Symbol. A person, place, object, or event that has importance in and of itself and represents something larger than itself can represent something else. Irony. A phrase that implies a disparity between appearance and actuality; something that says one thing but meaning another. Antagonist. One who fights against you; a foe. Symbolism is the use of symbols to communicate information about ourselves and our world. Symbols are found in many cultures across time and space. They have been used to convey messages about history, politics, religion, and art. Here are some examples: the flag - a symbol of our nation; the cross - a symbol of Christianity; the star spangled banner - a symbol of America. The meaning of a symbol may be obvious from its appearance or it may not. In order to understand the meaning of a symbol we must look beyond the surface image. We use our knowledge about life experiences to interpret symbols. For example, when someone gives you the "V" sign it means they like you. When someone throws up their hands in protest it can mean many different things depending on the context within which it is done. It is a common gesture that people use when trying to express themselves without speaking. As with most non-verbal signals, there is more than one way to do it. Throw your arms up in the air if you're happy.