is the physical thing? What bigger idea does it stand for?
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Why Is It Important to Learn This?
Learning about symbolism (concrete vs abstract meaning) is important for several reasons. First, symbolism helps authors add deeper meaning to stories without stating ideas directly. Instead of saying “hope is important,” an author can show a sunrise. Instead of saying “their friendship ended,” an author can show a crumbling wall. This makes stories richer and more memorable. Second, understanding symbolism helps you become a better reader. A reader must infer what a symbol means based on context. You learn to look for clues and think about what the author is trying to show you. Third, symbols are everywhere – not just in books but in movies, songs, and even everyday life. A flag represents a country. A dove represents peace. A heart shape represents love. Fourth, this skill is tested in literature exams. Questions may ask you to identify what a symbol represents or explain why an author chose a specific symbol. Finally, learning about symbolism helps you write more creatively. You can use symbols in your own stories to show feelings and ideas without explaining them directly. A writer chooses symbols to make the story feel deeper and richer.
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Where Will This Knowledge Help You?
Knowledge of symbolism (concrete vs abstract meaning) will help you in many academic and real-life situations:
1. Literature exams and reading comprehension tests – Many questions ask you to identify what a symbol represents or explain why an author used a particular symbol. This worksheet directly prepares you for those questions.
2. Writing literary analysis essays – When you write about a novel or poem, you can discuss the symbols the author used. You can explain the concrete object and the abstract meaning it represents.
3. Class discussions – When your teacher asks, “What does the broken mirror symbolise in this story?” you will be able to answer confidently. You can also point out that the same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures.
4. Reading poetry and novels – Poets and novelists use symbols all the time. Once you learn to spot symbols, you will understand deeper layers of meaning in everything you read. A symbol that appears many times is probably important.
5. Watching movies and TV shows – Directors use visual symbols too. A character wearing white might symbolise purity. A broken window might symbolise loss. You will notice these details and enjoy stories more.
6. Understanding art and advertisements – Paintings, logos, and ads all use symbols. A dove in an ad means peace. A red rose means love. Understanding symbols makes you a smarter viewer.
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How to Use This Worksheet?
Follow these steps to get the most out of this Grade 7 English grammar worksheet on symbolism (concrete vs abstract meaning):
1. Attempt independently first – Without looking at any answers, complete all five exercises in order. Start with Exercise No. 1 (Multiple Choice Questions), then move to Exercise No. 2 (Fill in the Blanks), then Exercise No. 3 (True and False), then Exercise No. 4 (Underline the Words), and finally Exercise No. 5 (Paragraph Writing with word bank).
2. Review answers carefully – After you finish all exercises, go to the Complete Answer Key section below. Compare your answers one by one. Pay special attention to Exercise No. 4 – make sure you underlined both the concrete object AND the abstract idea in each sentence.
3. Correct mistak* – For any answer that is different from the answer key, write the correct answer next to your attempt. Try to understand why you made the mistake. Did you confuse concrete with abstract? Did you forget that a symbol has both meanings?
4. Practice regularly – Symbolism can take time to master. Repeat the worksheet after a few days. For the paragraph writing task (Exercise No. 5), try to fill in the blanks without looking at the word bank first.
The solutions follow the exact worksheet order. Students should compare their answers carefully.
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Important Tips and Tricks
Here are important tips and tricks based directly on this worksheet to help you master symbolism and score full marks:
1. Always remember the two meanings – A symbol always has both a concrete and an abstract meaning. The concrete meaning is the physical object you can see or touch. The abstract meaning is the deeper idea. Never forget to identify both.
2. Concrete vs abstract – a simple trick – Ask yourself: “Can I touch it?” If yes, it is concrete. If no (like love, peace, freedom, hope), it is abstract. The physical object itself is the concrete meaning. The idea behind the object is the abstract meaning.
3. Symbols can have different meanings in different cultures – A common mistake is thinking a symbol means the same thing in every story ever written. This is false. White symbolises purity in some places but mourning in other places. Always look at the context of the story.
4. Use context clues – A reader must infer what a symbol means based on context. Look at how the symbol is used in the story. Is it associated with happy events or sad events? Does it appear when a character is feeling something specific? The reader uses context to understand what a symbol means.
5. What examiners expect – Examiners expect you to know that a symbol is something concrete that stands for an abstract idea. They expect you to identify the concrete object and explain the abstract meaning. They also expect you to know that symbols add deeper meaning to a story and that a writer chooses symbols to make the story feel deeper and richer.
6. How to score full marks – When answering multiple-choice questions, look for keywords like “physical,” “peace,” “love,” “concrete,” “abstract,” “country,” “freedom,” “meaning,” “different,” and “infer.” For true and false, remember that symbols are found in all types of literature (not just poetry) and that readers must think about symbols to fully understand a story.
7. For underlining tasks (Exercise No. 4) – Each sentence contains one symbol. You need to underline two things: the concrete object (the physical thing) AND the abstract idea (what it represents). For example, in “The sunrise symbolised hope for the villagers” – underline “sunrise” (concrete) and “hope” (abstract). In “The crumbling wall represented the end of their friendship” – underline “crumbling wall” (concrete) and “end of their friendship” (abstract).
8. For paragraph writing tasks (Exercise No. 5) – Read the entire paragraph first. Then read the word bank. Then fill in each blank one at a time. The word bank includes: concrete, abstract, love, peace, unity, meaning, different, context, story, thoughtfully. Read each sentence with your chosen word to make sure it makes sense.
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Complete Answer Key
Below is the complete answer key for the Grade 7 English grammar worksheet on Symbolism (Concrete vs Abstract Meaning). The answers follow the exact order of the worksheet. Section names and question numbers are reproduced exactly as they appear in the worksheet.
Exercise No. 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
1. A symbol is something concrete that stands for an ______ idea.
Answer: c) abstract
2. A dove is a concrete object that symbolises ______.
Answer: c) peace
3. A red rose often symbolises romantic ______.
Answer: a) love
4. A ______ meaning is the literal, physical object in the story.
Answer: b) concrete
5. The ______ meaning is the deeper idea that the symbol represents.
Answer: a) abstract
6. A flag is a concrete object that symbolises a ______.
Answer: a) country
7. A broken chain can symbolise ______ from oppression.
Answer: b) freedom
8. An author uses symbols to add deeper ______ to a story.
Answer: a) meaning
9. The same symbol can have ______ meanings in different cultures.
Answer: b) different
10. A reader must ______ what a symbol means based on context.
Answer: c) infer
Exercise No. 2
Fill in the blanks. (Note: The worksheet provides sentences with blanks. Based on the content of the worksheet, the expected answers are as follows.)
1. A symbol stands for something bigger than itself.
2. The physical object itself is the concrete meaning.
3. The idea behind the object is the abstract meaning.
4. A dove stands for peace in many stories.
5. Love is the abstract idea that a heart represents.
6. The meaning of a symbol can vary by culture.
7. A symbol often has a meaning beyond the literal.
8. The reader uses context to understand what a symbol means in a story.
9. A heart shape is a concrete object.
10. A symbol is an object that stands for an idea.
Exercise No. 3
True and False. Write True or False for each statement.
1. A symbol always has both a concrete and an abstract meaning.
Answer: True
2. A river can symbolise the flow of time or the journey of life.
Answer: True
3. The abstract meaning of a symbol is the physical object itself.
Answer: False
4. Readers must use clues to understand what a symbol represents.
Answer: True
5. A symbol means the same thing in every story ever written.
Answer: False
6. A writer chooses symbols to make the story feel deeper and richer.
Answer: True
7. The concrete meaning of a flag is a piece of coloured cloth.
Answer: True
8. Symbols are only found in poetry, never in novels or films.
Answer: False
9. Darkness can symbolise ignorance, evil, or the unknown.
Answer: True
10. A reader does not need to think about symbols to understand a story fully.
Answer: False
Exercise No. 4
Underline the words that show the concrete object and the abstract idea it represents.
1. The sunrise symbolised hope for the villagers after the long war.
Underline: sunrise (concrete) and hope (abstract)
2. The crumbling wall represented the end of their friendship forever.
Underline: crumbling wall (concrete) and end of their friendship (abstract)
3. A flowing river symbolised the unstoppable passage of time itself.
Underline: flowing river (concrete) and passage of time (abstract)
4. The broken mirror represented how their trust could never be repaired.
Underline: broken mirror (concrete) and trust could never be repaired (abstract)
5. A single candle in the window symbolised welcome for the lost traveller.
Underline: single candle (concrete) and welcome (abstract)
6. Riya’s white dress symbolised her pure and honest heart.
Underline: white dress (concrete) and pure and honest heart (abstract)
7. Ravi’s lotus symbolised purity and new beginnings.
Underline: lotus (concrete) and purity and new beginnings (abstract)
8. The locked door represented all the secrets the family kept hidden.
Underline: locked door (concrete) and secrets the family kept hidden (abstract)
9. The barren tree stood for the loneliness the old man felt inside.
Underline: barren tree (concrete) and loneliness (abstract)
10. The rising sun stood for a fresh start after years of struggle.
Underline: rising sun (concrete) and fresh start (abstract)
Exercise No. 5
Read the paragraph. Fill in each blank with a word from your understanding. Word bank: (concrete, abstract, love, peace, unity, meaning, different, context, story, thoughtfully)
A symbol is a concrete object that represents an abstract idea. The concrete object is the physical thing you can see or touch. The abstract idea is the deeper meaning. For example, a rose is a concrete object. It can symbolise romantic love. A dove is a concrete bird. It often symbolises peace. A flag is a piece of cloth. It symbolises a country or unity. Symbols add deeper meaning to stories. An author can show you an idea without stating it directly. The same symbol can have different meanings in different cultures. White symbolises purity in some places. White symbolises mourning in other places. The reader must use context to understand a symbol. Look at how the symbol is used in the story. A symbol that appears many times is probably important. Understanding symbols helps you read more thoughtfully.
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You have now completed the entire worksheet on symbolism (concrete vs abstract meaning). Learning to spot symbols is like learning a secret language that authors use. Every time you see a sunrise, a broken chain, a white dress, or a locked door in a story, ask yourself: What concrete object is this? What abstract idea does it stand for? The more you practice, the better you will become at finding deeper meanings in everything you read. Keep going – you are building skills that will make you a thoughtful, confident, and skilled reader in Grade 7 and for the rest of your life.
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